Language Access Coalition of Canada (LACC) - COMMUNITY LANGUAGE ADVOCACY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT Tool

WHO should use this tool? Organizations, coalitions, and groups interested in a quick self-assessment of their advocacy capacity can use this tool. Advocacy capacity consists of the skills, resources, knowledge, and practices that lead to effective advocacy over time.
HOW does the tool work? The LACC Tool is a revised version of the Alliance for Justice’s Advocacy Capacity* pilot project tool developed for The George Gund Foundation to implement the Alliance for Justice's new evaluation of advocacy model. The shorter version presented here consists of 18 multiple-choice questions about different indicators of organizational capacity, organized into four sections:

Advocacy Goals, Plans, and Strategies
Conducting Advocacy
Advocacy Avenues
Organizational Operations to Sustain Advocacy

Each question will ask you to review a set of statements and rank your organization’s current capacity using the following scale: Very Strong / Always = 4; Moderately Strong / Usually = 3; Somewhat Strong / Sometimes = 2; Rarely = 1; Never = 0 and I Don’t Know / Not Applicable = N/A.

Please note that if you are answering the questions, DO KEEP YOUR SCORES MANUALLY for each of the 18 indicators (a separate sheet to keep your scores is also provided here) because with this survey we are only collecting the cumulative score for the entire group. See it as an opportunity to reflect on which areas you would like to prioritize to strengthen your organization’s or group's advocacy capacity.

Please keep in mind:
- Achieving a high score in every category is not the goal. Rather, the goal should be to use this tool for honest reflection about whether you are now, so you can plan with intention as you map out where you want to go from here.
- Remember that finding ways to rely on your partners is often the best strategy to fulfill a capacity need. Nobody has it all – or needs to do it all by themselves.
- Planning about repeating the self-assessment at regular intervals to assess your progress and growth over time is almost as crucial as obtaining the initial score.
- And, finally, having fun with self-exploration promotes good mental health. Balance is as important in life as it is in advocacy.

In solidarity and the pursuit of language justice,
LACC Team

*Check out the terminology page on Bolder Advocacy website as needed to look up technical terms used in this tool.

Question Title

* 1. In preparation for OUR advocacy work, my organization/advocacy group scans the EXTERNAL policy environment as well as its own INTERNAL knowledge, skills, and resources for advocacy.

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Question Title

* 2. Agenda - Our organization/ advocacy group has a clear advocacy agenda that is informed by input of its constituents and community, and signed on by its leadership.

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Question Title

* 3. Plans, Strategies, and Adaptability - Our organization/ advocacy group (1) is able to identify key decision-makers for its advocacy agenda goals, (2) determine what it will take to obtain their support, and (3) have a flexible strategy in order to advance its agenda.

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Question Title

* 4. Research and Analysis - Our organization/ advocacy group is able to gather and analyze credible information on the issues we care about, and share its analyses as appropriate.

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Question Title

* 5. Field Operations - Our organization/ advocacy group confidently communicates with, educates, and engages its constituents, networks, and the public on our issues.

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Question Title

* 6. Advocacy Partners and Coalitions - Our organization/ advocacy group identifies and collaborates with other stakeholders in the same policy environment in order to advance its goals.

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Question Title

* 7. Messaging - Our organization/ advocacy group is able to develop clear, compelling, and concise messaging that is easily adapted for its target audiences (both internal and external).

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Question Title

* 8. Media Relations - Our organization/ advocacy group has plans related to media outreach, and distributes information to media outlets (online, broadcast, and print) on a as-needed basis to communicate our key messages.

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Question Title

* 9. Influence Decision Makers - Our organization/ advocacy group is able to build and nurture ongoing working relationships with elected officials and other policymakers who can influence the progress of our advocacy agenda.

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Question Title

* 10. Administrative - Our organization/ advocacy group monitors and works to influence executive branches of regulatory, and enforcement bodies in order to further our advocacy priorities.

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Question Title

* 11. Legislative - Our organization/ advocacy group monitors and works to influence legislative activities to further our advocacy priorities.

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Question Title

* 12. Ballot Measures, Referenda, and Initiatives - Our organization/ advocacy group monitors the planning and progress of, and takes public positions on, ballot initiatives, referenda, and other initiatives related to our advocacy priorities.

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Question Title

* 13. Electoral - Our organization/ advocacy group understands the election process and participates in voter and/or candidate education efforts.

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Question Title

* 14. Litigation - Our organization/advocacy group monitors litigation related to our policy priorities, and pursues activities, such as initiating litigation.

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Question Title

* 15. Organizational Commitment - Our organization’s leadership understands and supports our advocacy plans and activities.

