Advanced grassroots lobbying: teamwork through lobbying coalitions

When you really want to have an impact on something, it's best not to try and do it all alone.  That means putting together a team.  And when it comes to lobbying, that means a coalition.

Most national level lobbying is done through coalitions.  Lobbyists figured out long ago that they could be much more productive if they distributed the work load and shared intelligence with others who had the same goals.

In the same way, grassroots lobbying efforts are much more effective if you can convince others to join you in a team effort.

Here is a list of the primary types of lobbying coalitions

Informal Coalitions:

These are coalitions that are formed to share intelligence and “keep each other in the loop”.  Meeting with your natural allies on a regular basis will help to decrease back-biting and build trust. You could meet weekly or monthly, in person, or by conference call.

Natural Allies/Strange Bedfellows:

Work with your natural allies in coalitions (like-minded groups and elected officials), but also look for opportunities to work with those that you normally don’t associate with, (i.e., “strange-bedfellows” coalitions). Sometimes these partners work on different issues, and sometimes they work on opposite sides of the fence.  Such groups are hard to form.  Our natural inclination is to work with our friends, not those we don’t know, and certainly not our enemies. However, try to overcome these feelings when you find an issue that you can unite on because these groups can be very powerful!  They offer you credibility by appealing across ideological lines, as well as providing access to additional sets of legislative contacts.

Inside/Outside Coalition:

The best coalitions combine grassroots groups on the outside with legislative leaders on the inside. Legislators are privy to inside information you might not know unless you work with them, and they have a better grasp of the ins and outs of the legislative process.  So the first step is to recruit a legislator that can help you from the inside.

The important thing is to try to create the type of lobbying coalition that maximizes the strengths and resources of the people that have common goals and are willing to work together.

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