Week 8 Post

Advocacy and Arts

This weeks readings were centered around non-profit advocacy and arts. Advocacy plays an important role in social movements and on progressing political goals. In fact I feel as though advocacy groups can be the most important of all the non-profit organizations. Advocacy groups are an example of a “civil society,” a fundamental check to the power of the public and private spheres. Advocacy groups have spearheaded the civil rights movement, the environmental movement, childwelfare, women's rights movements, etc. They are a completely necessary force without which social progress is difficult. Almost any political/social movement relies on the grassroots mobilization of advocacy campaigns. While 501 (c)(4)/(c)(3)'s can't “campaign” for certain elected officials they can organize through a capacity by lobbying. The success of advocacy groups often relies on their ability to organize behind a specific, precise issue. For instance, the mobilization in Madison or Cairo aim to address a precise issue and are able to mobilize through shared interest. Lobbying is often done for certain causes of specific importance to the lobbyists – certain environmental issues, education bills, etc.

The protests in Madison are down-right frightening but certainly a good example of advocacy mobilization. The dilemma is likely prophetic of future situations in American politics – where deficit minded fiscal responsibility meets slashes in government programs. The public workers unions appear willing to forfeit on many of the issues, just not surrendering their future collective bargaining agreement (CBA) ability, which frankly is more than legitimate. The Wisconsin public union workers do have cushy benefits but slashing the CBA would destroy their last vestige of power. The public union workers are able to mobilize, as most unions do, across multiple disciplines – teachers, public employees, prison guards. While Governor Walker appears not willing to budge, the unicameral state legislature is unable to pass the bill slashing public union CBA because the democratic state senators fled the state. Similarly Indiana State Representatives fled to Illinois to stall a pending anti-union bill (http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-0223-indiana-democrats-flee-20110224,1,4494256.story). Governor Walker, while democratically elected, should not be allowed to slash union benefits like this (mainly the CBA), I feel that it is more a crusade against the democratic party than a move in fiscal responsibility. Walker's stubborn refusal to compromise with the unions is analogous to the eminent shutdown the federal government will face in March because of the inability for democrats and republicans to compromise on a federal budget (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/feb/23/tea-party-endgame-no-government).

There is a range of different advocacy groups out there. According to O'Neill 79 percent of them have fewer than ten employees. However, there are also large advocacy groups like the AARP. The AARP has a tremendous political lobby and is one of the largest non-profit organizations in the country. As of 2000 the AARP has 34 million members and a revenue of $580 million. While 501 (c)(4)'s make up most advocacy non-profits, 501 (c)(3)'s make up the vast bulk of advocacy money, comprising more than 90 percent of their assets. Often times private foundations can be major funders of advocacy organization, notably the Ford Foundation.

It was interesting reading the Oregon Attorney General article. It seems that the crackdown on fundraising and abuses through Senate Bill 40 is a good effort to expose questionable charities, at least in theory.  I feel like a lot of time there needs to be accountability for what the non-profits do with what money.  Also if the non-profits are unethical it seems like they need to be accountable.

Non-profit arts is something that I know very little about. Before hand, I figured that arts were not very economical, however the article by Laurence Arnold presented a good counterargument. According to Arnold, “in 2000 nonprofit arts groups generated $134 billion in economic activity and 4.9 million jobs.” This economic activity then grew 11 percent from 2000 to 2005. The arts are likely the smallest portion of the nonprofit sector. The United States government does not support arts nearly as much as European countries. According to O'Neill, the US federal, state, and local government spending on the arts and museums was $6, as compared to $46 in Canada, $57 in France, and $85 in Germany. It is really difficult to tell whether the government should give more money to the arts because it is something I don't really know much about.