# Best Public Affairs and Advocacy Software

  *By [Emma Stein](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/emma-stein)*

   Public affairs and advocacy software allows organizations to acquire, engage, and mobilize key audiences around issue advocacy in legislative, regulatory, and electoral spaces. Nonprofits, associations, and corporations use these products to educate and mobilize supporters via outbound email marketing, text messaging, and social media communication tools. Grassroots activist groups may also use them to build momentum around petitions, social causes, and key legislative issues. These tools often support fundraising and campaigning efforts for advocacy groups, but they differ from [political campaign software](https://www.g2.com/categories/political-campaign) that is designed specifically to manage campaigns for public office election.

Public affairs and advocacy software facilitates direct correspondence from advocates to targeted government officials at all levels of government (federal, state, and local) and regulatory agencies through several modes of communication, including social media, patch-through calls, and sending emails. Typically, these products also offer key insights into supporters’ usage, advanced segmentation, reporting, and, in some cases, flexible integration with common [CRM software](https://www.g2.com/categories/CRM). Products in this category may also include modules designed for specific organizational goals such as election education, advanced acquisition tools, and stakeholder management.

To qualify for inclusion in the Public Affairs and Advocacy category, a product must:

- Provide advocate acquisition and mobilization tools
- Utilize one or more outbound communication channels including email, text messaging, and social media
- Include stakeholder management features such as legislator databases and relationship and meeting tracking
- Facilitate direct correspondence from advocates to targeted government officials





## Category Overview

**Total Products under this Category:** 42


## Trust & Credibility Stats

**Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:**

- 30 Analysts and Data Experts
- 800+ Authentic Reviews
- 42+ Products
- Unbiased Rankings

G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category.


## Best Public Affairs and Advocacy Software At A Glance

- **Leader:** [Quorum](https://www.g2.com/products/quorum-us-quorum/reviews)
- **Highest Performer:** [Speak4](https://www.g2.com/products/speak4/reviews)
- **Easiest to Use:** [Muster](https://www.g2.com/products/muster/reviews)
- **Top Trending:** [LegiStorm](https://www.g2.com/products/legistorm/reviews)
- **Best Free Software:** [NationBuilder](https://www.g2.com/products/nationbuilder/reviews)


## Top-Rated Products (Ranked by G2 Score)
  ### 1. [Quorum](https://www.g2.com/products/quorum-us-quorum/reviews)
  Quorum is a sophisticated AI-powered unified public affairs solution designed to assist users in navigating the complexities of legislative tracking, stakeholder management, grassroots advocacy, and PAC management. This comprehensive platform empowers professionals to enhance their policy victories, gain insights into the policy landscape, and develop a cohesive, data-driven strategy tailored to their specific needs. Targeted at public affairs professionals, Quorum serves a diverse audience that includes Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit organizations, and government entities. Its extensive capabilities are particularly beneficial for those engaged in federal, state, local, school board, EU, and international issues. By integrating various tools into a single platform, Quorum allows users to streamline their operations and focus on what matters most: effective advocacy and informed decision-making. One of the standout features of Quorum is its ability to transform vast amounts of data into actionable intelligence. This functionality is crucial for organizations that need to respond swiftly to legislative changes and emerging trends. With access to more data than any other solution on the market, users can stay ahead of the curve, ensuring they are well-informed and prepared to act when necessary. The platform’s AI capabilities further enhance its utility by providing insights that help users anticipate shifts in the policy landscape. Quorum&#39;s commitment to security and customer success is evident in its comprehensive support system, which is designed to assist users in maximizing the platform&#39;s potential. The integration of over 15 unified products across various markets is a unique aspect of Quorum, setting it apart from other public affairs solutions. This level of integration not only simplifies the user experience but also ensures that all tools work seamlessly together, providing a holistic approach to public affairs management. By leveraging Quorum, public affairs professionals can build a unified strategy that enhances their effectiveness in advocacy efforts. The platform&#39;s innovative features and extensive data coverage make it an invaluable resource for those looking to navigate the intricate world of public policy and advocacy with confidence and precision.


  **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 169

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 7.9/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Quorum.us](https://www.g2.com/sellers/quorum-us)
- **Company Website:** https://www.quorum.us/
- **Year Founded:** 2014
- **HQ Location:** Washington, US
- **Twitter:** @QuorumAnalytics (3,619 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/quorum-analytics-inc-/ (456 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Government Relations, Non-Profit Organization Management
  - **Company Size:** 48% Small-Business, 36% Mid-Market


  ### 2. [Leadership Connect](https://www.g2.com/products/leadership-connect/reviews)
  Leadership Connect is the #1 trusted source for finding the right people in government. Our technology enables users to connect with government leaders, C-suite executives, board members, and others who can advance policy, business development, and sales goals. Streamline Business Development: - Navigate organizational charts with up to 16 layers of depth to eliminate guesswork. - Identify the right stakeholders and focus on building impactful relationships. - Leverage tools designed to influence and sell across multiple verticals. Empower Government Affairs: - Link congressional staff to specific legislation, understanding who is shaping policy. - React strategically when staff roles shift or individuals transition across organizations. - Access insights from thousands of trusted contributors within government departments, providing information unavailable anywhere else. Enhance CRM Systems: - Seamlessly integrate Leadership Connect’s data into your existing CRM environment. - Provide internal teams with access to up-to-date, accurate information about key contacts. - Save time by streamlining searches for the right individuals. Unique Advantages: Comprehensive Data Collection: - Proprietary 24-step information collection process combines advanced technology and human validation. - Continuously updated database ensures accuracy and reliability. - Track individuals as they move across government, business, lobbying firms, and media. Tailored Solutions: - Tools to connect with leaders across industries to advance sales and policy goals. - Features to help government contractors, lobbyists, and business professionals build relationships that drive outcomes. - Leadership Connect equips users with the tools and insights to connect with the people who matter most. Visit www.leadershipconnect.io to explore how the platform can support your goals.


