CiviClick and the Digital Restaurant Association: Driving Legislative Success Through Digital Advocacy

Executive Summary

This case study examines how CiviClick partnered with the Digital Restaurant Association (DRA) to execute a successful digital advocacy campaign that led to the passage of California Senate Bill 1490, landmark legislation protecting restaurant rights in food delivery partnerships. Through CiviClick’s comprehensive advocacy platform, the DRA mobilized over 30,000 restaurant owners and employees, demonstrating the power of modern digital advocacy tools in achieving legislative victories.

About CiviClick

CiviClick is an innovative digital advocacy and public affairs technology company based in Washington, DC. Founded by Chazz Clevinger, the company specializes in providing advanced technology solutions for associations facing unique challenges in membership management and advocacy campaigns. With a proven track record of success across multiple industries, CiviClick has established itself as a leader in the digital advocacy space.

Client Profile: Digital Restaurant Association

The Digital Restaurant Association represents the evolving interests of the restaurant industry in the digital age. As an association operating in a rapidly changing sector, the DRA faces unique challenges in advocating for its members’ interests, particularly as restaurants navigate technological transformation and regulatory challenges.

The Challenge

The restaurant industry faced significant challenges with food delivery platforms:

• Lack of transparency in fee structures
• Limited control over customer experience
• Difficulty removing restaurants from platforms
• Unclear order status tracking
• Unfair penalties for declining services

The Solution: SB 1490 Campaign

CiviClick implemented a multi-channel advocacy campaign to support the passage of SB 1490:

Campaign Strategy

CiviClick developed a comprehensive digital strategy targeting California state legislators, focusing on the Assembly Privacy Committee as a crucial checkpoint for the legislation.

Multi-Channel Engagement

The platform enabled coordinated advocacy through:

• Email campaigns to legislators
• Video testimonials from restaurant owners
• Social media engagement, particularly Twitter
• Phone campaign coordination
• Real-time campaign tracking and analytics

Stakeholder Mobilization

CiviClick’s technology facilitated the engagement of over 30,000 restaurant industry stakeholders, coordinating their outreach efforts for maximum impact.

Campaign Results

The SB 1490 campaign achieved a decisive legislative victory with the California State Assembly Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection passing the bill unanimously (9-0) on June 18, 2024. This critical milestone advanced the legislation to the full Assembly for a final vote, demonstrating strong bipartisan support for restaurant protections in food delivery partnerships.

Through CiviClick’s digital advocacy platform, the campaign successfully mobilized over 30,000 restaurant owners and employees who engaged with legislators through multiple channels including emails, videos, tweets, and phone calls. This coordinated outreach effort played a crucial role in communicating the industry’s unified support for transparency and equity in online food delivery services.

Legislative Impact

SB 1490 represents a landmark victory for restaurant rights in the digital delivery space, establishing crucial protections and transparency requirements for food delivery platforms. The legislation addresses three key areas that have long challenged restaurant owners in their relationships with delivery apps:

1. Fee Transparency

• Mandatory disclosure of platform fees
• Itemized breakdown of marketing, processing, and delivery costs
• Clear communication of fee changes

1. Business Autonomy

• Protection against service refusal penalties
• 3-day maximum platform removal process
• Control over customer experience

1. Order Management

• Mandatory status updates
• Delivery tracking
• Failed delivery notification requirements

Looking Forward

The DRA continues to advocate for restaurant interests in the digital space, with ongoing initiatives focused on:

• Fee transparency promotion
• Customer experience control
• Enhanced information sharing
• Protection of local restaurant interests

Conclusion

The successful passage of SB 1490 demonstrates the effectiveness of CiviClick’s digital advocacy platform in achieving concrete legislative results. By mobilizing tens of thousands of stakeholders and coordinating multi-channel advocacy efforts, the DRA-CiviClick partnership has set a new standard for association advocacy campaigns.

This case study highlights how CiviClick’s expertise in digital advocacy, combined with their understanding of association needs, can help organizations like the Digital Restaurant Association navigate complex challenges and achieve their advocacy goals more effectively.