Advocacy Initiative polling research Patrick Brennan, Research Director Patrick.Brennan@nfpSynergy.net 0044 7941 055376 0044 20 7426 8871
Agenda • Background & objectives • What the public understand about Advocacy work • Current levels of support and involvement • Lessons from Westminster
• What’s next • Questions & discussion
Objectives •
•
The objective of the Initiative is to better understand public attitudes (negative and positive) towards NGOs engaging in advocacy and policy development. This data will inform future activities of the Initiative and may be used in engaging with a range of stakeholders. The ambition is to provide information that will interrogate a number of assumptions that social justice advocates make regarding the understanding and attitudes of the general population. The key objectives for the Initiative are to: o Gauge the level of understanding of social justice advocacy (the term ‘campaign’ and/or ‘lobbying’ will be used as it is likely to have greater resonance with a general audience). o Identify the level of support for this activity, including the link between fundraising and advocacy. o Level of potential for developing mobilization of general public and engaging in advocacy. o Understanding of advocacy in broader political context.
Agenda • Background & objectives • What the public understand about Advocacy work • Current levels of support and involvement • Lessons from Westminster
• What’s next • Questions & discussion
Associations with the word Lobbying
What do you think of when you hear the following terms? Lobbying
Base: All respondents (1,436), 16+, Republic of Ireland Source: Irish Charity Engagement Monitor, Nov 2012, nfpSynergy
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Associations with the word Lobbying Excluding “Politics” “Politicians” and “Government”
What do you think of when you hear the following terms? Lobbying Base: All respondents (1,436), 16+, Republic of Ireland Source: Irish Charity Engagement Monitor, Nov 2012, nfpSynergy
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Associations with the word Campaigning
What do you think of when you hear the following terms? Campaigning
Base: All respondents (1,436), 16+, Republic of Ireland Source: Irish Charity Engagement Monitor, Nov 2012, nfpSynergy
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Associations with the word Campaigning Excluding “Politics” “Politicians” and “Advertising”
What do you think of when you hear the following terms? Campaigning Base: All respondents (1,436), 16+, Republic of Ireland Source: Irish Charity Engagement Monitor, Nov 2012, nfpSynergy
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Associations with the word Advocacy
What do you think of when you hear the following terms? Advocacy Base: All respondents (1,436), 16+, Republic of Ireland Source: Irish Charity Engagement Monitor, Nov 2012, nfpSynergy
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Associations with the words Charity and nonprofit groups
What do you think of when you hear the following terms? Charity and non-profit groups Base: All respondents (1,436), 16+, Republic of Ireland Source: Irish Charity Engagement Monitor, Nov 2012, nfpSynergy
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Understanding of charities and politics False
Don't know
Businesses can support a political party
Charities or nonprofit groups can support a political party Charities or nonprofit groups are allowed to engage in political lobbying
Businesses can regularly meet with Government ministers Charities or nonprofit groups regularly meet with government ministers
Charities or nonprofit groups can organise protests and demonstrations
True
-14%
-35%
57%
20%
-19%
37%
-16%
-19%
47%
36%
-12%
56%
Which of the following are true or false? Base: All respondents (1,436), 16+, Republic of Ireland Source: Irish Charity Engagement Monitor, Nov 2012, nfpSynergy
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Agenda • Background & objectives • What the public understand about Advocacy work • Current levels of support and involvement • Lessons from Westminster
• What’s next • Questions & discussion
The public think it is important for charities to lobby government Not at all important
Not very important
-7% -3%
Not Sure
Somewhat important
43%
Very important
29%
“How important is it to you that the charity you support campaigns publicly and lobbies government for better social outcomes?�
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Base: All respondents (1,000), 16+, Republic of Ireland Source: ICEM Nov-10 , nfpSynergy
Many recognize it as part of your “cause” Cause
Administration
Fundraising
Delivering child care services
64%
A person campaigning to change the law
13%
51%
A campaign to improve children's understanding of international development
21%
48%
A director managing several medical research projects
14%
Producting and distributing information materials
13%
An advertising campaign
29%
7%
A Charity's Head of Fundraising
6%
A charity's Chief Executive
5%
0%
11%
49%
14%
49% 69%
13%
40%
8%
60%
80%
“Please indicate which of the following charity activities and staff members you would think of as counting as part of "administration" costs, which as fundraising costs, and which as money spend on the "cause”.