  **Average Rating:** 4.2/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 28

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 9.6/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Leadership Connect](https://www.g2.com/sellers/leadership-connect)
- **Company Website:** https://www.leadershipconnect.io/
- **Year Founded:** 1969
- **HQ Location:** Washington, US
- **Twitter:** @LeadershipCnnct (2,945 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/leadershipconnect (141 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 32% Enterprise, 25% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (10 reviews)
- Contact Information (8 reviews)
- Customer Support (5 reviews)
- Easy Setup (4 reviews)
- Data Accuracy (3 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Missing Information (5 reviews)
- Limited Contacts (3 reviews)
- Missing Features (3 reviews)
- Outdated Contacts (2 reviews)
- Email Loss (1 reviews)

  ### 3. [Muster](https://www.g2.com/products/muster/reviews)
  Muster is a powerful grassroots advocacy platform designed for nonprofits, associations, and other organizations that want to influence public policy and strengthen supporter engagement. With easy-to-use digital advocacy tools, Muster helps organizations mobilize their members, drive impactful campaigns, and connect directly with elected officials. The platform makes it easy to launch advocacy campaigns, send action alerts, and track engagement in real-time—empowering organizations to increase participation and demonstrate measurable results. Trusted by nonprofits and associations of all sizes, Muster provides an affordable and effective solution to grow your advocacy impact and advance your mission.


  **Average Rating:** 4.8/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 26

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.8/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 9.9/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 9.6/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Muster](https://www.g2.com/sellers/muster)
- **Company Website:** https://www.muster.com
- **Year Founded:** 2014
- **HQ Location:** Richmond, Virginia
- **Twitter:** @MusterAdvocacy (314 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/5379608/ (48 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Non-Profit Organization Management
  - **Company Size:** 96% Small-Business, 4% Mid-Market


  ### 4. [Bloomberg Government](https://www.g2.com/products/bloomberg-government/reviews)
  Bloomberg Government is a premium, subscription-based service that provides comprehensive information and analytics for policy professionals who interact with – or are affected by – the government. Delivering news, analytics, and data-driven decision tools, Bloomberg Government’s digital workspace gives an intelligent edge to government affairs, federal, and contracting professionals. For more information or a demo, visit https://about.bgov.com/.


  **Average Rating:** 4.0/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 12

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Bloomberg Industry Group](https://www.g2.com/sellers/bloomberg-industry-group)
- **Year Founded:** 1929
- **HQ Location:** Arlington, VA
- **Twitter:** @BBGIndustry (19,578 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/40893491/ (1,889 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 46% Small-Business, 38% Mid-Market


  ### 5. [Speak4](https://www.g2.com/products/speak4/reviews)
  Speak4 is a software-as-a-service digital advocacy solution. We allow organizations to quickly and easily launch targeted campaigns to activate their supporters; contact legislators, regulators or anyone with an email address; and send letters, sign petitions and share video testimonials. We were developed for professionals, by professionals. We built this tool with a commitment to simplicity, innovation and partnership –&amp;nbsp;and we approach everything we do with that model in mind. We&#39;re working hand-in-hand with our partners to build the tool we wish we&#39;d had.


  **Average Rating:** 4.9/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 11

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 9.8/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 9.6/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Speak4](https://www.g2.com/sellers/speak4)
- **Year Founded:** 2020
- **HQ Location:** Arlington, US
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/speak4 (17 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 82% Mid-Market, 18% Small-Business


  ### 6. [NationBuilder](https://www.g2.com/products/nationbuilder/reviews)
  The NationBuilder community engagement platform powers thousands of the world&#39;s most high-stakes campaigns and movements. Move your advocates to action with a single system including readymade website templates, a fully-integrated supporter database, petitioning, powerful field tools, streamlined fundraising and donor management, and advanced email and texting. Bring your community to life with dynamic profiles that update with every interaction. Trusted by more than 9,000 customers in 112 countries.


  **Average Rating:** 4.2/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 107

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [NationBuilder](https://www.g2.com/sellers/nationbuilder)
- **Year Founded:** 2009
- **HQ Location:** Los Angeles, CA
- **Twitter:** @NationBuilder (15,306 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/2514119/ (101 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Non-Profit Organization Management, Political Organization
  - **Company Size:** 83% Small-Business, 10% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (1 reviews)
- Easy Setup (1 reviews)
- Email Communication (1 reviews)
- Email Marketing (1 reviews)
- Features (1 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Difficult Learning (1 reviews)
- Difficult Setup (1 reviews)
- Learning Curve (1 reviews)
- Learning Difficulty (1 reviews)
- Setup Difficulty (1 reviews)

  ### 7. [Bonterra EveryAction](https://www.g2.com/products/bonterra-everyaction/reviews)
  Bonterra EveryAction puts power behind your fundraising program within our unified CRM. You&#39;ll discover a better, more user-friendly platform to grow donor relationships, track prospects, grants, and pledges, cultivate planned giving, run custom reports, and ultimately raise more money. Boost your nonprofit&#39;s digital marketing efforts by running optimized, targeted, multi-channel digital campaigns that drive results and increase fundraising and engagement with EveryAction.


