The Say/Do Gap in Nonprofit Advocacy : Understanding Why Nonprofits Do More than they Say

Nonprofit leaders often claim that their organizations do not engage in advocacy, yet many leaders report organizational activities that qualify as such. This discrepancy, which we call the “say/do” gap, suggests that nonprofit advocacy may be more widespread than commonly believed. Drawing on the first nationally representative survey of U.S. nonprofit advocacy in two decades, we explore explanations for this say/do gap and argue that many nonprofit leaders may be seeking to pursue the benefits of advocacy while limiting potential opposition through a strategy of decoupling. Heather MacIndoe is an Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director in the McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston.  Her research applies sociological theory to the study of the nonprofit sector and philanthropy. Current projects include studies of nonprofit advocacy and social justice philanthropy. Dr. MacIndoe serves as an Associate Editor of the journal Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly. Hosted by The Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management (CNSM) at the Marxe School.