What Are Fact Sheets?

Fact Sheets introduce you – and your issue – in a format useful to busy people.  They come in many styles, shapes, and sizes, but every advocacy group needs at least one. Good fact sheets recognize that busy people need something short and punchy to grab their attention (Anything long and complicated may not just be ignored, it can be counter-productive). Fact sheets can do many things:

• Identify your group with a particular issue;
• Set out facts – key statistics relating to a problem, issue, or group;
• Provide answers to commonly-asked questions (fact sheets can use a Q&A format);
• Set out information using graphics or charts;
• Inform, persuade, educate (e.g., about a legislative proposal or budget request);
• Make an argument for a particular course of action.

Good Fact Sheets Rely on Format…

• 1-2 pages maximum
• Avoid long sentences or wordy paragraphs
• Something easy to read, with sub-headers, “bullets,” and possibly graphics
• A lay out that carries the eye from basic facts to logical conclusions or the “pitch”

… As Well As Content

• Your most compelling, most useful statistics
• Information arrayed to “make an argument,” targeted to a particular audience
• “Homey” examples, or simple ways to convey complicated points
• Reflecting careful thought about the audience, and what facts work best with them
• Drawing a conclusion or suggesting something the reader can do

Good Fact Sheets Include Most / All of the Following

• Basic definition(s)
• Basic statistics
• Basic information
• Organized to draw a conclusion or invite the reader to take some action, plus….the name/address/telephone number and contact person of the group responsible

Information provided by: