Congratulate the winners.
They’ve spent hours on the campaign trail. They’ve sacrificed time with their families. They’ve likely lost a lot of sleep. And now they are preparing for the job of representing you. That means they’ll have to get up to speed quickly on a wide range of issues affecting your community. So reach out and congratulate those who will be representing you. Remember, you are an expert in your field. Your expertise is invaluable to elected officials, especially those who are newly taking office. Briefly introduce yourself and your organization, and suggest meeting to discuss how your organization can help them in their efforts to serve your community.
Reach out to everyone who ran for office.
Everyone loves a winner, but those who run for office and fall short in the voting booth are important, too. They took a chance, sacrificed their time, and most importantly, they were willing to serve. And who knows, they may come back next election and win—in which case you’ll need to reach out to them anyway. There’s no harm in thanking them for running, acknowledging their willingness to serve, and welcoming them to learn more about your organization. Perhaps they are a future supporter, donor, board member, or volunteer in the making?
Thank people for voting.
Some nonprofit organizations are afraid of participating in any election-related activities to avoid any conflicts with their 501(c) tax-exempt status. That’s an understandable, albeit cautious approach. In fact, you may be missing opportunities to engage your community in ways that are perfectly legitimate and fully aligned with your mission. Encouraging people to vote (as long as you aren’t telling people who to vote for) is your civic responsibility. The art of sending a Thank You message is largely overlooked these days, making your message even more noticed and appreciated.
Go public.
Make a public statement to reiterate your organization’s mission. Be specific about how local elected officials have been helpful in the past, and the concrete steps they can take now to show their support. Use social media to circulate your message. Ask your local newspaper to publish your statement. Keep it positive and non-political. Remember that you exist to serve your community, and your community deserves to hear from you about your successes and challenges.
Put “Election Follow Up” on your next Board Meeting Agenda.
This is a great opportunity to jumpstart your advocacy. You can ask a Board Member to lead this discussion, or you can invite Speak Up Advocacy to help you. We can share election results that are most relevant to your organization, play some “networking geography,” and determine tangible next steps to introduce your organization to new elected officials and re-introduce your organization to those who may not be as familiar with how you serve your community.