Banner - Knowledbase 1080x1080-2

Theme: Advocacy 

Advocacy Tactics (Basics)

This introductory session is tailored for CEOs, senior executives, nonprofit leaders, academic leaders, and other decision-makers who are ready to transform ideas, insights, early evidence, and organizational goals into actionable public policy strategies. Using the Executive-Legislative-Pressure Group (ELP) framework, participants will gain practical tools to drive meaningful change and advance their organization’s mission.

CITATION: ELP Structured Advocacy Framework, Government Analytica, 2025

See Our Services

Introduction to Advocacy Tactics

Advocacy is a strategic process aimed at influencing decision-makers to support policies that bring meaningful change. To be effective, it requires thoughtful planning, clear communication, and targeted engagement. Advocacy tactics help organizations navigate the complex landscape of stakeholders, including government officials, legislators, pressure groups, and the public.

The cornerstone of advocacy lies in understanding and addressing stakeholder alignment—whether they are in favor, neutral, or against your proposal. Tactics must be tailored to amplify the voices of those who support your goals, persuade neutral parties to align with your vision, and blunt the influence of opposition.

Successful advocacy integrates tools such as coalition building, stakeholder mapping, tailored messaging, and data-driven communication to advance public value. By engaging stakeholders with the right mix of tactics, organizations can drive policy change, mobilize grassroots support, and create a lasting positive impact on communities and society as a whole.

The 3x3 Advocacy Stakeholder Map is a tool used to map stakeholders into nine categories derived from 3 types of roles and 3 types of positions they may hold.  We have described the positions (In-Favor, Neutral, Against) and their role (Executive Branch, Legislative Branch, Pressure Groups) elsewhere in detail and how to create a Stakeholder Map. Here's how it works:

3 Cardinal Advocacy Strategies

Our 3-pronged approach provides common sense clarity on where to focus your efforts and helps prioritize tactics to maximize advocacy impact.

  1. Amplify the Voices of Those In-Favor: Strategically strengthen and elevate the influence of stakeholders already aligned with your goals.
  2. Convince Neutrals to Move to In-Favor: Engage and persuade undecided stakeholders to support your cause.
  3. Blunt the Influence of Those Against: Implement tactics to minimize the impact of stakeholders opposing your initiative.

How It’s Used:

  1. Identify Stakeholders:
    • For each row (Executive, Legislative, Pressure Groups), list individuals, organizations, or entities relevant to your advocacy goal.
  2. Categorize Stakeholders:
    • Place them in the appropriate column (In-Favor, Neutral, Against) based on their stance on your issue.
  3. Develop Strategies for Each Group:
    • In-Favor: Build alliances, provide resources, and amplify their voice through public platforms or partnerships.
    • Neutral: Educate them on the benefits of your initiative and address concerns to shift their position.
    • Against: Reduce their influence through strategic counter-messaging, public engagement, or coalition-building.

As an examples this is a set of tactics that can be used for various stakeholders on the grid:

  In-Favor Neutral Against
Executive Branch Provide Resources: Equip executive allies with data, evidence, and talking points to champion your cause. Tailored Education Campaigns: Brief key executives with customized information to address specific concerns. Expound Public Value: Highlight how your proposal aligns with public good and improves the nation’s well-being.
Legislative Branch Coalition Building: Foster coalitions among aligned legislators to present a unified voice. One-on-One Meetings: Arrange personal meetings with undecided legislators to address concerns directly. Counter Messaging: Develop fact-based rebuttals to opposition arguments and share them with legislators.
Pressure Groups Media Engagement: Partner with pressure groups to amplify positive messages in the media. Invite Participation: Offer neutral groups roles in advisory committees or working groups to involve them. Divide and Conquer: Identify and target divisions within opposition groups to weaken their overall influence.

Explanation of Selected Tactics:

  1. In-Favor:

    • Executive Branch: Providing resources empowers allies in key government roles to act effectively and speak persuasively.
    • Legislative Branch: Coalition building amplifies impact by uniting supportive legislators to collectively advocate for the policy.
    • Pressure Groups: Media engagement leverages their influence to expand public awareness and reinforce support.

  2. Neutral:

    • Executive Branch: Tailored education campaigns address executives’ specific hesitations and build trust in your proposal.
    • Legislative Branch: One-on-one meetings allow for personalized dialogue, creating space for persuasion.
    • Pressure Groups: Inviting participation offers neutral groups a sense of ownership, encouraging them to align with your goals.

  3. Against:

    • Executive Branch: Expounding the public value frames opposition as harmful to the greater good, undermining their stance.
    • Legislative Branch: Counter messaging ensures legislators are equipped with facts to challenge opposition arguments.
    • Pressure Groups: Dividing and conquering weakens the opposition by reducing their unity and impact.

By targeting specific strategies for each combination of role (Executive, Legislative, Pressure Groups) and alignment (In-Favor, Neutral, Against), you can maximize support, build alliances, and effectively counter opposition.