[Your Organization’s Logo]
Illinois Partners for Human Service
Advocacy Toolkit
Letter from Board Members to Legislators
Purpose: This letter gives legislators a glimpse of the consequences of the budget impasse from the perspective of nonprofit board members, who have vested interests in both the businesses they work for and the service organizations for which they serve on the board. As business leaders, they are able to advocate a budget that invests in human services by offering legislators a personal account of how the budget impasse is hurting Illinois’ economic climate in addition to community well-being.
Instructions: Service providers are encouraged to provide this letter template to their board members. Board members can customize the letter by simply inputting their organization’s information and statistics in the [bracketed] sections before sending it to their district legislators.
[Date]
Dear [title/name of elected official]:
As business leaders and board members of [your organization’s name], we are writing to urge you to take the initiative and pass a budget that makes smart investments and meet the needs of your constituents. The budget impasse is not only hurting Illinois residents but also tainting the state’s business climate. We ask that you stand up for your district and endorse a plan that demonstrates the state’s commitment to community well-being and small businesses by investing in human services.
It is our involvement in both the nonprofit sector and the business world that compels us to write this letter. As board members of nonprofit service organizations,we have heard compelling stories about the havoc the budget impasse is wreaking on our programs, providers, and the communities they serve. Organizations are canceling programs and laying off staff, which leaves your constituents without the critical services they need to reach their full potential and contribute to their communities. As a direct result of the budget crisis, our organization has been forced to:
- [lay off # employees;]
- [close/suspend# programs;] and
- [halt services to # members of our community.]
Each day without a budget jeopardizes the future of Illinois’ human services infrastructure. It hasexacerbated fiscal uncertainty, shrinking access to cost-effective human services, and job losses in the nonprofit sector, which are a drag on the state’s economy and reputation as a place to do business. We urge to you take use your leadership position to tirelessly push for a budget that puts people on the agenda.
We thank you for your consideration and hope to see an immediate resolution to this crisis.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Title]
[Organization]