Once nonprofits have learned the ins and outs of the legislative process and built an effective advocacy message, they need to put that knowledge and preparation into action. One excellent way to do that is through DANA’s Subsector Advocacy Days, which brings nonprofit leaders, staff and board members to Dover to meet directly with policymakers and share their stories, goals and needs. 

To help get nonprofits ready for legislative session, we invite you to register for the DANA Advocacy Academy’s third workshop, Ready for Dover: Subsector Advocacy Preparation. While this session builds on concepts introduced in the previous workshops, you do not need to attend the others to participate. This session is designed to stand on its own and is open to anyone interested in strengthening their advocacy messaging skills. 

This interactive session will help nonprofit members prepare for upcoming Subsector Advocacy Days and the start of the 2027 legislative session. Participants will review the goals of these advocacy days, understand what to expect in meetings with policymakers, and learn how to communicate clearly and effectively about their organization’s work and the needs of the communities they serve. 

The session will focus on practical preparation, including logistics, shared talking points, meeting expectations, and how members can connect their organizational experiences to the nonprofit sector’s policy priorities. 

Participants will develop and practice a brief introductory conversation with legislators and other policymakers. This hands-on exercise will help members learn how to communicate their organization’s work, community impact, and policy priorities with clarity and confidence. 

In this session, you will learn to: 

• Understand the purpose and structure of DANA Subsector Advocacy Days. 
• Prepare for meetings with legislators and other policymakers. 
• Use talking points to communicate sector priorities clearly and consistently. 
• Connect your organization’s work and community impact to broader advocacy goals.

About the DANA Advocacy Academy | The DANA Advocacy Academy is designed to equip nonprofit leaders, staff, board members, and advocacy professionals with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to engage effectively in public policy. Each Academy workshop will engage participants with a different component of the advocacy process, from the fundamentals of nonprofit advocacy through Delaware’s legislative and budget processes, effective message development, and practical preparation for meetings with policymakers.