Service-Providing Nonprofits Working in Coalition to Advocate for Policy Change
- 24 July 2017
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly
- Vol. 47 (1), 27-48
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0899764017721060
Abstract
Nonprofit organizations that primarily provide social or health services can play an important role in policy advocacy, as indicated by recent research. Less is known about how and why they participate in policy advocacy, and concerns remain that their advocacy is overly self-interested. This case study of an urban immigrant health policy advocacy coalition made up primarily of service-providing nonprofits in New York City suggests that (a) service-providing nonprofits’ insights as daily case-level advocates for their clients generate unique contributions to policy change agendas, particularly at the policy implementation level rather than at the legislative level; (b) these organizations do not necessarily see a conflict between their organizational survival imperatives and social change objectives, nor between case-level and higher level advocacy; and (c) a coalition structure, leadership by an experienced advocacy organization, and dedicated foundation funding can elevate case advocacy concerns into a higher level and more sustained advocacy agenda.Keywords
This publication has 45 references indexed in Scilit:
- Policy Entrepreneurship and Policy ChangePolicy Studies Journal, 2009
- The Limits and Potential of Nonprofit Organizations in Participatory Planning: A Case Study of the New York Hiv Planning CouncilJournal of Urban Affairs, 2009
- The Emerging Role of Nonprofit Associations in Advocacy and Public Policy: Trends, Issues, and ProspectsNonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 2009
- Civic Engagement and Nonprofit Lobbying in California, 1998-2003Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 2007
- Putting the S back in corporate social responsibility: A multilevel theory of social change in organizationsAcademy of Management Review, 2007
- Nonprofit Advocacy Organizations: Their Characteristics and Activities*Social Science Quarterly, 2007
- Advocacy Organizations in the U.S. Political ProcessAnnual Review of Sociology, 2004
- Community development intermediary systems in the United States: Origins, evolution, and functionsHousing Policy Debate, 1998
- Democratic Accountability and Governmental Innovation in the Use of Nonprofit OrganizationsReview of Policy Research, 1995
- Issue Networks and Nonprofit OrganizationsReview of Policy Research, 1995