You Applied for Discretionary Funds - Now What?
You are much more likely to get the funds if your city council member knows who you are.
Susin Garcia of Staten Island Hope put together some excellent guidelines on how to approach your city council member and present a compelling case to win their support. I’m sharing her material below. Please make an effort to do some or all of these over the next 3 months (March, April May) during their decision period for the funds. The awards are supposed to be announced in July.
Do these things even if you didn’t apply! We need rescuers to step out of the shadows and shine a spotlight on the current feral cat crisis.
City council members rely on a variety of metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of policies, programs, and initiatives that affect the well-being of their community. Economic, public safety, environmental, health, transportation, education, and civic engagement metrics are all important in helping city council members make informed decisions about how to improve the quality of life in their community.
Seeking funding for a trap, neuter, and return (TNR) programs, there are several metrics that would be important:
Number of feral cats: The number of feral cats in the community can be an important metric to track, as it can help demonstrate the need for a TNR program. You can estimate the number of feral cats in your community through various means, such as conducting a survey or working with local animal shelters or rescue organizations.
Cost savings: TNR programs can be cost-effective compared to traditional methods of controlling feral cat populations, such as trapping and euthanizing. By demonstrating the cost savings of a TNR program, you may be able to make a stronger case for funding. Examples of cost savings might include a reduction in animal control or sheltering costs, as well as reduced healthcare costs for the community.
Impact on the community: TNR programs can have a positive impact on the community beyond just reducing the number of feral cats. For example, they can help reduce the spread of disease, reduce the nuisance caused by feral cats (such as noise and odors), and even help control rodent populations. Metrics related to these impacts could be important to track and report on when seeking funding.
Partnership with local organizations: Demonstrating that your TNR program is in partnership with local animal shelters, rescue organizations, or other community groups can be an important factor when seeking funding. By working in collaboration with these organizations, you may be able to tap into their resources, experience, and networks, which can help strengthen your proposal.
Garnering support for a community cause in a city as big as ours, can be a challenging task, but with the right approach and preparation, it can be done.
Here are some ideas to communicate our collective needs to city council members:
Do your research: Before you approach city council members, it's important to do your research on the issue. Gather relevant data, statistics, and any other supporting information that can help you make a compelling case. Also, make sure you understand the city council's jurisdiction and policies related to your cause.
Identify your goal: Determine what you want to achieve by presenting your cause to the city council. Be clear about your goal and how it aligns with the city council's priorities and values.
Create a persuasive argument: Craft a clear, concise, and persuasive argument that highlights the benefits of your cause for the community. Use facts and figures to back up your claims, and appeal to the council members' emotions and values. Provide examples of how your cause has benefited other communities and how it could benefit your own.
KEY: Work with the coalition: Identify other individuals or organizations that share your concerns and can help support your cause. A coalition can demonstrate to the city council that the cause has broad community support and is not just a narrow interest group.
Develop a plan of action: Be specific about the steps that the city council can take to support your cause. This might include changes to city policies or regulations, funding for community initiatives, or other concrete actions.
Schedule a meeting: Contact city council members and request a meeting to present your cause. Provide ample time for the council members to review your materials and prepare for the meeting.
Present your case: During the meeting, be concise.
Make a clear and compelling case for the cause, and be prepared to answer any questions or concerns that the council members may have.
Follow up: After the meeting, follow up with the council members to thank them for their time and reiterate the importance of your cause. I’m thinking the more creative, the better. No gifts of course but something on brand could be a nice touch.
Provide any additional information or materials that they may need, and continue to build support for your cause within the community.