1 #ProtectPeaceCorps To secure the necessary funds for Peace Corps and its partners, NPCA launched the #ProtectPeaceCorps campaign a grasstops and grassroots campaign to secure no less than flat funding of $410 million for the Peace Corps and $60 billion for the International Affairs Budget.
2 Targets and Objectives Targets $410 Million $60 Billion White House, OMB, Congress, local and national media Peace Corps No less than flat funding for FY18 International Affairs A slight increase from FY17
Budget Challenges 3 FY17 Budget $410 million for the Peace Corps budget $59.1 billion for the International Affairs Budget FY18 White House Proposal $398 million for the Peace Corps budget a $12-million or 2.7% cut the deepest proposed cut since 1972 $40.1 billion for the International Affairs Budget an $18-billion or 32% cut amounts to 9/11 spending levels FY18 House Proposal $398 million for the Peace Corps $48.9 billion for the International Affairs Budget $10.2 billion or 17.3% cut FY18 Senate Proposal $53 billion for the International Affairs Budget $6.1 billion or 10.4% cut Senate will likely decide the Peace Corps budget proposal by mid-september
4 Draconian Cuts to America s Development and Diplomacy Programs It is not a soft-power budget...this is a hard-power budget, and that was done intentionally.
2.7% 48% 50% 51% 11% 100% 12% 39% 43%
6 Peace Corps Allies: Administration If you don t fund the State Department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition. Secretary Mattis
7 Grasstops: NPCA Held close to 100 meetings on Capitol Hill since January Leveraging strategic partnerships with Peace Corps allies Enlisting host country embassy advocates Recruiting new allies Recruiting and enabling Peace Corps community to advocate
8 Grasstops: 2016 Party Platforms Peace Corps volunteers...teach and build in villages that know firsthand our country s idealism. We believe in the power of national service to solve problems and break down barriers by bringing people of all backgrounds together in common purpose.
Peace Corps Allies: Capitol Hill 9
10 Peace Corps Allies: Partners This gap [between Peace Corps applicants and service opportunities] represents democratic energy wasted and a generation of patriotism needlessly squandered. Gen. McChrystal
Grasstops: High-Level Outreach & Meetings 11
12 Grasstops: Military Support Peace Corps...critical to preventing conflict and reducing the need to put our men and women in uniform in harm s way. 121 Retired three and four-star generals and admirals to Congressional Leadership
13 Grasstops: Faith-Based Support As Christian leaders [w]e re writing to share our support for the International Affairs Budget. 100-plus Evangelical leaders to Congressional Leaders
14 Grasstops: Business Support [W]e urge your support for a strong International Affairs Budget. 200-plus U.S. business leaders to Secretary Tillerson
Peace Corps Allies: the Peace Corps Community 15
16 Grassroots: Mobilize! Advocacy Coordinator and Affiliate Group Leader mobilization of grassroots Peace Corps community to enage Congress, media and genral public. Message: The Peace Corps and International Affairs are critical to ensuring America s national security, economy and our values abroad. Anything less than $410 million for the Peace Corps and $60 billion for the International Affairs Budget will jeopardize America s global impact.. Messengers: The greater Peace Corps community, especially Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and third-party validators (i.e. community leaders, workplace supervisors).
17 National Peace Corps Association National Coverage Active Geographic Groups In process 170 Active Affiliate Groups 41 Advocacy Coordinators in geographic groups
18 #ProtectPeaceCorps Grassroots Audience HOUSE SENATE Key Targets: House and Senate Republican appropriators. Enlist new supporters and turn current supporters into champions General Targets: House and Senate Democratic appropriators. Turn current supporters into champions.
19 #ProtectPeaceCorps Delivery Systems Grassroots Engagement Congressional Office Meetings District Events Town Halls, Constituent Coffees, Member Media Appearances Personalized Letters / Postcards Be Specific, let them know your vote depends on it. Phone Calls Ask to speak with the Member of staffer who covers the Peace Corps. *Enlist third-party validators. The messenger is key.
20 #ProtectPeaceCorps Delivery Systems Local Mass Media Op-eds and letters to the editor Radio appearances Local news appearances Social Media
21 #PeaceCorpsConnect Grassroots Outreach PCVs/ RPCVs Enlist others nationwide to engage, especially Key Target s those in strategic districts and states, and currently serving Volunteers. Enlist highprofile RPCVs and third-party validators to 3 rd Party engage.
#PeaceCorpsConnect Coordination 22.. Weekly Webinars NPCA > Advocacy Coordinators > AGNs NPCA Communications #ProtectPeaceCorps webinars on Tuesdays @ 9pm EDT for general updates, reminders, and actions Targeted updates and actions from NPCA to Advocacy Coordinators and affiliate group leaders as appropriate Targeted updates and actions from NPCA to focused audience NPCA Advocacy Department Communicating Regularly Advocacy Coordinators Affiliate Group Leaders
23 #ProtectPeaceCorps #ProtectPeaceCorps Webpage Resources and Materials Advocacy & Mass Media Toolkits Events Map Budget Deadlines Best Practices FAQs Schedule of Events
Grassroots Success 24 March National Days of Action Dozens of district meetings Op-Eds and Letters-to-the-Editor 29,000-plus emails, thousands of phone calls, handwritten letters, postcards, tweets, posts Advocacy events New Advocacy Coordinators
Grassroots Success: District Meetings 25
Grassroots Success: Advocacy Events 26
Grassroots Success: Media Engagement 27
Grassroots & Grasstops Success 28 Record 175 House signatures on Dear Colleague Letter
29 Grassroots & Grasstops Success Record-tying 37 Senators Sign Dear Colleague Letter
30 The Long Game Connect with NPCA and utilize its resources Prioritize advocacy Establish an advocacy coordinator Commit to regular advocacy events and actions Educate others and enlist their support
Grassroots Success: First Coast RPCVs, Inc. 31
32 Grassroots Success: Nay to Yea I came up here with the attitude, I m going to do whatever I can to get us out of foreign aid. If anyone on the House Freedom Caucus doesn t think foreign aid is effective, refer them to my office. A Leader of the House Freedom Caucus HFAC Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific Co-Chair of the Caucus for Effective Foreign Assistance