Who Shapes Policy at City Hall? Practical Strategies for Nonprofits to Build Relationships and Influence a New Municipal Council
Why Attend this Workshop
If there’s one myth that has persisted among some nonprofits, it is the idea that you need to be a large organization to effectively engage with or influence decisions at City Hall. As London prepares to elect new Councillors, nonprofits are entering an important moment for community advocacy and engagement, with new relationships, priorities, and alignments beginning to take shape at City Hall.
The next council term is also expected to begin under an expanded Strong Mayor framework, shaping not only how decisions are made at City Hall, but also how priorities are set and how future multi-year budgets are developed.
For nonprofits, this transition presents both challenges and opportunities. Decisions made early in a new council term can influence funding priorities, community investments, service delivery, housing, infrastructure, and the broader policy environment that affects the nonprofit sector and the communities it serves.
It is also known that many organizations, especially small and medium-sized nonprofits, often feel disconnected from municipal decision-making or uncertain about how to build relationships in order to effectively engage with municipal policymakers.
This workshop is designed to help bridge that gap.
Through practical discussion, real-world examples, and hands-on exercises, participants will gain tools and strategies to engage a new municipal council more effectively and strategically from day one. The session will help nonprofits understand how decisions are made, where influence exists within municipal systems, and how organizations can position their priorities early in the new council term.
Learning Outcomes
This workshop will help you build and map out your advocacy strategy and priorities. Participants are encouraged to come with one advocacy priority or organizational challenge, and they will be supported in developing an advocacy strategy during the session.
Participants will:
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Learn how to build influence and relationships with the new council and city staff,
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communicate their organization’s priorities effectively,
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complete a simple advocacy readiness checklist.
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Learn how to frame organizational priorities into actionable advocacy goals.
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develop an advocacy strategy tied to their own organizational issue or priority.
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Understand how municipal policy and budget decisions are developed at City Hall.
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Understand the roles of council, municipal staff, committees, political leadership, and administrative structures.
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Learn the difference between advocacy and lobbying in a nonprofit context.
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Identify key decision-makers, influence points, and relationship-building opportunities within municipal government.
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Explore real-world municipal advocacy case studies from London.
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Leave the workshop with tangible advocacy tools and an actionable starting framework they can implement immediately.
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Identify where influence and decision-making power exists.
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Learn how to advocate strategically and build productive relationships.
Ultimately, this workshop is about helping nonprofits strengthen their voice at City Hall, influence municipal decisions with confidence, and better advocate for the communities they serve during a critical period of municipal transition.
Who Should Attend?
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Small, medium and large nonprofits,
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organizations new to advocacy,
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communications and community engagement staff,
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leadership teams,
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and organizations with limited policy capacity.
Facilitator(s):
Adam Thompson
Adam is Senior Director, Municipal Affairs and Economic Development at Winston Wilmont. For nearly 20 years, Adam has delivered results for municipal governments drawing on his rich understanding of policy development, government relations, and strategic communications.
Throughout his career, Adam has deployed proven strategic advocacy and communications approaches to secure on organizational priorities. His approaches have delivered historic rapid transit projects, secured major local investments from major employers, and influenced highly targeted legislative and regulatory changes to support economic growth and job creation in communities. With his rich understanding of local government decision making, he builds greater understanding between communities and clients, saving time and resources for all parties involved. Adam prides himself on creating lasting relationships that can continue to deliver for clients.
Adam volunteers with several local and national charities with a focus on raising funding for youth homelessness and education. When not at work you will find him discovering new ways to entertain and amaze his young daughter alongside his incredible wife.