Navigating a path: Advocacy strategies of a migratory bird NGO

Abstract

To achieve their goals, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) frequently interact with public and private stakeholders. Interactions can be generally characterized as falling within a continuum of collaborative to confrontational approaches, with each approach having advantages and disadvantages. A more collaborative approach may lead to opportunities to share data and access funding; however an NGO may risk its goals becoming compromised. Similarly, a more confrontational approach can draw attention to NGO causes and effect change, but may limit opportunities for partnership. This paper considers how a NGO concerned with preventing bird-window collisions has balanced between collaboration and confrontation with municipal government and commercial properties. While this NGO’s strategy has been largely collaborative, its experience also demonstrates that confrontational approaches, while less frequent and indirect, also have a role in attaining objectives.