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Step 3 – Your One ‘Ask’

This is the goal of any advocacy plan, to be able to ask a decision-maker for the one thing you need them to do, not a list of what you want from them. It is at this stage that most people engaged in advocacy fail to be specific enough in articulating what exactly they need the government to do for them. Instead, they present a wish list of all of the things they want and ignore the reality of governing, which dictates that politicians and bureaucrats make choices about which policies to adopt and individuals to support. It may sound contrary to what most of us believe, but in advocacy, the less you ask for and the more specific you are, the more likely you are to succeed.

Your ‘ask’ needs to be tangible, something that can be measured. Asking someone for their support is akin to an empty promise; it won’t ever amount to much unless you outline what exactly you want them to

  • do to demonstrate their support for your issues.
  • Using your selected advocacy tools, deliver your 3 key messages and ask the decision-maker for the one thing you need in support of your issues, not a list of what you want.
  • Especially if you’re advocating to government, if you ask for everything, you’ll get nothing.
  • As with your key messages, consensus on the one ‘ask’ will be important, because people may have varying perspectives on what your organization needs.
  • Sometimes opportunities will present themselves that will make the ‘ask’ very timely.
  • Remember – your ‘ask’ needs to be tangible, something that you can see and prove.

Examples of Tangible “Asks”:

  • Ask your elected representative to send a letter to the provincial Health Minister to represent your concerns. Offer to provide a written account of the key facts that should be included in that letter.
  • Ask your elected representative to set up a meeting for you with key individuals in government who could help further your cause.
  • Ask your elected representative to ask a question in the provincial legislature or House of Commons.


Meeting with Decision-Makers

Kidney Cancer Canada