Unlocking the Power of Advocacy
“No matter the issue, Farm Bureau members are influential and engage when called on thanks to advocacy training provided by Key Advocacy.”
– Cody Lyon, American Farm Bureau Federation's
Managing Director of Advocacy
& Political Affairs Programs
Why Key Advocacy?
Key Advocacy helps organizations large and small realize the value of unlocking the power of advocacy!
What's an interest group's primary objective? Winning. Persuading lawmakers to support your issues and attaining your policy priorities.
Unfortunately, deploying lobbyists and launching advocate mass email blasts aren't enough anymore. The rise in annual in-person and virtual Capitol Hill Days makes frequently training your advocates a must. And, the most successful organizations don't just rely on these one-time spikes in activism. They're favoring quality over quantity advocacy, investing in supporters and turning them into networks of highly-trained advocates - key contacts, issue ambassadors or grasstops. They're entrusting them to engage lawmakers, build relationships and extend the reach of the enterprise like never before.
Key Advocacy is your partner for today's advocacy environment. Our advocate training programs will unleash your supporters' potential, turning them into effective messengers in DC and the state capitals. We'll help you find ideal candidates for a key contact program, then teach them how to engage their lawmakers year-round. Our efforts allow your government affairs team to focus on what they do best, serving as your industry's policy experts.
Key Advocacy Founder David Lusk's
appearance as a panelist on the
"Inclusive Innovation Working Group" series hosted by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI).
Key Advocacy Services
Utilize our expertise for:
Who We Are
David M. Lusk, Founder
Key Advocacy
David Lusk is the Founder of Key Advocacy. With over 20 years of policy experience, David specializes in developing nationwide grassroots and grasstops programs for associations, nonprofits and corporations. Since 2010, he has provided highly-customized advocate training for Capitol Visit Days and conducting 365-engagement to over 15,000 association members, nonprofit volunteers and C-Suite executives.
"We return time and again to David. His front-line experience leverages the most effective techniques for advocacy programs while also having a knack for motivating our advocates to be active beyond just a Capitol Hill Visit Day."
– Eric Storey, Director of Grassroots & Digital Advocacy, American Bar Association
David trained advocates who have testified before the US House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, before US Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez and the Pennsylvania Alzheimer’s Disease Planning Committee. (David himself also testified during an intake session of the Disease Planning Committee as his own mother was losing her battle with Alzheimer’s.)
Organizations served by Key Advocacy include:
Among our strategic partners are:
After establishing a strong client relationship for several years, David was hired by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) in 2010 as a direct employee to launch, implement, and oversee their key contact program, known as the SHRM Advocacy Team. Within three years, SHRM’s Advocacy Team deployed over 250 Advocacy Captains and was over 1,300 HR Advocate members strong. His program was recognized by National Journal as one of the top five issue ambassador programs by August 2013.
Because of the legislative and engagement successes his programs achieved, David is considered a knowledge leader in advocacy best practices and developing advanced advocacy programs. He has presented hundreds of speeches on the importance of getting involved in the policy process and training sessions on advocacy best practices at annual and legislative conferences for dozens of national, state and local associations, nonprofits and professional societies.
David graduated from Brown University with degrees in both Public Policy and Business Economics. He has served in leadership for the American Society of Association Executives’ (ASAE) for many years, including recently as chair of its Advocacy Council and as a state leader for Associations Day for the last 10 years from Virginia and North Carolina.
From 2013 to 2015, David directed the Alzheimer’s Association’s Ambassador Program. He expanded the system to engage with all 535 members of the US House and Senate, and implemented Alzheimer’s Congressional Teams - support networks for each volunteer Ambassador. During this time, Congress appropriated record-level funding increases toward Alzheimer’s care, support and research.
"David’s demonstrated success running and advising advocacy programs makes him an entertaining and effective speaker. Our advocates really welcomed David’s session, and he was the perfect addition to our programming."
– Joe Franco, Vice President, Grassroots, LeadingAge & President, The Advocacy Association
Ph: 571.308.9539
Located in Arlington, VA, and Davidson, NC. Serving organizations nationwide.
©2024 by Key Advocacy