Civic Engagement & Public Policy

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Civic Engagement & Public Policy

Northwest Foundations Sign Immigration Support Statement

February 2017 |

Philanthropy Northwest is partnering with Grantmakers Committed with Immigrants and Refugees on several programs this year, including a monthly immigration policy briefing for funders. Some of our members — including Marguerite Casey Foundation, Ford Foundation, Legal Foundation of Washington, Meyer Memorial Trust, Northwest Area Foundation, Northwest Health Foundation and Satterberg Foundation — have joined a growing list of funders who have signed a Joint Foundation Statement on Immigration organized by GCIR. With a membership as diverse as ours, we understand that not everyone would choose to sign this statement. As a service to our members who have requested we share timely and relevant action and policy information, however, we are making you aware of this opportunity:

Communication Matters: Advocacy & Public Policy

February 8, 2017
8:30am to 10:00am
PST
Seattle, WA

Communication Matters is Philanthropy Northwest's community of practice for philanthropy communications professionals. At our February and April 2016 meetings, we discussed and practiced using data and graphics to tell our stories. At our February 2017 meeting, we'll discuss communications tools and storytelling strategies for advocating for our organization's missions. This group is for Philanthropy Northwest members. Registration is required. If you are interested in joining Philanthropy Northwest, contact Paul Kim. If you are interested in joining Communication Matters, contact Nicole Neroulias Gupte.

Sharpening Our Advocacy Tools for a New Administration

February 2017 | Philanthropy Northwest

Advocacy is an important tool in philanthropy's toolbox. Are you wielding it effectively? With so many policy changes coming from the new White House, Congress and state agencies, foundations and their grantees need to be engaged more than ever. Eager to learn more, sharpen their skills and compare notes, we offered a workshop last month on how private and public foundations can support grantees’ advocacy efforts and engage in advocacy themselves. Abby Levine, director of Alliance for Justice's Bolder Advocacy initiative, provided an overview of activities that constitute advocacy and public policy work, along with examples of advocacy roles for foundations, definitions of lobbying, and rules for private vs. public foundation grants to nonprofits that engage in lobbying (including general support, specific projects and multi-year grants).

Standing Against Injustice

January 2017 |

Following two executive orders targeting immigrants and refugees, on Friday, Jan. 27, just a week after his inauguration, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that bars refugees and immigrants from a number of Muslim countries from entering the United States. It’s clear we are at the beginning of a long, hard fight. What comes next? We must stand for the rights of all people of color, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ community. In response, Meyer is providing grants to five community-based organizations on the front lines of ensuring the security, safety and civil rights of all people in our community. Although we currently fund these organizations, now more than ever their human and financial resources are being tested by the great work before them. And we need them to be strong in this fight.

Philanthropy Can & Must Support a Healthy Democracy

January 2017 |

Much can be said, and indeed much is being said, about the state of our democracy. On this Inauguration Day, after the most divisive and troubling election of my lifetime, there are so many things on my mind. When it comes to fixing what ails our democracy, it is hard to know where to begin. Judging from the conversations I’ve had with peers and colleagues, philanthropy isn’t exactly sure where to begin either. But what better trusted messengers do we have than our community-based nonprofits, the very organizations that philanthropy makes investments in every day? Philanthropy can meet this call. We can go as far and as boldly as our tax status allows us — which, quite frankly, is much further than we pretend.

Immigration Policy: What to Expect in the First 100 Days

January 19, 2017
1:00pm to 2:00pm
PST
Online

GCIR invites Philanthropy Northwest members to join GCIR's Monthly Immigration Policy Call for January: What to Expect in the First 100 Days.

Shaping Advocacy, Rebuilding Democracy

January 2017 | Philanthropy Northwest

The beginning of January always signals a mad rush of advocacy alerts to my inbox and phone. As a former lobbyist, I recall the junior high-like atmosphere of reconnecting with your friends and frenemies during the first few days of the legislative session, refreshed from the time away and ready to consider new alliances. This January, however, is like no other. An unprecedented presidential election outcome, followed by continued confusion and rancor, has increased public appetite for activism. The speed in which these debates are happening — in person and online, 24 hours a day — requires immediate and intensive focus. Philanthropy must be involved in the short-term work of shaping policy change and the long-term work of rebuilding the institutions we use to advance the common good.