By Joey Current, Trident United Way Director of Strategic Partnerships

Attending the 2024 Advocacy Forum and Capitol Hill Day was an enlightening experience that underscored the power of collective advocacy and the importance of engaging with policymakers at all levels.

Hosted by United Way Worldwide, this event brought together leaders from across the country’s United Way network to share knowledge, develop strategies and build relationships that will drive impactful change in our communities.

Here are my highlights from our three days in Washington, D.C.

Building Relationships

Our first day began with a series of workshops designed to enhance our understanding of federal and state issues and to equip local United Ways with the tools needed to engage effectively with elected officials and policymakers.

One of the standout sessions was on developing advocacy strategies that drive mission impact. The facilitators emphasized the importance of aligning our advocacy efforts with our organizational goals and provided practical tips on how to engage individuals and partners in our advocacy work.  We learned that RELATIONSHIPS ARE KEY!

I valued having the opportunity to network with public policy colleagues from around the country. We had many opportunities for informal discussions and knowledge sharing, allowing us to learn from each other’s experiences and to build connections that will support our advocacy efforts in the future. My highlight was meeting our United Way Worldwide President and CEO Angela Williams.

Exploring Funding Opportunities

The second day of the forum focused on Executive Branch policy, funding opportunities and engagement. This day was packed with opportunities to hear from federal policymakers about their goals and partnership initiatives.

We were invited to the Department of Commerce to meet with the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (OFBNP) for a series of presentations from federal policymakers who shared insights into current policy priorities and discussed opportunities for collaboration. Leadership from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Education and others shared their unique perspectives on how United Ways can position themselves as trusted partners in community spaces. These presentations provided valuable information on how we can align our advocacy efforts with federal priorities and highlighted potential areas of partnership.

A key takeaway from the second day was the importance of exploring federal and state funding opportunities.  Examples of secured federal grants and state appropriations highlighted ways to diversify revenue and support our work.

It filled me with hope and excitement to hear how invested state agencies and elected officials on both sides of the aisle are with the work of United Ways around the country. One example of state appropriations came from our own South Carolina legislature, which earmarked funds to support a United Way program in Columbia. Another example came from a United Way in Tennessee, which has leveraged state funding for TANF enrollment and education.

Diving into Data

Our final day was dedicated to Capitol Hill visits. This was an exciting and impactful day, as I had the opportunity to meet with Congressional representatives and discuss our policy priorities.  We focused on providing information and valuable insight into 211, VITA, Child Tax Credits, SNAP benefits and ALICE.

As we shared the impactful work of Trident United Way, it was clear that our representatives were genuinely interested and supportive. They offered to connect with us for a deeper dive into the data on community needs and visit our Resource Connection Centers. These discussions were productive and provided a valuable opportunity to advance our advocacy goals.

Conclusion

The 2024 Advocacy Forum and Capitol Hill Day was an inspiring and impactful event that provided valuable insights. From the training sessions and workshops to the Capitol Hill visits, the event underscored the importance of engaging with policymakers and building relationships that will support our advocacy efforts.