Civic, Issues Advocacy, & Activist Training Resources

This page is a curated list of web sites, videos and organizations that will help you get educated and trained to be a
more valuable and effective advocate for whatever project, cause or constituency that motivates you to stand up for to
build a stronger civic society for all. If you'd like to recommend worthwhile, affordable training resources for civic
advocacy, please email me for inclusion in this list at danielco9@gmail.com.

Campaign & Community Building

Elections

url: democraticgain.org
job board and resume bank, a wide range of career support services,
professional development trainings, events and other networking
opportunities, and additional unique benefits.

url: ballotpedia.org
Ballotpedia is a nonprofit & nonpartisan collaborative encyclopedia
designed to connect people to politics using a neutral point-of-view
philosophy. Information transforms lives & politics when it is available to
the greatest number of people.

url: groups.google.com/d/forum/jobsthatareleft
Maintained by Democratic GAIN, a resource for lefty job & intership
postings, events, fundraisers and other professional opportunities.
url: networkingred.com
Connects you with Republican, libertarian, and conservative professional
resources: jobs, internships, events, and more.
url: ctb.ku.edu/en Community Tool Box
A free, online resource for those working to build healthier communities
and bring about social change that reached 6 million people worldwide.By
the University of Kansas.
url: globalgiving.org
GlobalGiving is a charity fundraising web site that gives social
entrepreneurs and non-profits from anywhere in the world a chance to
raise the money that they need to improve their communities.

url: votesmart.org
The Voter's self-defense system. 5000 volunteers research candidates
and sitting officals alike and make their records available free for
everyone to use.
url: watchdog.org
A project of the Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity, a
non-profit organization that promotes a well-informed electorate and a
more transparent government. Through state-based investigative
reporters in more than 40 states, Watchdog.org exposes government
waste, fraud and abuse of power.
url: realclearpolitics.com
Updated every morning and throughout the day, RCP culls and
publishes the best commentary, news, polling data, and links to
important resources from all points of the political compass and
covering all the important issues of the day.

url: volunteermatch.org
Find community based organizations that need your help, time and
talents. Search by zip code or by issue.

Philanthropy, Fundraising & Development

Issue Background / Research

url: philanthropy.blogspot.com / lucybernholz.com

THE FUTURE OF GOOD the blog of Lucy Bernholz, a self-styled
philanthropy wonk, visting scholar at Stanford University and author of an
annual industry forecast for philanthropy.

url: movements.org
In closed societies around the world, brave human rights defenders face
enormous hurdles to advance human rights. Movements.org is a new
platform that allows people everywhere to help protect basic freedoms by
offering their skills to help.

url: grantcraft.org
A service of the Foundation Center that combines the practical wisdom of
funders worldwide with the expertise of Foundation Center to improve the
practice of philanthropy by delivering the knowledge funders need to be
strategic & effective in their work across various strategies and issue
areas.
url: monitorinstitute.com
Monitor Institute is a social enterprise that surfaces & spreads best
practices in public problem solving & pioneers next practices. We partner
with mission-driven organizations & their leaders, helping them make the
hard choices & take the necessary actions to reach a new level of
impact..
url: afpnet.org
Advancing Ethical and Effective Fundraising Worldwide. The standardbearer for professionalism in fundraising.
url: cfre.org
CFRE International certifies experienced fundraising professionals
aspiring to the highest standards of ethics, competence and service to the
philanthropic sector.

url: influenceexplorer.com
Explore how companies, lawmakers and prominent individuals influence
the political system: a project of the SunLight Foundation.
url: naturalresourcecharter.org
The Charter is a set of principles for governments and societies on how
to best harness the opportunities created by extractive resources for
development.
url: foodandwaterwatch.org
Food & Water Watch champions healthy food and clean water for all.
They stand up to corporations that put profits before people, and
advocate for a democracy that improves peoples lives and protects our
environment.
url: ewg.org
The Environmental Working Groups mission is to empower people to
live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Using breakthrough
research and education to drive consumer choice and civic action.
url: opportunityindex.org
Measures a number of indicators at the county and state levels that
contribute to economic opportunity and mobility. We include indicators
that have a demonstrated connection to expanding or restricting
economic mobility and opportunity.

TAKE UP THE CALL TO ADVOCACY

STOP and THINK

Consider the people you have encountered in your life, all the way from childhood to the present,
and how many of them either were, or maybe, impacted by some of themajor issues of our times:
homelessness, income inequality, climate change. Consider also, how, in years to come, these
issues may directly impact your own life and those of you close loved ones?
Realize now is the time to do something proactive about it, not later when the problem in staring
you in the face.

EXPLORE the Issue Yourself

Regardless of what charitable, community or advocacy causes speaks to you, invest some time in
getting physically close to it, to get past the tehory and mere descriptions in media to actaully get
closer to the experience of the issue in real life. It makes a critical difference to getting you over
the hump of sitting on the sidelines and merely being concerned to standing up and taking
effective action.

USE the Resources

Alone or with someone, take the time to read, at least, the first few pages of each web site and
learn who is doing what about the issues we collectively face.
Consider giving a small amount of time in voluntary service to a local community organization that
addresses one an issue you care about. Explore how you can fit your knowledge and experience
to a cause and get feedback from those already doing the work to help guide you further.

SPEAK UP in Your Community

Regardless of any demographic factor, everyone should be concerned with the challenges facing
our nation, and world. No matter our particular circumstances, Make sure family, friends, neighbors
and coworkers hear about the topics which need attention in your local community.

JOIN & SUPPORT the Existing Programs & Groups

There is an organization of people working on every cause under the sun; don't re-invent the
wheel! - join those already working on the issues you care about and amplify your collective
voices!
While 'having heart and passion' matter, so does efficiency! Add your passion and efforts to that of
others and make positive, generative change a reality today.
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