  **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 277

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 7.9/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 7.6/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 7.6/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Bonterra](https://www.g2.com/sellers/bonterra)
- **Company Website:** https://www.bonterratech.com/
- **Year Founded:** 2022
- **HQ Location:** Austin, United States
- **Twitter:** @BonterraTech (910 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/bonterra-tech/ (1,312 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Who Uses This:** Executive Director, Organizer
  - **Top Industries:** Non-Profit Organization Management, Political Organization
  - **Company Size:** 71% Small-Business, 26% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (18 reviews)
- Features (18 reviews)
- Integrations (9 reviews)
- Tracking (8 reviews)
- Email Communication (7 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Learning Curve (10 reviews)
- Difficult Learning (8 reviews)
- Limited Customization (6 reviews)
- Not Intuitive (6 reviews)
- Not User-Friendly (6 reviews)

  ### 8. [mCommons](https://www.g2.com/products/mcommons/reviews)
  mCommons is a specialized mobile messaging platform designed to empower nonprofit and advocacy organizations in effectively engaging, mobilizing, and fundraising through SMS, MMS, and RCS communications. With over 18 years of proven results, mCommons has supported leading organizations like the National Audubon Society, SEIU, and Oxfam in driving meaningful supporter actions. Key Features and Functionality: - SMS, MMS, and RCS Messaging: Deliver interactive, media-rich messages to millions, facilitating two-way conversations that enhance engagement and prompt action. - Audience Targeting and Personalization: Increase response rates by segmenting and personalizing messages based on supporter details such as name, interests, behaviors, location, or donation history, all automated to eliminate manual effort. - Volunteer Recruitment and Management: Efficiently recruit, onboard, and mobilize volunteers using targeted SMS outreach, automated reminders, and real-time coordination tools to scale volunteer efforts. - Automated Journeys: Implement multi-step campaigns for welcoming, nurturing, or advocacy that operate autonomously, allowing teams to focus on strategic initiatives. - Campaign Reporting: Access real-time analytics on engagement, clicks, subscriber growth, and donation attribution through interactive dashboards, eliminating guesswork in measuring ROI. - Built-In Mobile CRM: Organize and manage supporter data within mCommons, enabling segmentation by any field or behavior for more relevant and effective campaigns. - Surveys, Polls, and Quizzes: Gather immediate feedback and actionable data through engaging, interactive tools that are quick to deploy. - Legislative Calls: Mobilize supporters to contact lawmakers instantly with click-to-call and round-robin calling features, matched by district and tracked for impact. - Polling Locations: Assist supporters in finding their voting places with a single text, reducing confusion and simplifying the process. Primary Value and Solutions Provided: mCommons addresses the unique challenges faced by nonprofits in engaging and mobilizing their audiences. By offering a comprehensive suite of mobile messaging tools, it enables organizations to: - Enhance Engagement: Utilize personalized and interactive messaging to build stronger connections with supporters. - Drive Action: Facilitate immediate responses through features like click-to-call, surveys, and automated campaigns, leading to increased participation and support. - Streamline Operations: Automate communication workflows, reducing manual tasks and allowing teams to focus on strategic goals. - Measure Impact: Access real-time data and analytics to assess campaign effectiveness, optimize strategies, and demonstrate ROI to stakeholders. By leveraging mCommons, nonprofits can effectively turn text messages into tangible supporter actions, advancing their missions with greater efficiency and impact.


  **Average Rating:** 4.2/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 30

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Mobile Commons](https://www.g2.com/sellers/mobile-commons-2b07c749-5c9d-4b7c-a515-704230bf5a73)
- **HQ Location:** N/A
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/mobilecommons/ (67 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 63% Mid-Market, 37% Small-Business


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (16 reviews)
- User-Friendly (12 reviews)
- Automation (8 reviews)
- Customer Support (8 reviews)
- Integrations (8 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Feature Improvements (4 reviews)
- Learning Curve (4 reviews)
- Poor Interface Design (4 reviews)
- Inadequate Reporting (3 reviews)
- Reporting Issues (3 reviews)

  ### 9. [Democracy Direct](https://www.g2.com/products/democracy-direct/reviews)
  Democracy Direct helps you manage extensive stakeholder data records that can be searched, sorted and segmented quickly by virtually any criteria to suite your needs-including legislative districts (state and federal), grassroots activity taken to date, PAC contributions made to date, key contact designations, relationships with lawmakers, and more.


  **Average Rating:** 4.2/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 15

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Quality of Support:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [DDC Advocacy](https://www.g2.com/sellers/ddc-advocacy)
- **Year Founded:** 1996
- **HQ Location:** Washington, DC
- **Twitter:** @DDCAdvocacy (3,056 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/ddc-advocacy (516 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 60% Small-Business, 20% Mid-Market


  ### 10. [LegiStorm](https://www.g2.com/products/legistorm/reviews)
  LegiStorm is an all-in-one public affairs platform that provides you with the essential tools to achieve your objectives in Congress and state legislatures. Stay informed and connected with our comprehensive congressional staff directory, which offers real-time information on congressional staff, including their legislative issues, contact information and biographical details. Build custom contact lists and receive timely email alerts for reports, hearings, town halls, press releases and more. Additionally, LegiStorm allows you to delve into lobbying intelligence, helping you find the best lobbying firms that align with your needs and analyze their performance or identify potential clients. Stay up-to-date with lobbying trends, explore lobbying filings and gain insights into the revolving door between K Street and Congress. Get access to state legislators and staff across all 50 states. Browse state legislator directories, build contact lists and track down the ideal staff members for your specific issue. Visit our website today to learn more about how LegiStorm can empower you with the tools and intelligence you need to achieve your objectives in Congress and state legislatures.


