We Are For Good Podcast - Episode 605: 2025 Social Impact Trends That Matter: Advocacy is Non-Negotiable

Host: Becky Endicott, CFRE
Guest: Sixto Cancel, Founder of Think of Us
Release Date: February 19, 2025

Introduction to the Episode and Guest

In Episode 605 of the We Are For Good Podcast, hosts Becky Endicott and John McCoy welcome back Sixto Cancel, a nationally recognized leader in child welfare and the founder of Think of Us—a research and design lab dedicated to driving systemic change in the social sector. This episode delves into the critical role of advocacy for nonprofit organizations in 2025, emphasizing that advocacy has become a non-negotiable component for impact-driven entities.

The Imperative of Advocacy in 2025

Sixto opens the conversation by highlighting the heightened need for advocacy in today's socio-political climate. He asserts, "We're living in a time where advocacy is not an option; it is literally a lifeline for so many children and young people who are in the most vulnerable situations" (00:05). This underscores the necessity for organizations to proactively engage in advocacy to support and protect vulnerable populations.

Challenges and Misconceptions in Advocacy

A significant portion of the discussion centers around the fears and misconceptions that often deter organizations from embracing advocacy wholeheartedly. John articulates a common concern: "Who is scared to death to approach and start the work of advocacy?" (01:36). Organizations worry about alienating donors or upsetting their supporter base by taking strong political stances. Sixto addresses these fears by questioning, "What happens if we don't [engage in advocacy]?" (01:57), urging nonprofits to recognize the potentially detrimental consequences of inaction.

Sixto identifies two primary misconceptions:

1. Advocacy as Mere Noise-Making: "Advocacy is about making noise and pointing to the problem... that is not the truth" (08:42). He emphasizes that effective advocacy requires more than just highlighting issues; it demands actionable solutions and strategic interventions.
2. Immediate Change Through Storytelling Alone: "If I share my pain with the world... change will immediately happen. Without a real intentional process... you can't have the full story arc of advocacy" (08:42). Sixto stresses the importance of coupling storytelling with evidence-based strategies to drive lasting change.

Practical Approaches to Advocacy: The Think of Us Model

Sixto elaborates on Think of Us's innovative approach to advocacy, which centers on co-designing solutions with those directly impacted by systemic issues. By involving young people with lived experiences in child welfare, Think of Us ensures that advocacy efforts are grounded in real-world insights and data. Sixto explains, "One of the most under-the-radar advocacy is actually co-designing problems" (05:39), highlighting the importance of inclusive and participatory methods in shaping effective advocacy campaigns.

Case Studies: Impact of Advocacy

A pivotal moment in the conversation is Sixto's recounting of Think of Us's successful advocacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Faced with the imminent disenfranchisement of young people aging out of foster care, Think of Us mobilized 27,000 individuals to share their experiences and data with policymakers. This effort led to significant legislative changes, including the extension of SNAP benefits for young adults aging out of foster care. Sixto recounts, "We were able to bring that to Congress. We were able to bring it to the actual administration" (17:04), illustrating the tangible impact of strategic advocacy.

Advice for Organizations on Starting Advocacy

For organizations hesitant to embark on advocacy, Sixto offers pragmatic advice:

• Leverage Organizational Strengths: "What are you uniquely positioned to do? Is it to tell a story? Is it to provide data?" (21:27). Organizations should identify and utilize their core competencies to contribute effectively to advocacy efforts.
• Foster Supportive Leadership: "Board members... give the executive team... the unwavering permission to lean into the moment and to lean into change" (21:27). Leadership buy-in is crucial for fostering an advocacy-oriented culture within nonprofits.
• Align with Funders: Sixto emphasizes the importance of collaborating with funders who support broader advocacy strategies, stating, "It is about me understanding what our organization can do to align our contribution" (16:04).

Advocacy with Community: Leveraging Lived Experiences

A key theme of the episode is the integration of community voices in advocacy. Sixto discusses how Think of Us transforms individual stories into collective data, enabling more effective and nuanced advocacy campaigns. He notes, "What we have to do it to help determine not just the education around a problem, but where should you actually have the surgical tactical lever that you pull with a lawmaker" (05:39). This approach ensures that advocacy efforts are not only empathetic but also strategically targeted to address systemic issues.

Key Takeaways and Conclusions

As the conversation draws to a close, Sixto imparts several essential lessons for nonprofit leaders:

• Know Your Story: Understanding both the organization's narrative and the stories of those it serves is foundational to impactful advocacy.
• Keep Advocacy Simple and Strategic: Focus on strategic initiatives rather than sheer volume, ensuring that efforts are both manageable and effective.
• Embrace Agility: "Emergent strategy, emergent projects, and emergent advocacy is the advocacy that's most effective today in my opinion" (28:39). Organizations must remain flexible and responsive to evolving challenges and opportunities.

John and Becky conclude the episode by reaffirming the importance of advocacy as a long-term commitment to social change. They encourage listeners to integrate advocacy into their missions, leveraging their unique strengths to drive meaningful impact.

Notable Quotes

• Sixto Cancel: "Advocacy is not an option and it is literally a lifeline for so many children and young people who are in the most vulnerable situations." (00:05)
• Sixto Cancel: "We are called, and we have an intuition and we have a gut feeling in the direction we need to move." (13:57)
• Sixto Cancel: "Emergent strategy, emergent projects, and emergent advocacy is the advocacy that's most effective today in my opinion." (28:39)
• John McCoy: "We play the long game. And if there was ever an episode or a trend that tethered to playing the long game, advocacy is that this is the long game play." (30:38)

Connect with Sixto Cancel and Think of Us

For those inspired by Sixto’s insights and looking to support or learn more about Think of Us, you can connect with them on LinkedIn or visit their website at www.thinkofus.org.

This episode serves as a compelling guide for nonprofit professionals seeking to understand and implement effective advocacy strategies. By highlighting real-world examples and providing actionable advice, We Are For Good empowers its listeners to embrace advocacy as a crucial element of their mission-driven work.