WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 7, 2026) – Today, Independent Sector President and CEO Dr. Akilah Watkins announced the release of Guiding Advocacy Decisions: A Framework for Nonprofit Boards and Executives in a Dynamic Policy Environment — a discussion guide created to help nonprofit boards and senior charitable sector leaders make informed decisions about advocacy grounded in their unique mission and circumstances. This guide is the first publication resulting from the work of Independent Sector’s Principles Panel on Advocacy, an expert panel launched in April 2026 of 25 leading charitable sector advocacy experts from philanthropies, operating charities, sector infrastructure organizations, and academic institutions. In a series of meetings over a period of six months, the panel developed this guide to provide practical guidance for leaders of the charitable nonprofit sector to consider how and when advocacy can further an organization’s mission.
This framework includes a series of discussion questions for charitable sector leaders on five key factors critical to the development of an organization’s advocacy strategy:
- Identifying Mission-Critical Policy Priorities
- Aligning on Assessment of the Political and Legal Environment
- Assessing Risks and Rewards
- Exploring Organizational Structure and Governance
- Understanding Legal Parameters
“Between 2002 and 2022, the number of nonprofits that reported engaging in advocacy dropped from 74% to 31%. Given this steep decline, it should not be surprising that we have seen a sharp uptick in legislation, legal challenges, and executive actions targeting the charitable sector, often without our input. This is not just a result of a uniquely adversarial political environment – it is also a consequence of a sector-wide retreat from advocacy and the hushing of our collective voice,” said Dr. Akilah Watkins, President and CEO of Independent Sector. “Independent Sector and the Principles Panel on Advocacy created this new framework to help organizations of all sizes ask the important questions that will allow them to create an advocacy strategy that works for them, tailored to their unique legal, political, and financial circumstances and risk tolerance. This is an important step towards establishing a sector-wide advocacy infrastructure and strengthening the collective influence of the 14 million nonprofit workers that step in to help when others step away.”
“Nonprofit leaders are navigating a rapidly changing policy environment, making advocacy more important than ever. This guide gives boards and senior leaders a structured way to assess the policy landscape, understand what is at stake for their organization, and make strategic choices about when and how to engage,” said Vanna Cure, Director of Advocacy and Engagement at Independent Sector. “For organizations grappling with their role in advocacy, this is a resource to return to again and again as they navigate decisions in the current moment and in the future.”
“Effective governance requires boards to look beyond organizational operations and consider the broader policy environments that affect the communities the organization exists to serve,” said Tara Huffman, Chief Program and Strategy Officer at BoardSource. “This guide responds to that responsibility by providing a practical set of questions that can help boards and executives make informed decisions about when and how advocacy may be needed to advance the organization’s purpose.”
The Principles Panel on Advocacy expands upon Independent Sector’s foundational Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice, a set of 33 sector-facing recommendations for self-governance that have served as an ethical standard for nonprofit accountability since their publication in 2007. Developed at the invitation of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, the Principles have guided nonprofit and foundation boards and executives in the areas of legal compliance and public disclosure, effective governance, strong financial oversight, and responsible fundraising, in order to increase transparency, accountability, and public trust. These Principles were first updated in 2015, and in 2027 Independent Sector is launching a comprehensive update to this framework with a particular focus on developing best practices for nonprofits engaging in public policy advocacy.
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Independent Sector is the national membership organization that connects, strengthens, and advocates for nonprofits and philanthropies. Learn more at independentsector.org.
Media Contact: Chloe Kessock, chloek@independentsector.org, 727-433-2972