  **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 16

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Quality of Support:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [LegiStorm](https://www.g2.com/sellers/legistorm)
- **Company Website:** https://info.legistorm.com
- **Year Founded:** 2006
- **HQ Location:** Washington, US
- **Twitter:** @LegiStorm (4,205 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/legistorm/ (35 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Government Administration
  - **Company Size:** 81% Small-Business, 19% Enterprise


  ### 11. [EA Digital Tools](https://www.g2.com/products/ea-digital-tools/reviews)
  EA Digital Tools (formerly known as BSD Tools) seamlessly integrates fundraising, mobilization, and compliance tools - all in one system.


  **Average Rating:** 3.0/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 10

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 6.0/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 6.2/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 6.7/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [EveryAction&#39;s Digital Tools](https://www.g2.com/sellers/everyaction-s-digital-tools)
- **HQ Location:** Washington, US
- **Twitter:** @EveryActionHQ (3,482 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/everyaction (48 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 60% Small-Business, 40% Mid-Market


  ### 12. [Engaging Networks](https://www.g2.com/products/engaging-networks/reviews)
  Engaging Networks helps nonprofits maximize their impact through a suite of world-class online fundraising and advocacy digital engagement tools. Nonprofits of every size and cause—from human rights to disaster relief—use our platform to raise money, engage their communities, and advance their missions. For over 20 years, we’ve powered tens of millions of donations from over 190 countries and raised over $2 billion for social good. The Engaging Networks platform is updated constantly with new features and upgrades every six to eight weeks so that we can provide an innovative platform that fits every need. We can replace the advocacy, fundraising, email, P2P, events, and data management systems you have, or play nicely with whatever you’d like to keep. We proudly work with a variety of incredible organizations such as The Humane Society of the United States, The Nature Conservancy, Human Rights Campaign, PETA and Amnesty International USA. Today, we have two offices in Washington, D.C. and London, and serve more than 450 nonprofits in more than 50 countries around the world.


  **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 51

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 7.9/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Engaging Networks](https://www.g2.com/sellers/engaging-networks)
- **Year Founded:** 2000
- **HQ Location:** Washington, DC
- **Twitter:** @engagingnetwork (1,272 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/engaging-networks/ (49 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Non-Profit Organization Management, Fund-Raising
  - **Company Size:** 65% Mid-Market, 24% Small-Business


  ### 13. [FastDemocracy](https://www.g2.com/products/fastdemocracy/reviews)
  Legislative tracking and advocacy software


  **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 4

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 7.8/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [FastDemocracy](https://www.g2.com/sellers/fastdemocracy)
- **Year Founded:** 2018
- **HQ Location:** St. Louis, US
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/fastdemocracy/ (7 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 100% Small-Business


  ### 14. [OurGov](https://www.g2.com/products/ourgov/reviews)
  OurGov offers tons of time-saving tools for advocates in state government - both lobbyists and legislative offices alike. Features include: - Customizable home feed with legislation you&#39;ve subscribed to - Side-by-side companion bill comparison - Push notifications - Automatically push public hearings to your calendar - And much more!


  **Average Rating:** 4.8/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 4

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Quality of Support:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [OurGov](https://www.g2.com/sellers/ourgov)
- **Year Founded:** 2020
- **HQ Location:** Madison, US
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/ourgovus/ (2 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 100% Small-Business


  ### 15. [VoterVoice](https://www.g2.com/products/votervoice/reviews)
  VoterVoice is a reliable, easy-to-use digital advocacy platform that provides tools to execute and report in depth on campaigns, surveys, petitions, and events. We are laser-focused on advocacy. Unlike other products, we focus all our expertise on digital advocacy. From running hyper-targeted campaigns and surveying advocates to scoring lawmakers and managing fly-ins, we have you covered. We have award-winning client support. We have a 97% customer satisfaction rate and an average 30-minute response time. We focus on proactive innovation in a fast-changing space. We have been revolutionizing the way digital campaigns are run and analyzed since our inception, and in 2021, we were shortlisted for a SaaS Award in innovation and accessibility. We have unparalleled precision when it comes to matching advocates to their legislators. Our address-to-district matching tool is the most accurate available. Our team checks and corrects for undelivered messages, ensuring constituents reach the right lawmakers. We deliver comprehensive impact benchmarks and reporting. Our full-time data science team has loaded billions of data points in the app to help you analyze and improve your results, including through peer benchmarks and AI-powered suggested actions. We offer year-round strategy support and partnership. We offer detailed guidance on essential advocacy activities and lead you through the complexities of state and federal sessions.


