Study: Each dollar spent on advocacy returns $157

A new study done in New Mexico shows a total of more than $2.6 billion of benefits to the broader public was a result of $16.6 million of support from foundations and other sources to nonprofits to support their advocacy efforts.

The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy in December released a report that documents the impact of nonprofits engaging in advocacy, organizing and civic engagement work in New Mexico generated by its Grantmaking for Community Impact Project which highlights the positive impact that communities have seen through funder-supported nonprofit advocacy, community organizing and civic engagement work.

For example, through efforts by coalitions of nonprofits in Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, more than 200,000 low-wage workers have garnered over $250 million. In January 2009, a statewide minimum wage increase will be fully phased in, bringing the base rate to $7.50 per hour, higher than the federal rate.

The report is the first in a series; the project is headed next to North Carolina and then to Minnesota where NCRP will be working with the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits and the Minnesota Council on Nonprofits.

This first report, Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities, was based on a study of advocacy in New Mexico. The findings show that for every dollar invested in advocacy work in New Mexico from 2003 to 2007, the community saw $157 in benefits.  The report measures impact using quantitative and qualitative methods. It draws on the latest advances in advocacy evaluation, organizing outcome measurement and the positive returns to social capital from civic engagement.

The press release announcing the report is here.  The executive summary is here.  And the full report is here. To sign up to receive NCRP’s free monthly electronic newsletter, click here; learn more about becoming a member of NCRP by clicking here.