Voice-In, Voice-Out: Constituent Participation and Nonprofit Advocacy

Abstract

How do participatory constituent practices affect the scope and intensity of nonprofit advocacy? In this exploratory study, we empirically examine this question through the use of survey data from a random sample of charitable nonprofit organizations in Arizona in 2007. Our findings show that the scope and intensity of nonprofit advocacy tend to increase with constituent board membership, communication with constituents, and level of constituent involvement in strategic decision making, yet decrease with the growth in government funding and private contributions. These findings suggest important implications for organizations wishing to be more effective in influencing public policy.

Keywords: Advocacy, Nonprofit Organizations, Participation, Representation