The following post was written by Issela Sono, Nonprofit Management and Governance Intern at the Standards for Excellence Institute^®. Issela has volunteered in various nonprofit organizations in the Maryland and Washington, DC area while pursuing her undergraduate studies in Global Business and Public Policy. Issela is certified in Nonprofit Management from Duke University and is currently pursuing a M.B.A., with a concentration in Public Management, at Hood College. Part of every nonprofit organization’s role in our society is to educate the public. The most basic way in which nonprofits provide educational material to the public is through their websites, social media sites, and annual reports. These communication media offer a platform to keep the public informed on issues of interest to them – particularly issues being addressed by the organization. Similarly, nonprofits participate in advocacy and public policy activities that help them work toward achieving their missions. These activities may also entail encouraging the public’s participation. In order to comply with the pertinent laws, organizations should implement policies in these areas. The following excerpt from the Standards for Excellence® code highlights the importance of engaging and educating the public: “Nonprofits should represent the interests of the people they serve through public education and public policy advocacy, as well as by encouraging board members, staff, volunteers, and stakeholders to participate in the public affairs of the community. When appropriate to advance the organization’s mission, nonprofits should engage in promoting public participation in community affairs and elections. As such, they should communicate in an effective manner to educate, inform, and engage the public.” The 2.0 version of our educational resource packets that address the areas of awareness, engagement and advocacy include: Advancing the Mission through Public Policy

• Defining the terms advocacy and lobbying;
• Allowable lobbying and advocacy activities;
• Registration and disclosure of lobbying activity
• Developing public policy/advocacy policy for your organization
• Featured attachments: sample policy on public policy, sample advocacy policy, Worry-Free Lobbying for Nonprofits (Alliance for Justice

Educating and Engaging the Public

• Benefits of engaging the public; openness; annual reporting;
  • Elements of an annual report;
  • Public access, opportunities for the organization leadership to communicate with the public; Educational information
• Featured attachment: Final Checklist Before Releasing Materials to Public

As is the case with all our updated educational resource packets, the documents include sample policies, procedures, and other materials that will guide your organization through the process of developing and implementing essential policies for your nonprofit. The new educational resource packets are available, free of charge, to all our Standards for Excellence® Institute members and can be accessed at this link: http://www.standardsforexcellenceinstitute.org/dnn/Education/Resources.aspx