Writing for Activist Causes: Strategy

Earlier this week, I started my Writing for Activist Organizations Series with instructions to choose a compelling issue and craft a strong message. Today, it’s time for Tip #2:

Present a Comprehensive Strategy 

Donors to activist organizations are passionate about making a difference. And they want to hear exactly how you’re going to use their contribution to make that difference.

One very effective technique I use is to pick 4-5 action items and highlight them in the letter, using bold headlines or bullet points to call attention to the fact that these paragraphs are important. They are telling the reader something he or she needs to know.

Do these have to be different for each and every issue? The short answer is “Nope.”

The truth is, you’re going to have a few tools you reach for again and again. For some activists it’s the OpEd – hard-hitting, informational pieces that get read widely. Other groups are great at throwing splashy demonstrations to call attention to their issues. Still others are, at heart, policy wonks, making changes from the inside that impact each and every one of us.

Whatever your tools are, tell your donors about them. Remind them over and over again…because chances are, your unique set of tools are a big part of what inspired those donors to give to you in the first place.

And be as specific as you can. Don’t just say you’ll have meetings with high-level officials. Tell them you’re meeting with the head of the EPA, or the Defense Minister of France. Publishing an OpEd in The New York Times? Tell them what it was about and, if possible, the impact it had.

One great bonus: thinking strategically for your donors can lead you to think more strategically for your own in-house efforts, too.

What strategies to you use in your activism? And how can you communicate those to your donors? Tell me about ‘em below.