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Question Title

* 16. Funding Advocacy - Our organization/ advocacy group informs individual donors and foundations about the value of funding advocacy and the ability of funders to do so under the law.

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Question Title

* 17. Decision-Making Structure and Process - Our organization’s or advocacy group leadership has a clear process for making timely, informed decisions about our advocacy work.

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Question Title

* 18. Fiscal Management and Sustainability - Our organization/ advocacy group allocates funding for advocacy work, and tracks its lobbying activities and expenses as required by law.

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

N/A

Question Title

* 19. As you review your scores, keep in mind: the goal here is not to get the highest score in every single indicator. No organization, coalition, or group has it all. Rather, this tool is designed to help you reflect with intention about what your assets and strengths are—and prioritize areas in which you want to build your capacity to become more resilient and sustainable.

Areas to Strengthen Checklist

Preparation

Agenda

Plans, Strategies, and Adaptability

Research and Analysis

Field Operation

Advocacy Partners and Coalitions

Messaging

Media Relations

Influencing Decision-Makers

Administrative Advocacy

Legislative Advocacy

Ballot Initiatives and Referenda

Electoral Advocacy

Litigation

Organizational Commitment

Funding Advocacy

Decision-Making Structure and Process

Fiscal Management and Sustainability

Why would you like to strengthen your organization’s advocacy capacity in these areas?

Language Access Coalition of Canada (LACC) - COMMUNITY LANGUAGE ADVOCACY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT Tool

Question Title

* 1. In preparation for OUR advocacy work, my organization/advocacy group scans the EXTERNAL policy environment as well as its own INTERNAL knowledge, skills, and resources for advocacy.

Question Title

* 2. Agenda - Our organization/ advocacy group has a clear advocacy agenda that is informed by input of its constituents and community, and signed on by its leadership.

Question Title

* 3. Plans, Strategies, and Adaptability - Our organization/ advocacy group (1) is able to identify key decision-makers for its advocacy agenda goals, (2) determine what it will take to obtain their support, and (3) have a flexible strategy in order to advance its agenda.

Question Title

* 4. Research and Analysis - Our organization/ advocacy group is able to gather and analyze credible information on the issues we care about, and share its analyses as appropriate.

Question Title

* 5. Field Operations - Our organization/ advocacy group confidently communicates with, educates, and engages its constituents, networks, and the public on our issues.

Question Title

* 6. Advocacy Partners and Coalitions - Our organization/ advocacy group identifies and collaborates with other stakeholders in the same policy environment in order to advance its goals.

Question Title

* 7. Messaging - Our organization/ advocacy group is able to develop clear, compelling, and concise messaging that is easily adapted for its target audiences (both internal and external).

Question Title

* 8. Media Relations - Our organization/ advocacy group has plans related to media outreach, and distributes information to media outlets (online, broadcast, and print) on a as-needed basis to communicate our key messages.

Question Title

* 9. Influence Decision Makers - Our organization/ advocacy group is able to build and nurture ongoing working relationships with elected officials and other policymakers who can influence the progress of our advocacy agenda.

Question Title

* 10. Administrative - Our organization/ advocacy group monitors and works to influence executive branches of regulatory, and enforcement bodies in order to further our advocacy priorities.

Question Title

* 11. Legislative - Our organization/ advocacy group monitors and works to influence legislative activities to further our advocacy priorities.

Question Title

* 12. Ballot Measures, Referenda, and Initiatives - Our organization/ advocacy group monitors the planning and progress of, and takes public positions on, ballot initiatives, referenda, and other initiatives related to our advocacy priorities.

Question Title

* 13. Electoral - Our organization/ advocacy group understands the election process and participates in voter and/or candidate education efforts.

Question Title

* 14. Litigation - Our organization/advocacy group monitors litigation related to our policy priorities, and pursues activities, such as initiating litigation.

Question Title

* 15. Organizational Commitment - Our organization’s leadership understands and supports our advocacy plans and activities.

Question Title

* 16. Funding Advocacy - Our organization/ advocacy group informs individual donors and foundations about the value of funding advocacy and the ability of funders to do so under the law.

Question Title

* 17. Decision-Making Structure and Process - Our organization’s or advocacy group leadership has a clear process for making timely, informed decisions about our advocacy work.

Question Title

* 18. Fiscal Management and Sustainability - Our organization/ advocacy group allocates funding for advocacy work, and tracks its lobbying activities and expenses as required by law.

Question Title

Question Title

* 20. If you are interested to get involved with LACC language advocacy capacity initiatives please share your email below. Thank you for your input!