Plain-language guides, downloadable templates, and short field notes from the operations side. Built to be useful before you ever hire us — and equally useful if you never do.
Seven concrete moves a regular American can make to move the federal and state governments — public comment, the right elected official, primary elections, hearings, coalitions, ballot initiatives, and petitions. Plain-language, with the receipts.
How to find the rule that actually governs your work, how to read it without a law degree, and how to weigh in during a comment period when it matters. Includes a downloadable Excel rule-watch tracker.
Why most small organizations drown in process, what the operational research actually says, and five procedures to write first. Includes a free 12-page editable template.
The $10 fee, the 30-day window, monthly reports due the 15th, and the calendar that actually keeps a lobbyist compliant. Includes a downloadable compliance checklist.
Updated as we go. Mostly written by Jade. If a topic you need isn't here yet, tell us — chances are it's on the list.
When the federal Lobbying Disclosure Act actually applies, what each filing does, and how the 501(h) election fits in. Includes a downloadable LD-1 intake worksheet.
The Idaho Nonprofit Corporation Act, IRS Form 1023 expectations, conflict of interest policies, and term limits. Includes a downloadable bylaws review checklist.
The $4.4B federal lobbying market, Idaho's 4-to-1 lobbyist-to-legislator ratio, and the research that says nonprofits get a $220 return for every dollar spent. Includes a plain-language read on the 25% participation gap.
Most civic guides start at the ballot. This one starts at the city council agenda packet, the school board calendar, and the URA meeting nobody attends. Practical entry points for the place you actually live.
AI agents, automation, and dashboards do not replace operations. They make the underlying SOPs and decision rights more visible than ever. A field note on what to keep, what to retire, and what to write down.
GAO put federal improper payments at $37.39B in FY2025. Recovery rates sit near 20%. Idaho's Medicaid PERM rate runs three times the national average. A plain read on what prevention-first government would change.
Coalition lobbying wins 57% of the time. Single-organization lobbying wins 12%. The research is older than most policy staff, and the practice is still rare. A short guide to building one without burning your relationships.
A walkthrough of how Idaho's Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee shapes the policies your organization has to operate inside, and how to read a budget motion before the floor vote happens.
Most advocacy work fails on the day a coalition realizes it doesn't actually know who decides. A stakeholder map fixes that in an hour. The worksheet, the categories, and the questions to answer before you spend a dollar.
What the role actually does, what to pay, how to tell whether you need a contractor instead, and the four-question screen that surfaces real operators from generalists. Includes a draft job description.
What committee chairs are actually listening for, what counts as a complete testimony in three minutes, the structure that survives interruption, and the etiquette that earns a second invitation.
For quick reactions to Idaho policy news and bite-sized explainers, follow along on TikTok. The long-form work lives here.