Invite Elected Officials to Visit your Organization or Community

Identify the appropriate official Find your local elected officials and choose a representative whose policy interests align with your organization’s goals. Sometimes, elected officials will send a staff member in their place. Legislators regularly engage with their staff to understand what is going on in the community/with their constituents. If you connect with a staff member, having a new point of contact for follow-up can be of great benefit to your cause.

Send an invitation Write a formal invitation explaining the purpose of the visit, how it connects to their work, and who will be present. Visit the elected official’s office website for the email or form that they prefer for scheduling. If no information is listed, call their office to ask how they prefer to receive invitations.

Coordinate a time If they accept the invitation, coordinate a time and date that works well. Remain flexible.

Engage your community Invite staff, volunteers, and community members impacted by your work to participate and share their experiences. Designate roles and responsibilities.

Prepare an agenda Identify what activities you want to host (ex: tour, roundtable discussion, community involvement, etc.) and the main goals for your event. Share the agenda with your elected official or their staff member prior to the event.

Prepare resources Create talking points, one-pagers, and any other resources you need for the visit.

Engage the media Notify local news outlets and newspapers, create a press release, and share the event on social media.

Follow up After the event, be sure to reach out to the elected official to thank them for their time and reinforce the impact of their visit.