  **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 4

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [FiscalNote](https://www.g2.com/sellers/fiscalnote)
- **Year Founded:** 2013
- **HQ Location:** Washington, District of Columbia, United States
- **Twitter:** @FiscalNote (5,692 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/FiscalNote/ (436 employees on LinkedIn®)
- **Ownership:** NYSE:NOTE

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 75% Small-Business, 25% Mid-Market


  ### 16. [Ecanvasser](https://www.g2.com/products/ecanvasser/reviews)
  Ecanvasser is a powerful field sales management platform designed to help organizations turn door-to-door and outside sales into a predictable, measurable growth engine. Built for teams managing large territories and distributed field reps, Ecanvasser replaces guesswork, spreadsheets, and disconnected tools with a single system to plan, execute, and optimize field sales at scale. With Ecanvasser, sales leaders gain full visibility into field activity while empowering reps to be more productive on the ground. Teams can efficiently map and manage even the largest territories, ensuring every address is covered without overlap or gaps. By identifying high-value areas before reps knock, organizations can focus effort where it delivers the highest return. Key capabilities include: Territory Management Map, assign, and measure territories with precision. Remove overlap, control access to leads, and ensure full coverage across large sales areas. Real-Time Field Tracking Get accurate, GPS verified visibility into rep activity and respond to issues in real time without micromanagement. Mobile Field Sales App Enable reps to get started in minutes with an intuitive app that supports optimized routes (up to 200 stops per route), offline work, and easy follow-up scheduling to convert more leads into closed deals. Analytics &amp; Dashboards Monitor performance at a glance with customizable dashboards. Track key metrics, analyze trends, identify coaching opportunities, and replace manual reporting with real-time insights. Lead Prospector (US-only) Reduce time spent sourcing leads with instant access to high-quality, up-to-date prospect data, helping teams prioritize buyers most likely to convert. Ecanvasser integrates with over 5,000 tools, including popular CRMs, and offers a developer-friendly API to support custom workflows and automation. Trusted by more than 15,000 teams across 70 countries, Ecanvasser has supported field sales teams across industries such as broadband, solar, home improvement, and political canvassing. Unlike traditional field sales software, Ecanvasser is priced by lead, not by headcount. This unique model allows organizations to scale without costly seat creep, retain valuable territory data even as teams change, and clearly tie software investment to revenue opportunity.


  **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 23

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Ecanvasser](https://www.g2.com/sellers/ecanvasser)
- **Year Founded:** 2012
- **HQ Location:** Cork, Cork
- **Twitter:** @ecanvasserapp (1,519 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/ecanvasser/ (11 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Political Organization
  - **Company Size:** 74% Small-Business, 26% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Customer Support (3 reviews)
- Customization (3 reviews)
- Ease of Use (2 reviews)
- Team Management (2 reviews)
- Ease of Learning (1 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Data Management (2 reviews)
- Difficult Learning (1 reviews)
- Limited Accessibility (1 reviews)
- Map Issues (1 reviews)
- Software Glitches (1 reviews)

  ### 17. [FiscalNote](https://www.g2.com/products/fiscalnote/reviews)
  FiscalNote is the premier information services company focused on global policy and market intelligence. By combining AI technology, expert analysis, and legislative, regulatory, and geopolitical data, FiscalNote is reinventing the way that organizations minimize risk and capitalize on opportunity. FiscalNote empowers more than 5,000 clients worldwide to monitor, manage, and act on the issues that matter most to them. FiscalNote takes a 360-degree approach to issues management including comprehensive legislative and regulatory monitoring, stakeholder management, collaboration, expert human analysis, and bespoke services. The most secure technology solution with SOC II Type 2 compliance. More global policy coverage than any other provider, including legislative, regulatory, and elected officials&#39; data across 20+ countries across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Award-winning customer service supports clients across their entire journey to drive success with dedicated people, resources, materials, training, and more. Award-winning in-house professional services team offers custom services, including policy analysis and reporting, district mapping, and more.


  **Average Rating:** 4.0/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 3

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Quality of Support:** 6.7/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [FiscalNote](https://www.g2.com/sellers/fiscalnote)
- **Year Founded:** 2013
- **HQ Location:** Washington, District of Columbia, United States
- **Twitter:** @FiscalNote (5,692 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/FiscalNote/ (436 employees on LinkedIn®)
- **Ownership:** NYSE:NOTE

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 67% Small-Business, 33% Mid-Market


  ### 18. [the action network](https://www.g2.com/products/the-action-network/reviews)
  Action Network is an open platform that empowers individuals and groups to organize for progressive causes. We encourage responsible activism, and do not support using the platform to take unlawful or other improper action.


  **Average Rating:** 4.0/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 3

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Quality of Support:** 5.0/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [actionnetwork.org](https://www.g2.com/sellers/actionnetwork-org)
- **Year Founded:** 2013
- **HQ Location:** Washington, US
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-action-network (29 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 67% Small-Business, 33% Enterprise


  ### 19. [BroadStripes CRM](https://www.g2.com/products/broadstripes-crm/reviews)
  Broadstripes replaces papers and spreadsheets with a single streamlined and secure cloud-based database that your organizers can use from anywhere.


  **Average Rating:** 2.5/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 1

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 3.3/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 1.7/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 6.7/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [BroadStripes](https://www.g2.com/sellers/broadstripes-0df88c0d-c3e2-409f-9fdb-438379f9bc29)
- **Year Founded:** 2006
- **HQ Location:** New Haven, US
- **LinkedIn® Page:** http://www.linkedin.com/company/broadstripes-llc (2 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 100% Small-Business


  ### 20. [Capitol Impact](https://www.g2.com/products/capitol-impact/reviews)
  Capitol Impact is a software as a service company focused on delivering tools to meet the specific needs of our clients. We understand that no two organizations are the same and have worked for over a decade designing powerful systems to help associations, state and local governments, universities, and more improve their ability to communicate to their audience.


