Strengthening Boards Through Advocacy

“Advocacy is really about strengthening your organization.” – Rena Henderson Mason

Is advocacy built into your board? Are all members of your board empowered to make the case for your mission? Establishing advocacy work as board responsibility is a critical first step—but where do you begin and how do you integrate advocacy into your organizational culture?

On March 28, 2019, ArtsFund hosted Activate Your Board in Advocacy: How to Bring Your Board Along, a webinar led by Rena Henderson Mason. Henderson Mason is founder of Bold Agenda, a national consulting firm for nonprofits, and joined ArtsFund last spring to offer a series of board building webinars.

Henderson Mason shared key elements of a successful advocacy plan, providing resources and expertise on how webinar participants—board and staff members alike—can shape their own advocacy action plan. She emphasized the importance of engaging the board in advocacy work, noting that:

“There is something that happens when you are able to advocate for the mission. You learn how to make change in your community, you learn more about your mission as a board member, you gain confidence about educating others in acting on your behalf, and you really begin to develop the leadership skills necessary to be a great board member and a great fundraiser.”

Couldn’t make the webinar? A recording is available below to help you activate your board in advocacy.

Click here to view the slides from Activate Your Board in Advocacy.

ArtsFund’s convenings series is sponsored by The Boeing Company.

Photo credits left to right: Survival to Success, photo by Robert Wade; Board Networking Happy Hour, photo by Evan McGlinn; Washington State Legislative Building, photo by Katy Corella.