Pros
The issues are compelling and colleagues and coalition members are committed, smart, and fun.
Cons
It’s a traditional DC advocacy organization - do a lot of smart policy research, feed it to champions on the Hill, try to get co-sponsors, etc. No knock on the model, but the world has changed. Now it’s hard to get advocacy wins without bold and targeted messaging that inspires field and online supporters. It’s not the only organization that has been slow to catch up, but it’s a pity given the enormous potential. It can also be a difficult place to be productive or creative. I have noticed that you have to get an external voice to pitch a new idea to the ED, as she’s not likely to go for an idea that comes from her staff. So you spend a lot of time internal campaigning. There’s also zero investment in basic organizational systems -- no human resources, no fundraiser, outsourced tech support, etc.