In(c)ights | Trying to Awaken the ‘Sleeping Giant’

Certain nonprofits, observed Bridgette Rongitsch, have done a good job educating voters about the issues they deal with and motivating them to make their voices heard on Election Day. She cited environmental, choice, and GLBT groups as being proficient in this area.

Nonprofits working in the service sector, though, helping people with housing, low income and immigration issues, and community health, have largely stayed away from such engagement and advocacy. Rongitsch, the national coordinator of the nonpartisan Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network, wants to change that.

"We believe this part of the sector can be like a sleeping giant, and if we can apply tools and training, we could see a dramatic increase in participation across the country," Rongitsch told me last week. "If we’re going to work so hard to improve the lives of the people we serve, how do we make sure they can be their own best voice in public life?"

After getting its feet wet in a couple of states, NVEN recently went national, launching a new website just yesterday in hopes of connecting nonprofits around voting issues, sharing best practices, and centralizing resources.

"Traditionally most [nonprofits] have not thought of voter engagement as a way to meet their mission," Rongitsch said, adding, "Elected officials know who votes and who does not vote. When they see communities start to turn out in higher numbers, things start happening to improve the lives of people in those communities." | 501(c)

Tags: Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network