Executive Summary

This toolkit equips National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers (NCIT) members with guidance for raising policy issues with candidates before the election. It is
designed to be shared with your advocacy partners and supporters to ensure candidates in all fifty states learn about prenatal to three issues on the campaign trail. Inside, you will find best practices for researching candidates, planning and executing engagements, and sharing insights from candidate interactions with your advocacy partners. As a practical resource, this toolkit also contains print- and mobile-friendly talking points on key issues that affect our movement.

And, we recognize that most of our coalition allies are Section 501(c)(3) nonprofits. And, regardless of the type of organization, all grantees must use NCIT funds in a 501(c)(3)-compliant manner. That means, of course, not supporting or opposing any candidates for office – even indirectly – and operating in a strictly nonpartisan manner. This toolkit aims to help organizations understand how to navigate these waters successfully: advocating for our policy issues without crossing the line into supporting candidates.

In this toolkit you will find (click on a topic to download the specific section):

• Making the Case: Why NCIT Members Should Engage with Candidates, and Yes, 501(c)(3) Organizations Can!
• Where and How To Learn More About a Candidate’s Position on Your Issue
• Guidance for Prioritizing Safety When Engaging with Candidates
• Where To Engage with Candidates on Your Issue
• Best Practices for Sharing the Results of Candidate Interactions with Your PN-3 Advocacy Partners and Coalition Members
• Additional Resources

Quick-reference talking points or ”palm cards” for supporters focused on the following topics:

• WIC
• SNAP
• High-quality, affordable child care
• Maternal and child health
• Early head start
• Paid family and medical leave
• Economic security