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Base: 1,212 adults 16+, Republic of Ireland 14 Source: Irish Charity Engagement Monitor, Apr/May 2011, nfpSynergy
10% 13%
31% 71%
20%
10%
27%
51%
15% 15%
34%
49%
9%
A staff member who opens, processes and issues thank you letters for donations received
15% 8%
37%
29%
20%
23%
53%
11%
11%
11%
8%
13%
24%
A magazine giving members information about the charity
A direct mail campaign
Not sure
16% 100%
Bust must be balanced False
Charities or nonprofit groups spend too much time lobbying and not enough directly helping people
-29%
Don't know
True
29%
Which of the following are true or false? Base: All respondents (1,436), 16+, Republic of Ireland Source: Irish Charity Engagement Monitor, Nov 2012, nfpSynergy
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People are positive about the potential role of charities Strongly Agree I believe that greater involvement of charities and community groups in national policy making would ensure that vulnerable people are better provided for in the current crisis
I think charities have provided more leadership than politicians during the recent crisis
I think charities and civil society groups should become more involved in policy making at a national level
I would be interested in getting involved in a national movement of charity and civil society groups if a credible one presented itself
Agree
15%
42%
12%
37%
11%
9%
39%
27%
“To what extent do you agree with the following statements about the role of the government and the role of charities in the recent economic crisis?�
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Base: All respondents (1,000), 16+, Republic of Ireland Source: ICEM Nov-10 , nfpSynergy
Involvement in campaigning activities, by age Activities relating to new technologies show the expected effects of age, but otherwise there are campaigners in every age group
16-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65+ 37% 31% 27%
13%
12% 7% 3%
Taken part in a public demonstration
5%
6%
Taken part in a public meeting
10% 7%
Text/SMS message campaign
5%
Signed a campaigning postcard
Joined a group on a Added your name to social networking a petition site
“Which of the following activities have you done in the past 3 months in support of a charity?”; “Which of the following activities would you consider doing, if you were asked by a charity you support?”
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Base: All respondents (1,000), 16+, Republic of Ireland Source: ICEM Nov-10 , nfpSynergy
Perceived influence on government policy
Businesses
Charities and non-profit groups
Religious bodies/ Churches
Trade Unions
Farmers
How influential do you think the following groups are/should be in persuading Irish Government to change the law or policy? Somewhat influential + Very influential Base: All respondents (1,436), 16+, Republic of Ireland Source: Irish Charity Engagement Monitor, Nov 2012, nfpSynergy
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Perceived influence on government policy Trade Unions
59%
Businesses
55%
Farmers
53%
Perceived Influence Religious bodies/ Churches
Charities and non-profit groups
41%
15%
How influential do you think the following groups are/should be in persuading Irish Government to change the law or policy? Somewhat influential + Very influential Base: All respondents (1,436), 16+, Republic of Ireland Source: Irish Charity Engagement Monitor, Nov 2012, nfpSynergy
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Perceived versus ideal influence on government policy 59%
Trade Unions
53%
55%
Businesses
36%
53%
Farmers
40% Perceived Influence
Religious bodies/ Churches
Charities and non-profit groups
41% 17%
Ideal Influence
15% 46%
How influential do you think the following groups are/should be in persuading Irish Government to change the law or policy? Somewhat influential + Very influential Base: All respondents (1,436), 16+, Republic of Ireland Source: Irish Charity Engagement Monitor, Nov 2012, nfpSynergy
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Does advocacy have an image problem? •
Are you using the right language to address it? o Lobbying is potentially annoying o Advocacy is potentially ambiguous o Campaigning is potentially both o How do you talk about this area of work, simply and without putting people off? o And ensure advocacy is perceived as part of your cause, not a distraction from it?
•
How do you convince the public you can live up to their expectations? o The public thinks highly of charities and want you to lobby o But is thinking that you have no clout putting them off from joining you? o Is there a “£5 buys 20 mosquito nets” equivalent in campaigning?
•
Can you start picking any ‘low hanging fruit’? o There is scope for charities to ask the public to campaign more, given their support for charities playing a campaigning role. o Can make use of donor databases to find campaigners, as existing donors are more likely to be interested in taking campaigning action? o It will be important to target types of campaigning at certain groups: older groups are more willing to participate in writing and emailing campaigns.
