<p> 13th Annual Nonprofit Day January 14, 2016</p><p>Nonprofit Resource: Writing to Your Legislators</p><p>It may feel intimidating to reach out to your elected officials, but remember: legislators want to meet and hear from their constituents, and learn about organizations that are making a difference in their legislative districts! Nonprofit Day is a great way to start the conversation and build this critical relationship. </p><p>Find Your Elected Officials</p><p> Your State Senators and Representatives: http://www.maine.gov/legis/house/townlist.htm</p><p> Joint Standing Committee Members: http://www.maine.gov/legis/house/jtcomlst.htm</p><p>Email or Letter Template</p><p>Dear [REPRESENTATIVE/SENATOR______], </p><p>I am writing to introduce you to [ORGANIZATION NAME]. [ORGANIZATION NAME] is a nonprofit in [DISTRICT #] that [YOUR MISSION]. We employ [X] Maine workers and mobilize [X] volunteers to [SERVE X OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS] OR [PRESERVE X ACRES/ OR OTHER APPROPRIATE STATEMENT]. </p><p>Our state’s social impact sector is one of the most robust and vibrant in the country and reinforces the state’s reputation as a great place to live, raise a family and do business. In every county in Maine there are organizations working to protect Maine’s environment, care for our most vulnerable residents, support arts and culture and educate our children, all while investing significant financial and human resources in communities statewide. </p><p>Nonprofits are stimulating economic development, spending $10 billion dollars each year. These mission-driven organizations employ 1 in 7 Maine workers, and pay over $3.6 billion in wages, which translates into an estimated $206 million of personal income tax revenue for Maine’s state and local governments and over $411 million in federal tax revenues.</p><p>[OPTIONAL] Specifically, [SHARE A STORY SPECIFIC TO YOUR NONPROFIT ABOUT THE IMPACT YOU ARE MAKING IN YOUR LEGISLATOR’S DISTRICT. INCLUDE FACTS/FIGURES/QUOTES TO SUPPORT YOUR STORY. ]</p><p>We’re a resource for you on [TOPICS] – please do not hesitate to call upon us if we can be of assistance.</p><p>Additionally, we would love for you to visit us when you are in district. We would be happy to provide you with a tour of our facilities and a chance to see our work up close. We would also be happy to provide opportunities for you to be photographed with our constituents. In honor of Maine Nonprofit Day on January 14th, 2016, sponsored by the Maine Association of Nonprofits, I hope you will join us in celebrating this vibrant and vital sector of our economy by visiting my colleagues [THAT DAY/TODAY] in the Hall of Flags.</p><p>Please contact me if I can provide further information about our work, or to set up a date and time to visit us in [TOWN]. I will follow up in early February. I appreciate your service to our district, and thank you for this opportunity to share our story of a nonprofit making a difference in Maine.</p><p>Sincerely, </p><p>[YOUR NAME]</p><p>[SIGNATURE BLOCK]</p>