Does Charity Advocacy Pay Off? - Government & Politics Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: A study released today from a foundation watchdog group says that advocacy efforts by charities can pay off, to the tune of billions of dollars to communities.

The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy study examined 110 charities in 13 states and found that work such as pushing for more aid to schools and housing for the poor resulted in $26.6-billion in benefits to communities over five years. Money for the campaigns came from foundations and other donors.

keeping a close eye... by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy: Advocacy Philanthropy in the Gulf/Midsouth Yields Substantial Returns for Underserved Communities: "Many in philanthropy don't think of the Gulf/Midsouth as a good place to invest grant dollars.

Yet, advocacy and community organizing by 20 nonprofit organizations in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi over a five-year period has brought more than $4.7 billion in benefits to low-wage workers, low-income students and other neglected populations."