Building Friendly Relationships with Government Officials: A Smart Strategy for Nonprofits

Building Friendly Relationships with Government Officials: A Smart Strategy for Nonprofits

In this time of drastic governmental funding cuts, many nonprofit leaders are wondering whether and how to be in touch with their elected officials. 

Should you reach out now? And most importantly, exactly who should you reach out to? And what approach should you take?

By all means, now is the time to be connecting with your government officials. If they are making major decisions that impact your work, it’s imperative that you educate them – sooner than later!  

Developing Friendly Relationships with Elected Officials

We always recommend that all nonprofit leaders should develop friendly relationships with their local officials. 

Just consider how helpful this would be – if you personally knew your local state senator or county commissioners – and you could just call them up to discuss something important. 

Again, many of these officials control the power of the government purse. They may be making funding decisions that impact your nonprofit’s mission! 

You might not realize it, but your local, state, and federal government officials can be some of your best allies. Yes, really. 

Our Personal Perspective.

In our company, we are quite active in local politics and some of our team have made a mini career out of working in politics. We volunteer for local campaigns, and even hold small house parties for our local elected officials to meet their neighbors. 

A member of our team is a former long-time congressional aide. Regarding my own experience, I once registered as a lobbyist to obtain a $5 million grant for a capital campaign that I was advising. 

As a result, we know personally many elected officials – and have friendly, even social, relationships with them.

We’ll be presenting on this topic at AFP’s ICON in Seattle next month – so be sure to join our talk if you are heading to ICON! 

Make it Happen – Cultivate Friendly Relationships with Government Leaders

Many nonprofits don’t think about cultivating relationships with government leaders—but they should. 

Why? Because elected officials have so much influence, connections, and yes, access to funding sources that could help your organization thrive.

But let’s be clear—this is not about lobbying. This is about developing long-term relationships with the people who make decisions that can impact your mission.

Why Government Officials Want to Hear from You

Many nonprofits tend to hesitate when it comes to engaging with elected officials. They are unsure about rules around lobbying and advocacy. 

“Why would my state senator want to hear from me?” you might wonder. 

Here’s the truth: they do want to hear from you. It’s their job. 

Even if they are on the other side of the aisle from you or your mission – they were elected to represent all of their constituents, even those they disagree with. 

To put it bluntly: elected officials want to be able to help individuals and organizations in their districts. 

They need to hear from you about what is happening on the ground and what is important to organizations like yours. Remember – you are the best person to share your story. 

Your organization connects elected officials with folks who they might not have the opportunity to connect with in another way. 

You can help them by introducing them to more constituents and growing their individual relationships in their districts. 

They want to understand what their constituents care about. 

So, the next time you think, “They don’t care what I have to say,” remember: they absolutely do.

How Governmental Officials Can Help You 

It’s interesting to consider the many ways elected officials can help you and your cause. When they know what’s happening in their districts, they can:

• Connect you with other organizations doing similar work.
• Advocate for you behind the scenes.
• Help navigate government funding streams.

You don’t have to ask outright about these things. But you can ask them for ADVICE and guidance. Some questions you could ask them: 

• Do you know of similar individuals or organizations who have our same objectives? 
• Could your team or staff connect us with those individuals?
• Can you help walk us through how these funding cuts will affect our organization? 

The more specific questions, the better. It is a good idea to run potential questions by their staff prior to the meeting. The staff can tell you what the elected official may or may not have jurisdiction over. 

Where the Money Comes From

Government funding for nonprofits is everywhere, if you know where to look. 

Many capital campaigns receive direct funding allocations and earmarks from county commissioners, state grants, or federal sources. 

Did you know local hotel and meals tax funds are often granted to community nonprofits? 

Or that $50 billion in opioid settlement funds are being distributed to state and county governments in the US, over the next 18 years? These grants are supposed to fund nonprofit programs that address addiction issues including treatment facilities, and recovery residencies.

In North Carolina, there are county alcohol control boards that distribute tax funds to many types of local nonprofits. And, as we all know, many social service agencies have direct contracts with various government agencies to carry out their work.

There are countless ways government dollars can support your cause—you just have to know where to ask.

How to Make the Connection with Your Local Elected Officials. 

The best way to start? Reach out. A simple call to their office can open the door. 

Ask, “May I ask who schedules meetings for [official’s name]?” Once you know who the scheduler is, then request a meeting and share the topic you’d like to discuss. 

A few great ways to build a relationship:

• Invite them to tour your organization. Elected officials love being seen in the community. They want to meet the people they serve and learn firsthand what’s happening in their district.
• Host them at your events. Give them a speaking role (with a strict two-minute limit!). They may take credit for your project’s success—and that’s okay. It means they’re invested.
• Send them good press. Public officials love positive news coverage. If your nonprofit gets press, share it with them and their staff.
• Make friends with their staff. The real power often lies with the people answering the phones. Get to know them, be friendly, and show appreciation. A kind word to their boss about their hard work goes a long way.

What If They’re from the Other Party?

Politics can be tricky, but government officials—regardless of party—are still human. 

They don’t want to hear that kids are going hungry or that seniors aren’t getting their Meals on Wheels. 

Your job is to present your case with facts and heart. Keep the conversation about your mission, not politics.

If one level of government isn’t receptive, move to the next. If a federal official won’t meet with you, talk to state representatives. If state leaders aren’t responsive, go local. 

Someone will be willing to help, because it’s their job! 

The Bottom Line

You have an incredible opportunity to develop warm, productive relationships with elected officials at every level. 

They can help open doors, introduce you to funding sources, and advocate for your cause in ways you never imagined.

So don’t hold yourself back. Reach out. Invite them in. And remember: you are not a burden. You are a valuable voice in your community, and they need to hear from you.

Our Recommended Action Steps:

1. Identify key government officials in your area.
2. Make a plan to connect—call, email, and invite them to your events.
3. Build a relationship over time by staying in touch with their office.
4. Engage their staff and acknowledge their efforts.
5. Keep the conversation about your mission, not politics.

Your nonprofit’s work is too important to stay under the radar. Get out there and start building those relationships today!