  **Average Rating:** 4.0/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 1

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Quality of Support:** 5.0/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Capitolimpact](https://www.g2.com/sellers/capitolimpact)
- **HQ Location:** N/A
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 100% Mid-Market


  ### 21. [Crowdpac](https://www.g2.com/products/crowdpac/reviews)
  Crowdpac is a crowdfunding platform for politics.


  **Average Rating:** 3.3/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 2

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 6.7/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Crowdpac](https://www.g2.com/sellers/crowdpac)
- **Year Founded:** 2013
- **HQ Location:** Washington , US
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/crowdblue (5 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 50% Mid-Market, 50% Small-Business


  ### 22. [New/Mode](https://www.g2.com/products/new-mode/reviews)
  New/Mode is the multi-channel advocacy &amp; civic engagement platform that organizations, campaigns and causes use to win on the issues. New/Mode&#39;s powerful calling, email, SMS, fax, social and letter to the editor tools are successfully used around the world to build strong communities of support and to influence decision-making.


  **Average Rating:** 1.5/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 1

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Quality of Support:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [New/Mode](https://www.g2.com/sellers/new-mode)
- **Year Founded:** 2016
- **HQ Location:** Vancouver, CA
- **Twitter:** @NewModeInc (1,286 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** http://www.linkedin.com/company/new-mode (39 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 100% Small-Business


  ### 23. [Rally Starter](https://www.g2.com/products/rally-starter/reviews)
  Rally Starter is a digital advocacy tool designed for organizers and nonprofits to launch winning advocacy campaigns. In less than 15 minutes, you can create a powerful campaign to contact decision makers, collect signatures for a petition, boycott a company and more.


  **Average Rating:** 4.0/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 1

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Quality of Support:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Rally Starter](https://www.g2.com/sellers/rally-starter)
- **Year Founded:** 2010
- **HQ Location:** San Francisco, US
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/media-cause/?originalSubdomain=my (66 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 100% Small-Business


  ### 24. [SparkInfluence](https://www.g2.com/products/sparkinfluence/reviews)
  SparkInfluence provides not only the tools and content you need to educate, engage and empower your stakeholders but also the real-time access to data that will help you track, manage and encourage repeat action.


  **Average Rating:** 5.0/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 1

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Quality of Support:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Whistle Stop Digital](https://www.g2.com/sellers/whistle-stop-digital)
- **Year Founded:** 2001
- **HQ Location:** Bratislava, SK
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/pantheontech/?originalSubdomain=sk (89 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 100% Small-Business


  ### 25. [ActionKit](https://www.g2.com/products/actionkit/reviews)
  ActionKit is a comprehensive online organizing platform designed to empower progressive organizations in their advocacy, fundraising, and campaign efforts. By integrating best practices and user-friendly tools, ActionKit enables groups to effectively mobilize supporters, drive engagement, and achieve impactful results across various social and political causes. Key Features and Functionality: - Email Campaigns: Create personalized emails with flexible targeting options, segmenting audiences by location, action history, and custom fields. Features include A/B testing, scheduling, and monitoring delivery performance. - Secure Fundraising: Facilitate one-time and recurring donations with customizable asks, SSL encryption, and integration with payment gateways like Braintree, Authorize.net, and PayPal. - Advocacy and List Growth: Develop petitions, surveys, and calls to action using mobile-friendly templates, integrated social sharing tools, and geocoding for targeted outreach. - Event Management: Organize centralized and distributed events with tools for recruitment, interactive maps, and communication between hosts and attendees. - Data and Analytics: Access built-in reports, a sophisticated query builder, and APIs for data integration, ensuring comprehensive tracking and analysis of campaign performance. - International Organizing: Support multilingual campaigns, international events, and fundraising in various currencies, with built-in translations and GDPR compliance tools. Primary Value and Solutions Provided: ActionKit addresses the challenges faced by progressive organizations in mobilizing supporters and managing campaigns by offering a robust, customizable platform that integrates essential tools for email marketing, fundraising, advocacy, event management, and data analysis. Its user-friendly interface and flexible features enable organizations to implement best practices, personalize outreach, and effectively engage their audience, ultimately driving greater impact and success in their missions.




**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Bonterra](https://www.g2.com/sellers/bonterra)
- **Year Founded:** 2022
- **HQ Location:** Austin, United States
- **Twitter:** @BonterraTech (910 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/bonterra-tech/ (1,312 employees on LinkedIn®)





## Parent Category

[Political Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/political)




---

## Buyer Guide

### What You Should Know About Public Affairs and Advocacy Software

### What is Public Affairs and Advocacy Software?

Public affairs and advocacy software equips organizations with acquisition, engagement, and mobilization tools to drive results for initiatives focusing on advocacy, public affairs, and government relations. By combining [CRM systems](https://www.g2.com/categories/crm) and [marketing software](https://www.g2.com/categories/marketing) capabilities with industry-specific features, users can identify key stakeholders, engage with them across multiple channels at the right time, and deploy calls to action. Grassroots advocacy organizations rely on this software to geo-target supporters around specific issues, such as local legislation or elections, and direct them to sign petitions, message their representatives, and explore educational materials.&amp;nbsp;

Public affairs and advocacy software also helps organizations identify new stakeholders and advocates to support their cause, using the aforementioned geo-targeting feature as well as relationship tracking tools, custom forms, social media posts and ads, and SMS outreach. Nonprofits, in particular, use these features to identify key advocates within their existing supporter base when trying to mobilize around an issue related to their organizational mission. Depending on an organization’s needs, these solutions can help with fundraising and event management. Visual charts and analytic reports track campaign success with as much specificity as needed.

