5 Organizations Advocating For Better Public Policies

In the United States political system, it can be hard for those without a lot of money to influence public policy. Luckily, there are plenty of nonprofits that are speaking up and advocating for important issues. In no particular order, this list showcases several organizations working hard to make an impact on the legislative and regulatory landscape.

Kicking off our list at #1 is the Conservation Law Foundation, based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is a nonprofit founded with the goal of protecting New England’s environment. To do this, it fights for better legislation that protects the public lands, water, and air in the region.

CLF focuses on several key issue areas, including oceans, climate change, and community health. It also strategizes around market approaches with the hopes of developing a green economy for New England, one that’s low carbon, sustainable, and provides new opportunities for people across the region.

At #2, we have the National Institute for Reproductive Health, an organization that aims to build power at the state and local level to change public policy, galvanize public support, and normalize women’s decisions about abortion and contraception.

Using a partnership model, it provides state and local advocates with strategic guidance, hands-on support, and funding. Since 2008, the group has provided direct grants and assistance to numerous reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations across the country.

Coming in at #3, we present SBP. Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, it works to solve the unique challenges facing at-risk communities after natural disasters by bringing the discipline, process, and rigor of business and innovation to create social impact and shrink the time between devastation and recovery.

To achieve its goal, it identifies three main areas of focus: reach, rebuild, and reform. It works to broaden its reach, ensuring more people are prepared for and can recover from major disasters more quickly. In addition, the organization strives to rebuild communities following these devastating events and create reform by advocating for policy change.

The #4 entry is New Futures. This nonpartisan, nonprofit organization works to improve the health and wellness of New Hampshire residents through policy change. It envisions communities where public policies support efforts to improve the well-being of all Granite Staters.

In addition to advocating for policies related to topics such as early childhood care and substance abuse treatments, New Futures organizes free trainings for individuals and organizations focused on legislative proceedings in New Hampshire and why personal stories influence policy change.

To close our list at #5, we have the Palm Center, an independent research institute located in San Francisco, California. The organization aims to sponsor scholarship that enhances public dialogue about critical and controversial public policy issues.

Its research on sexual minorities in the military has been published in leading social scientific journals. The Palm Center seeks to be a resource for university-affiliated as well as independent scholars, students, journalists, opinion leaders, and members of the public.