Agenda • Background & objectives • What the public understand about Advocacy work • Current levels of support and involvement • Lessons from Westminster
• What’s next • Questions & discussion
Make poverty history
4%
5%
4%
“Do you recall any specific campaigns, media coverage, or advertising carried out by charities, voluntary organisations or pressure groups, over the last 6 months? “ Base: c. 150 MPs Source: Charity Parliamentary Monitor, Jun 12, nfpSynergy
5%
6% 6% Sep-12
4%
9%
Jan/Feb-12
Jun-07
Jan-07
Jun-06
Jan-06
Jun-05
Jan-05
Jun-04
5%
9% 8%
Jun-11
5%
8%
Jan-11
8%
8%
9%
16%
14% 12%
May-10
Tsunami appeal
8% 5%
11%
3% Jan-04
Jun-03
Jan-03
Barnardo’s
9%
14%
14%
BHF
13%
11%
Jun-02
16%
18%
Jan-10
18%
Royal British Legion ‘s campaign
Climate change
22%
Jan-09
22%
Macmillan’s campaigns
IFAW
27%
Alzheimer’s
31% 29%
Jun-08
31%
RSPCA
33%
Lab MPs recall of most recalled campaign
Jan-08
NSPCC’ Full Stop
37%
Con MPs recall of most recalled campaign
Jun-09
Trade Justice movement
Competition between charities makes standing out difficult
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Impressions can change by party Top nine charities which have impressed MPs - by party
Local Hospice
16%
Royal British Legion Macmillan Cancer Support Save the Children Citizens Advice Help For Heroes NSPCC Cancer Research UK Age UK
10% 8% 7% 5% 2% 1% 1% 0%
Save the Children Macmillan Cancer Support Cancer Research UK Citizens Advice Age UK Local Hospice Royal British Legion NSPCC Help For Heroes
14% 9% 7% 7% 4% 4% 3% 1% 1%
“Which charities have directly impressed you in the last 6 months?� Base: 153 MPs Source: Charity Parliamentary Monitor, Sep12, nfpSynergy
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Charities with established reputations are likely to be critiqued for more political campaigns “Do a wonderful job in operational terms, however they can be a very partisan organisation” Conservative MP, Feb 12 “Good care, bad policy” Conservative MP, Feb 12
“Best to stick to practical action not political campaigning” Conservative MP, Feb 12 “Too melodramatic a campaign” Conservative MP, Feb 12
“Cut out the party politics” Conservative MP, Feb 12
“Too much unfocused scare mongering” Lib Dem MP, Jan 12
“The government will respond in due course, so they are jumping the gun” Conservative MP, Feb 12
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Charity are being overshadowed by economics ECONOMIC CLIMATE/COST OF LIVING
54%
POLITICAL
12%
HEALTH/NHS
12%
CHARITIES/CHARITABLE GIVING
EDUCATION
11%
8%
“Which issues do you think will be at the top of your agenda over the next 12 months?”
Please write in the space provided.
Base: 150 MPs Source: Charity Parliamentary Monitor, May 12, nfpSynergy
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Contacting politicians Face-to-face meetings at Westminster
30%
Event at Westminster
46%
Correspondence at Westminster
70%
Event in my constituency
15%
Constituency business
23%
Correspondence in my constituency
27%
Reports and publications
23%
Media coverage House business At party conferences
32%
Most frequent (May-Jun 12)
6% 16%
“How do you come into contact with charities, public bodies or government agencies? Please tick the three most frequent ways and the three most influential ways (in helping you form an opinion of them) in which you come into contact with these� Base: 150 MPs Source: Charity Parliamentary Monitor, May 12, nfpSynergy
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Contacting politicians Face-to-face meetings at Westminster
30%
Event at Westminster
Event in my constituency
70%
45%
15%
Constituency business
43%
23% 25% 27%
Correspondence in my constituency
17%
Reports and publications
23%
16%
Media coverage
At party conferences
46%
17%
Correspondence at Westminster
House business
49%
30%
6%
11%
8%
Most influential (May-Jun 12) 32% Most frequent (May-Jun 12)
16%
“How do you come into contact with charities, public bodies or government agencies? Please tick the three most frequent ways and the three most influential ways (in helping you form an opinion of them) in which you come into contact with these� Base: 150 MPs Source: Charity Parliamentary Monitor, May 12, nfpSynergy
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Conclusions: Some basic lessons •
It is difficult to compete – both with other charities and other business. Effective collaboration may be key.
•
It is easy to be partisan, but probably not as effective. Develop strong relationships with all sides of the house.
•
Remember the basics: o Be focussed, concise and informative o Have a specific objective and communicate it well o Think local o Encourage supporters to write to their TD o Provide media opportunities
Agenda • Background & objectives • What the public understand about Advocacy work • Current levels of support and involvement • Lessons from Westminster
• What’s next • Questions & discussion
Plans for Spring 2013 Q. If charity or non-profit group that you give money Q. Please indicate whether you think Ireland does too to asks you to participate in a campaigning? much, too little, or just enough to protect the activity such as signing a petition, which of the rights of the following groups: following statements do you think would match you the most closely: Migrants and asylum seekers Travellers I would probably give them more money in future Unemployed people I probably won’t affect how much money I gave Lone parents them in future Gay and Lesbian I would probably give them less money in future Women I don’t know Older people Q. If you gave €100 to your favourite charity or nonprofit group how would like them to divide the money on the following activities...
Help those in need of their services Try to change the law to benefit those they help Run the charity, training staff and such like Raise more money in future Educate the public about the importance of the work they do
Children & young people People with a disability People from an ethnic minority group Prisoners Religious groups Animals
Agenda • Background & objectives • What the public understand about Advocacy work • Current levels of support and involvement • Lessons from Westminster
• What’s next • Questions & discussion
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