Some products geared more towards public affairs professionals can also track government committee hearings, social media commentary, and legislation and regulation developments at the local, state, and federal levels. This keeps users updated on bills as they move through the legislative process. Directories may also be available either natively or via integrations to quickly identify the appropriate government employee or policymaker to contact.

### What are the Common Features of Public Affairs and Advocacy Software?

The following are some core features of public affairs and advocacy software that can help users:

**Contact and relationship management:** As the foundational feature, contact and relationship management enables users to track interactions, manage all relevant data on stakeholders and advocates, and target all outreach efforts using segmentation and geo-targeting. Depending on the product, this feature will track all past financial contributions, event participation, and any existing memberships, depending on an organization’s needs. Advocates can also be mapped to corresponding government representatives and lawmakers, useful when launching call-to-action campaigns in specific geographic areas.

**Email and text messaging:** Advocate engagement depends on multichannel messaging. Public affairs and advocacy software provides email and text outreach tools, and often social media integration, to distribute action alerts around breaking issues, prompt petition signatures, provide contact information for decision-makers, and send updates on campaign progress and outcomes.

**Patch-through calling:** Patch-through calling makes it easier for advocates and stakeholders to connect with representatives, lawmakers, and policymakers. Depending on the vendor, this feature is usually enabled by a robo dialer, a volunteer, or a customer service representative. Patch-through calling is an effective mobilization strategy to connect supporters with the appropriate representative to try and affect public policy, often around urgent issues that arise unexpectedly.

**Form and website builder:** Through a combination of templates and customizable builder tools, public affairs and advocacy software makes it easy to create email, text, and general content templates to streamline outreach efforts. Personalized landing pages for specific campaigns can also be created, making it easy to direct advocates and stakeholders to a page with relevant resources and action steps.

**Mapping:** Visual charting makes it easy to see supporters&#39; locations and their local districts. This geo-targeting functionality is handy for call-to-action campaigns at the local level. This feature is also important for storytelling purposes when organizations want to visualize campaign success at a regional or statewide level.

**Public official database:** For public affairs and relations teams, public databases make it easy to identify government officials, lawmakers, and policymakers and access up-to-date contact information, background information, and constituent representation. Users can also track meetings and other interactions for each official.

### What are the Benefits of Public Affairs and Advocacy Software?

The benefits of public affairs and advocacy software are as follows:

**Personalization:** Most notably, public affairs and advocacy software makes it incredibly easy and efficient to send targeted outreach to advocates and mobilize them around relevant issues. This ensures that calls to action only go out to those with a stake in the issue, increasing the likelihood that supporters will convert to ongoing advocates.

**Automation:** By automating many tedious tasks and workflows, this software frees up staff time to get ahead of developing issues, engage in more meaningful conversations and build relationships, and ensure supporters are mobilized to drive success for the right campaigns. Public affairs and advocacy software automates several tasks, from form and campaign site creation to petition templates for supporters to fill out quickly and even identifying links between advocates and policymakers. On the public affairs side, some products also automate the process of tracking legislative updates as bills move through procedural steps, which helps lobbying efforts.

**Increased civic engagement:** Public affairs and advocacy ultimately supports increased civic engagement by making it easier for advocates to take action. As digital advocacy becomes more crucial, these solutions support a multichannel approach to mobilizing people around causes. Whether via email, text, or social media engagement, advocates can use customizable templates provided by the organization to quickly send messages and voice their opinion on key issues

### Who Uses Public Affairs and Advocacy Software?

The following personas use public affairs and advocacy software:

**Nonprofits:** Some nonprofits engage in advocacy efforts to promote policy change that will positively impact their ability to provide programming and services. This may include food banks, human services organizations, and veterans affairs groups. A dedicated advocacy platform alongside their existing tools can support these efforts, connecting their existing supporters with appropriate elected officials, knowing which supporters to target in specific areas for mobilization, and driving donations around certain causes.

**Government affairs professionals:** Government affairs professionals need to keep a finger on the pulse of any legislative and regulatory changes that can impact a particular government department or agency. Public affairs and advocacy software geared toward this persona supports advanced stakeholder engagement and relationship tracking, bill tracking, and connection to local databases to target appropriate government officials for outreach.

**Associations, agencies, and corporations:** For similar reasons, associations, agencies, and corporations may use public affairs and advocacy software to influence policy change that directly benefits them or those they represent. For associations, this may involve labor laws and union protections. For agencies, this can be a variety of lobbying efforts depending on who their clients are. For corporations, this often focuses on regulatory issues that impact their business practices, such as FDA regulations for pharmaceutical companies and food and beverage manufacturers.

**PACs:** While PACs primarily work to elect specific candidates, they may engage in ongoing advocacy campaigns around issues that their candidate or their candidate’s affiliated party have made core to their political platform. Either alongside or instead of political campaign software, they may use public affairs and advocacy software to mobilize supporters for a candidate’s cause.

