Getting to Know 314 Action

What is your organization’s issue focus?

314 Action is the nation’s premier pro-science advocacy organization…defending science and evidence-based policy in the public square. We also mobilize the scientific community and the broader public against attacks on science. We commission original public opinion research on health and science issues.

What is something your organization is currently prioritizing?

Last year, 314 Action launched RFK Jr. Watch to serve as a rapid response hub for holding Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr. accountable. 314 Action was the first to oppose RFK Jr.’s confirmation last year, launching a pressure campaign to highlight his role in the Samoa measles outbreak and his financial ties to vaccine injury lawsuits.

Do you have an “Advocacy Tip” to share or “Lesson Learned” while organizing this or other campaigns? Do you have any general words of wisdom that you’d like to share with other staff engaged in advocacy? Speak peer to peer in this response.

Take the ‘ladder up’ approach. Effective advocacy requires rapid response and repetition–and it starts with building a foundation, in our case RFK Jr. Watch, to position your organization as an authority on the issues you’re advocating for or against. Since we launched, we have seen an increase in awareness that 314 Action is the go-to source for response to RFK Jr.’s actions as HHS Secretary and that’s because we branded our efforts, ramped up our rapid response operation and are mission focused and message disciplined.

Many of our member organizations work with both our Bolder Advocacy initiative and our Justice program. How has either or both most helped you? How have you worked with either or both?

The Bolder Advocacy initiative has been crucial for providing training and guidance on how to effectively utilize nonprofit structures. We have offered training opportunities to our staff to ensure compliance and identify opportunities to advance our mission.