Effective lobbying requires a coordination of two very different kinds of lobbying activity:
“Inside” Lobbying
One form of lobbying takes place in the Capitol. It includes a mix of the following:
- Meetings with lawmakers and legislative staff
- Providing analysis and information on your services and service population to legislators and staff
- Testifying in committees
- Negotiating with policymakers and other lobby groups
For the most part this type of lobbying is carried out by or in coordination with advocates who work on a regular basis at the Capitol.
“Outside” Lobbying
An effective lobbying campaign also requires activity outside the Capitol, aimed at shifting the politics and pressure around the issue. Some of these activities include:
- Media Activity including news conferences, editorial board visits, and assisting reporters with stories
- Local lobbying visits by constituents to their legislators
- Building broad, diverse coalitions
- Letter writing campaigns to legislators
- Grassroots activity such as rallies, etc.
It is important that these kinds of “outside” lobbying activities be coordinated with “inside” lobbying activity, to assure that they make strategic sense in terms of timing, targeting, messages, etc.
Connecticut Association of Nonprofits
