ICAN

Now, more than ever, your voice is needed to enact change for imperiled wildlife in the US and around the globe. The IFAW Conservation Action Network (ICAN) is a nationwide platform for public advocacy, giving you an opportunity to improve and strengthen animal welfare and conservation policies.

As an ICAN advocate, you’ll receive policy updates and issue alerts with specific opportunities to add your voice to a chorus of advocates across the country. ICAN advocates help educate decision-makers and encourage responsible conservation policies that protect wildlife and critical habitat areas here at home and worldwide.

Take action for wildlife

See our current opportunities to voice your support for wildlife to your elected representatives and government officials. Visit our Take Action page to see all global action opportunities.

Advocacy 101: How can you be an effective advocate for wildlife?  

ICAN provides you with opportunities to participate in collective advocacy activities. But if there is an issue you particularly care about, you can conduct impactful outreach as an individual. Local, state, and federal elected officials want to hear their constituents' stances on issues, and there are many ways to be heard.

Step 1: Find your members of Congress

Use the Find Your Members tool on Congress.gov to identify your members of Congress and view their contact information.

Step 2: Engage with your representatives

You can use one of the methods below to make your position known. Your elected officials are concerned with their constituency, so make sure to identify yourself as a member of their district or state.

Do your research! Gather key facts about the issue you are advocating for, and the person you are addressing. Find out what Committees and Caucuses your representative sits on, if they have sponsored relevant legislation, and if they have any connections to the issue.

However, you don’t need to be an expert - provide personal stories and give your perspective on why it matters to you as a member of their district. Elected officials often hear from experts about wildlife issues, so your job is to be a local voice on the matter.

Make an ask when you reach out to elected officials. Whether it is to support or oppose a piece of legislation or simply to speak to their colleagues about an issue, providing a clear and achievable ask is a critical component to advocacy. If applicable, include the name of the legislation that you are contacting them about.

Call your Congressperson

Congressional staffers consider regular phone calls the most effective form of constituent communication. Find your members’ contact information above or call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected with their office. 

Here is a sample script you can adapt for any advocacy ask: 

“Hello, my name is [NAME] and I am a constituent from [CITY, STATE]. I am contacting your office to ask [SENATOR OR REPRESENTATIVE NAME] to [ADVOCACY ASK].  
As a voter, I am concerned about [ISSUE] because [IMPACT]. [OPTIONAL – ADD ANY OTHER RELEVANT BACKGROUND, EVIDENCE, or PERSONAL STORIES].  
Again, I urge [SENATOR OR REPRESENTATIVE NAME] to [ADVOCACY ASK]. 
Thank you for your time and consideration.” 

Here’s an example:  

“Hello, my name is Katie, and I am a constituent from Washington, D.C. I am contacting your office to ask Representative Norton to oppose the ESA Amendments Act of 2025 (H.R 1897).  
As a voter, I am deeply concerned about this bill because it would gut the Endangered Species Act and put our endangered animals at risk of extinction. The Endangered Species Act has prevented the extinction of over 99% of its listed species. My community in D.C is passionate about animal welfare, and we strongly support our bedrock environmental laws like the Endangered Species Act. 
Again, I urge Representative Norton to oppose the ESA Amendments Act of 2025 (H.R 1897). Thank you for your time and consideration.” 

Tip: You can ask to leave a message for your representative’s staffer who deals with the issue you are calling about – for IFAW, this is typically this is the Animal Welfare and/or Environment staffer.

Spread awareness on social media 

Social media is a convenient tool for delivering messages farther and faster. Raise awareness about threats to wildlife within your communities by posting or reposting about key issues and sharing opportunities to engage via ICAN or other action platforms.  

You can also address your elected officials directly on their public platforms to get your opinions seen. You can ask them to vote a certain way if they sit on key Committees, draw attention to potential threats that they can act upon, and share messages of appreciation celebrating wins for wildlife, like pro-environmental legislation getting passed.  

Meet with your representatives 

Meeting with your representatives and their staff in person or virtually is a powerful method to communicate your concerns. By putting a face to the issue, they can see firsthand how their voters feel about certain actions. You can call or email offices to ask for a meeting or show up in person at town halls and other public events.

The script above can be used as a starting point for meetings. Personalize your message by including how the issue impacts your district or state and make a clear ask. If you are interested in meeting with your Congressperson to represent an issue you care about, we can help you prepare. Contact us at sseaberg@ifaw.org to get started.

>> Read more on IFAW's policy work in the US

Become a member of ICAN to be notified of opportunities to take action and protect animal welfare. By signing up you will receive: 

• E-mails and/or text notifications with action alerts when we need you to make your voice heard on legislation and rulings made by federal and state decision-makers. Alerts and engagement opportunities will be catered to you by region – if your elected official sits on a key Committee or Caucus, your participation is especially important!  
• Monthly newsletters with updates on priority legislation and policies that impact wildlife and their habitats.  
• Access to materials from IFAW experts to improve your advocacy skills, learn more about conservation policy, and become a wildlife leader in your community! 
  

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