Tennessee Nonprofit Network is excited to announce a two-day legislative engagement event that will empower nonprofit staff and board members to be confident advocates and carry that confidence with them to meet with our elected officials and advocate for our sector and the work that our organizations do. This two-day event will serve as a source of inspiration and a vital link between and among the Tennessee Nonprofit sector and members of the TN General Assembly.
The Advocacy Summit is on the first day of this two-day event and the second day will consist of our Day on the Hill activities. The Advocacy Summit will be held on Tuesday, February 27th in Nashville, with registration beginning at 9:00am and programming beginning at 10:15am CST.
The goals of the Advocacy Summit are to:
- Empower our nonprofit sector to be a more confident vocal nonpartisan voice in legislative engagement and advocacy
- Hear from successful and seasoned government relations and nonprofit professionals during engaging breakout sessions
- Learn about effective techniques to move your nonpartisan legislative agenda forward
- Network with fellow advocates to make our collective voice stronger
Give a Presentation at the 2024 Advocacy Summit
The inaugural Advocacy Summit will empower and give participants the tools to help them make their day on the Hill impactful. During the Advocacy Summit, each session will provide participants with the opportunity to learn from other nonprofit professionals and advocacy/lobbying professionals. We are seeking experienced facilitators to lead sessions based on the following tracks:
- Track 1: Advocacy and Lobbying: Beginner
- Track 2: Advocacy and Lobbying: Intermediate
- Track 3: Advocacy and Lobbying: Expert
- Track 4: Advocacy and Lobbying: Leadership (for CEO’s and Board Members)
We will provide a $250 honorarium for our breakout speakers. This is your opportunity to position yourself as an expert in front of some of the most prominent nonprofit, corporate and philanthropic leaders across the state of Tennessee.
Presenters should have:
- A track record of understanding and experience in their topic area
- An interactive presentation approach that embraces theories of adult learning and ensures the best learning and engagement opportunity for the audience
- An energetic presence and engaging facilitation style that will support our goal to make content memorable, easier to retain, and well-rated
- Diverse ideas and perspectives incorporated in their presentation
- Materials that clearly align with summit topic
- Additional resources, activities, worksheets to supplement the attendee experience and for continued learning
Presentation Formats
Presenters will present to summit attendees in-person in formats such as a panel, fireside chat, or an interactive workshop.
Presenters will present their presentation only once. We would ask all confirmed presenters to provide presentation materials and/or presentations to the Tennessee Nonprofit Network planning team, details to follow once presenters have been confirmed.
Proposal Timeline Submission Deadline
- Accepting submissions November 8th- November 22nd
- Review of submissions November 27th- December 1st
- Notification of selection – December 4th – 8th
- Final summit agenda published – week of December 18th
Proposals should be submitted online.
You will be asked to provide:
- The session title and summary
- A detailed description of your proposed session
- Your bio, contact information, and social media profiles (optional for promotional purposes)
Who Attends
With the diversity of industry practitioners convening under one theme, the Advocacy Summit presents the opportunity for professionals at varying career stages and across sectors (executives, academics, program leaders, board members, funders, consultants, coaches, etc.) to collaborate, learn, shape and advance the nonprofit sector for the good of the communities we serve.
Location: Scarritt Bennett Conference Center in Nashville, TN
Advocacy Summit Learning Tracks
The Summit Learning Tracks below are used to help participants determine which track is best for them based on their experience in the topic.
Beginner (0-2 years)
- For participants with very limited or no experience or knowledge of advocacy and/or lobbying
- For participants that are exploring advocacy and lobbying strategies, or in the very early stages of starting advocacy and/or lobbying efforts
- For participants seeking to learn very basic fundamentals about advocacy and/or lobbying
Examples of Appropriate Topics
- The Legislative Process – Landscape of the Legislature, The Twists and Turns of a Bill Becoming a Law
- Advocacy/Lobby 101 – Why Advocate?, Basic Etiquette and Communication Techniques, Do’s and Don’ts
- Building Your Public Policy Agenda
- Compliance – State and Federal (there may/may not be time here to discuss the 501(h) elections vs. the substantial part test)
- Becoming a More Confident Public Speaker To Lawmakers
- General Assembly Structure: Committee, Sub-committee, chairs, etc.
Intermediate (3-5 years)
- For participants with existing foundational knowledge and a few years of hands-on experience.
- For participants interested in growing their existing advocacy and/or lobbying strategies
- For participants seeking to dive deeper and strengthen foundational knowledge and skills regarding advocacy and/or lobbying efforts.
Examples of Appropriate Topics
- Advanced Advocacy/Lobbying – Leveraging Relationships, Advocating Beyond Your Representative/Senator, State Agencies
- Nonpartisan Approach to Public Policy
- Building Civic/Voter Engagement in Your Community
- Storytelling: Sharing Your Mission and Impact with Legislators
Advanced (6+ years)
- Nonprofit Hot Topics – Grant Reform, Workforce Shortage, Government Contracting, and more
- Current State Legislation Affecting Nonprofits
Leadership (CEOs and Board Members)
- The Role of the Board in Advocacy/Lobbying
- Building Coalitions and Networks
- Case Study in Advocacy and Lobbying in Action: The TN COVID-19 Recovery Act and Nonprofit Funding Subcommittee
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