Cultural Investment Portfolio

Advocacy Requirements

The Mass Cultural Council is a state agency that promotes excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences. Our goal is to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities.

To encourage the state’s continued support, we ask that grantees advocate on behalf of the cultural sector by explaining to legislators, in concrete and personal terms, the social and economic benefit of supporting a vibrant cultural community.

What is required?

If you receive a Portfolio, Gateway, or Projects grant, you must confirm that you have completed your Advocacy activity in your year-end report.

Portfolio and Gateway Grantees: you must complete two Advocacy activities.

Projects Grantees: you must complete one Advocacy activity.

Advocacy must take place between July 1 and June 1 in the current fiscal year.

What do you need to do?

You need to connect with a member of the state government, to tell them about the importance of supporting the cultural sector.

You need to talk about the cultural sector as a whole, not just your organization.

This needs to be direct contact, not simply attending an event that includes members of the legislature.

Who do you contact?

This could be a current State Senator, a State Representative, the Governor, or Lieutenant Governor, or a member of their staff. These are all people who play a part in the state budget process.

It’s great to have contact with local officials, or with your national officials, but these don’t count for your Advocacy requirement.

How do you do this?

You can call, email, write a letter, or speak to someone in person.

Some examples:

• Send your annual report, and include a note thanking them for funding via the Mass Cultural Council.
• When you get your grant notification, you can send a thank you letter, explaining the value of public funding for your organization and your community.
• Meet in person, to talk about your organization, and cultural economic impact in Massachusetts.
• Coordinate a message campaign to your legislator, encouraging them to support the sciences, humanities, and arts in Massachusetts.

 How do you confirm your Advocacy?

Portfolio and Gateway Grantees

Confirm your Advocacy activities in your year-end annual report. This form includes a section titled “Attestations” where you confirm that you have fulfilled this requirement.

Projects Grantees

Confirm your Advocacy as part of the online final report.

Resources

• Find Your State Officials
  • Governor Maura Healey
  • Members of the Senate
  • Members of the House of Representatives

• Mass Cultural Council Staff – Any Mass Cultural Council CIP or Public Affairs staff will be happy to brainstorm with you about ways to meet your advocacy requirement.
• MASSCreative, an organization committed to lobbying the state on behalf of culture in Massachusetts.

Before you engage in advocacy or lobbying activities, you should learn about the Commonwealth’s rules regarding ethics and lobbying. Massachusetts Nonprofit News Network and the Office of Secretary of State William Galvin have more information about the relevant laws and how they apply.