Advocacy Learning Series 2026

Enhance your advocacy skills, generate new ideas and gain practical tools you can put to work right away by participating in the 2026 Advocacy Learning Series. The dynamic five-part program kicks off with four engaging virtual sessions on select Friday mornings from March through May. To conclude the series, attend the optional in-person capstone experience in May, where you can connect, collaborate and apply everything you’ve learned. 

What you’ll take away 

• Practical advocacy skills to implement into your work and clear frameworks for engaging in policy and systems change.  
• Empowerment to confidently and strategically engage in advocacy – individually, collaboratively and in alignment with your mission and values.  

Who should attend 

• Philanthropic leaders, staff and board members of private, family, community and corporate foundations engaged in or interested in policy and advocacy. The sessions will be tailored to participants with varying levels of advocacy experience and emphasize practical application over theory alone. 
• Philanthropy Infrastructure Organizations (like Philanthropy Ohio) and their members are also eligible to attend. 

2026 Modules  

Session 1: Policy & Advocacy 101
Friday, March 27 | 10 a.m. – Noon I via Zoom  
Begin with a foundational session that introduces you to the role of advocacy in advancing nonprofit and philanthropic missions. Leave with shared language and a framework for advocating within a philanthropic context. 

• Understand advocacy and its significance to philanthropic organizations.  
• Learn about the types of advocacy and relevant IRS restrictions.  
• Discover ways that funders can support advocacy through funding and other means within the IRS regulations.  
• Leave with simple ways to start advocating right away.  

Session 2: Advocacy Planning
Friday, April 10 | 10 a.m. – Noon I via Zoom  
Build a clear and strategic advocacy plan. Apply planning tools to your own organizational or collaborative advocacy efforts. 

• Learn how to organize an advocacy team.  
• Obtain hands-on experience developing a policy agenda.  
• Understand how to develop a clear policy goal.  

Session 3: Advocacy Strategies & Tactics – Part I
Friday, April 24 | 10 a.m. – Noon I via Zoom 
Learn core approaches funders can use to influence policy and decision-makers, including: 

• Identifying allies, opponents and target decision-makers. 
• Choosing appropriate tactics to promote an issue. 
• Obtaining hands-on experience in developing an advocacy strategy. 
• Working through real-world scenarios to practice selecting and applying advocacy tactics. 

Session 4: Advocacy Strategies & Tactics – Part II
Friday, May 1 | 10 a.m. – Noon I via Zoom  
Build on Session 3 and dive deeper into applied advocacy techniques, including:  

• How funders can build relationships with policymakers and public officials.  
• Building a messaging strategy. 
• Preparing for effective meetings with legislators and communicating messages. 

Session 5: Capstone Advocacy Project
Thursday, May 14 | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. I Columbus 
Come together for an interactive, in-person capstone experience. This final session will reinforce learnings while strengthening relationships with your philanthropic colleagues engaged in advocacy. 

• Apply concepts, tools and strategies from the full series. 
• Work in small groups on a real or hypothetical advocacy initiative. 
• Engage in peer learning, feedback and cross-foundation collaboration.