#### Software Related to Public Affairs and Advocacy Software

Related solutions that can be used together with public affairs and advocacy software include:

[Political campaign software](https://www.g2.com/categories/political-campaign) **:** Political campaign software does have some feature overlap with public affairs and advocacy software but may lack some of the more robust stakeholder engagement and advocacy tools. For candidates who want to engage their supporters outside of election cycles, public affairs and advocacy software can support education around legislative developments, drive petition signatures, and identify key advocates who may be interested in joining campaign staff in the future.

[Nonprofit CRM software](https://www.g2.com/categories/nonprofit-crm) **:** While most public affairs and advocacy software have native CRM functionality, some nonprofit users may prefer integrating with their nonprofit CRM tool to manage donor information beyond advocacy campaign engagement.

[Fundraising software](https://www.g2.com/categories/fundraising) **:** While some public affairs and advocacy software may have native fundraising capabilities, these solutions often must integrate with a dedicated fundraising solution. Supporting native features may include donate buttons and text-to-give prompts.

### Challenges with Public Affairs and Advocacy Software

Software solutions can come with their own set of challenges.&amp;nbsp;

**Partisan skew:** Public affairs and advocacy software may only serve users representing a specific political party, depending on the vendor. This may be due to limited access to legislator databases and APIs or vendor political affinity.&amp;nbsp;

**Data migration:** Public affairs and advocacy software’s efficacy partially depends on data quality. For users moving from other systems, the ability to migrate that data accurately is vital to ensuring the adoption of the new software. This can be particularly challenging when the data lives in multiple systems, such as a donor management system, a marketing platform, or another CRM.&amp;nbsp;

### How to Buy Public Affairs and Advocacy Software

#### Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for Public Affairs and Advocacy Software

Whether an organization is just starting to explore public affairs and advocacy software or is looking for a more appropriate solution for their needs, G2.com can help inform buyers of the market and assist them in selecting the best software product for their business.

Buyers should consider what is working and not working with their current system and use that as a starting point. Some questions could be:&amp;nbsp;

- Does the organization want to consolidate its tech stack into one central system?
- Do they need a cloud-based solution?&amp;nbsp;
- What challenges do they face around supporter acquisition, marketing, and campaign victories?&amp;nbsp;

Understanding the weaknesses in their current system can help eliminate any potential new products that won’t alleviate those concerns. A product that integrates with their existing fundraising and donor management systems will be crucial for nonprofits.&amp;nbsp;

Beyond that, integration with specific marketing platforms may be necessary for organizations that want more functionality beyond what a public affairs and advocacy product provides natively. Buyers should also understand the level of support each vendor offers when migrating data from existing systems into a new product.

#### Compare Public Affairs and Advocacy Software Products

**Create a long list**

The first step to finding the perfect software solution is to create a preliminary list of products that fit the buyer’s general needs. The next step is to narrow down the list by selecting specific features that are must-haves or requirements for the buyer. The list of potential products will differ depending on whether an organization focuses more on advocacy campaigns or government affairs and relations. G2.com provides information about the best public affairs and advocacy software, allowing buyers to filter options and user reviews to help narrow the product list to a more relevant selection.

**Create a short list**

Creating a short list of software products is an important step in the buying process. While it may be daunting to filter through various products, users can get help by utilizing G2’s compare feature. This feature will take products of choice and display them side by side so the buyer can easily determine which software ticks the important boxes on the list.

**Conduct demos**

Once the buyer has narrowed down the product list, the next step is to conduct a demo. Demos allow buyers to see a product and its features in more detail. To ensure a buyer gets the most out of a demo, it’s important to go in prepared and thoroughly test each product. Some of the questions to keep in mind may include:&amp;nbsp;

- How intuitive is the system for staff compared to the existing system?&amp;nbsp;
- Which social media platforms do the product’s marketing features support?&amp;nbsp;
- Does the product provide templates, and how much customization does their form builder allow?
- How much segmentation does the product offer for building outreach lists?
- Which legislative databases does the product pull information from?&amp;nbsp;
- Can the product support the organization’s local, state, federal, or national work?
- Does the product have a mobile app component?

Additionally, buyers should inquire about cost, integrations, vendor support, and any concerns they have about the product. For example, does the vendor provide any lead acquisition services? Adequate preparation will make it easier for a buyer to compare products after completing the demos.

#### Selection of Public Affairs and Advocacy Software

**Choose a selection team**

Ideally, a selection team should involve several or more staff members who represent the key business functions of the organization. This may include the marketing manager or director, social media manager, volunteer manager, and advocacy or outreach manager. For a public affairs organization, this may involve the government relations manager and other upper management involved in lobbying efforts. Whoever is chosen, the selection team should include people who would be regular users of the software.

**Negotiation**

Once the selection team has narrowed down their software picks, it’s time to discuss customization options, pricing, and the type of support needed from the vendor. It’s always important to address pricing options, even when they are listed on a vendor’s website. Many software vendors will provide discounts and custom pricing options based on what the buyer is looking to purchase.

**Final decision**

Once a buyer has made the final decision on a product and is ready to move forward with a purchase, it is recommended to conduct a final demo, enquire about a trial run, and determine the next steps if the product doesn’t ultimately fit their needs. These steps can give a buyer more security and confidence when deciding. Buyers should also understand the level of post-purchase support the selected vendor provides and whether implementation or training support can resolve any issues.




