Civic Engagement & Public Policy

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Civic Engagement & Public Policy

From Skeptics to Champions: Getting Board Members on Board with Advocacy

May 2016 | Philanthropy Northwest

Sheila Babb Anderson, Campion Foundation & Remy Trupin, Catalyst Fellow | Our polarized climate may discourage nonprofits and foundation leaders from engaging in advocacy — but to solve many of the challenges we’re working on, government must be part of the solution. And for government to change laws and enact policies, we need engagement and visible support from nonprofits working on these issues. When weighing a proposal, a skeptical policymaker will wonder why leaders of organizations responsible for a related mission are sitting on the sidelines. Nonprofit board members are influential members of the community — that’s why they’re on the board in the first place! — with diverse views, backgrounds and networks. They are a critical piece of this changemaking puzzle.

Demystifying D.C.: What We Learned in the Other Washington

May 2016 |

Every spring, philanthropic organizations from across the country converge on our nation's capital for Foundations on the Hill, a 48-hour opportunity to educate Congress and encourage national policymakers to see philanthropy as a close partners in their communities — as advocates, both for policies important to our representatives and for their constituents. This year's FOTH delegation included staff and board members from the Arctic Slope Community Foundation, Casey Family Programs, M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Rasmuson Foundation and Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation. We met with U.S. senators and congressmen from five states, across party lines, and had an exclusive conversation with Doug O'Brien, White House senior policy advisor for rural affairs, and Raina Thiele, associate director of intergovernmental affairs and public engagement. Our friends at Casey Family Programs also arranged meetings for us with the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means and with members of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee.

Nonpartisan Election-Related Activities: Roles for Nonprofits and Foundations

April 26, 2016
2:00pm to 3:15pm
EDT
Webinar

With the presidential primaries driving interest in elections, this webinar will review the do's and don’ts of engaging in election-related activities, from the absolute ban on participating in partisan electioneering, to ballot measures, voter registration and get out the vote.

Peace and Security Funders Group Annual Meeting

April 26, 2016 to April 28, 2016
All day
Portland, Oregon

The Peace and Security Funders Group is a network of public, private and family foundations, and individual philanthropists who make grants or expenditures that contribute to peace and global security. Its annual meetings are an opportunity for members to connect with new and existing partners, and engage in strategic discussions; learn about emerging issues; share best practices and lessons learned from their grantmaking and programs; and collaborate on projects.

Creating Policy Change With Culture Change

April 2016 | Philanthropy Northwest

Remy Trupin, Catalyst Fellow | As a policy wonk, my conference experience over the past 20 years has not included much visual, dramatic and musical artistry. This vibrant mixture of artists, activists and academics made Citizen University’s National Conference a compelling experience. Billed as a “conference like no other,” the event drew 500 participants to Seattle last month, including Seattle Foundation as a major sponsor, focused on accelerating civic participation and answering the question, "Who Is Us?" Our national discourse has heightened and intensified our focus on race, income inequality and identity issues. Changing demographics, shifting understanding of identity and rapid economic changes all support the need for reinvigorated civic participation. But while current events were never entirely absent from the discussion, the overwhelming focus was on the horizon.

Moving Beyond the Grant: Exploring New Tools Together

March 2016 | Philanthropy Northwest

Amber Knox, Campion Foundation | What is your foundation's most ambitious goal, and how can you motivate others to aim as high or higher? Are you willing to invest social and reputational capital to solve critical problems — and will you accept the messiness of that process? As grantmakers, it’s easy to view us (and even to view ourselves) as a checkbook, reacting to the crises of the day. But will that mindset effect the systemic changes needed to create lasting social reform? At Campion Foundation and Campion Advocacy Fund, our answer is an emphatic "no!"  For too long, traditional philanthropy has written checks and relegated the responsibility for devising and implementing solutions to the nonprofit sector. That leaves too much leverage on the table, and too many big problems unsolved. Now philanthropists are moving beyond making grants, in search of additional strategies to advance our overall goals and mission. We deploy every tool we have available to create real and measurable good in the world.

On the Road for Community Democracy

March 2016 |

Garland Yates and Peter Pennekamp, Community Democracy Workshop | Democratic community action is part of America’s spirit. From 19th century New England town hall meetings to the civil rights movement and issues of today, stories and research demonstrate citizen efficacy where government, service providers and business fall short. Yet support for the engagement of democratic practices by communities, while never more needed, is ever less apparent by those in positions of power. This is all part of a larger pattern leading to growing inequality and pessimism by most Americans for their communities and our future. In response, Community Democracy Workshop, a national project of Philanthropy Northwest, has been testing and demonstrating the practices and benefits of authentic community engagement.