INVESTING IN CHANGE: Foundation Support for Lobbying and Other Advocacy

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1 INVESTING IN CHANGE: Foundation Support for Lobbying and Other Advocacy WEBINAR PART 1 December 1, 2016

2 501(c)(3) Public charity 501(c)(3) Private foundation 501(c)(4) social welfare Examples Tax Treatment tax-exempt contributions tax-deductible tax-exempt contributions taxdeductible tax-exempt Lobbying Activities limited Prohibitively taxed unlimited Electoral Activities cannot support or oppose a candidate for office Cannot support or oppose a candidate for office secondary activity

3 What is ADVOCACY?

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7 IPA s work in public policy is guided by these basic principles: Education of policymakers about the nature and importance of the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. The Indiana Philanthropy Alliance will build an informed and supportive community of policy makers through regular dialogue, education, information and advocacy, and will work with others in the nonprofit and philanthropic sector to advance this goal. Effective management and governance of foundations and corporate giving programs. The Indiana Philanthropy Alliance supports public policies that promote effective management of charitable resources and supports values of transparency and ethical conduct, responsible philanthropy and corporate giving, and reasonable access to information. The Indiana Philanthropy Alliance encourages voluntary efforts of self-regulation within the sector and supports appropriate external enforcement agencies for nonprofit compliance and oversight. Necessity of an advocacy role for the nonprofit community. Advocacy, within certain constraints, is legal for nonprofit organizations and conducive to an informed, healthy and strong democratic society. The Indiana Philanthropy Alliance supports the advocacy rights of nonprofits and believes that nonprofits can and should participate in public policy dialogue that affects their organizations, communities and the people they serve. The Indiana Philanthropy Alliance supports public policy efforts that safeguard and enhance these advocacy rights.

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9 Why ADVOCACY?

10 The question is not Should we do advocacy? but Can we afford not to?

11 Raise AWARENESS

12 PROTECT funding

13 Get to know POLICYMAKERS

14 EDUCATE Policymakers

15 Foster DISCUSSION

16 DEMAND Change

17 EDUCATE and EMPOWER Grantees

18 OR Systemic CHANGE

19 Policy HAPPENS

20 COALITIONS provide cover

21 What can I do? What should I do?

22 Supporting ADVOCACY

23 Common Understanding Identify Organizational Strengths/Gaps Build Strong Organizations Know Role to Play Seek or Provide Support When and How to Partner Include in Evaluation Capacity Assessment Uses

24 Advocacy Capacity Tool Sections

25 ACT! 18 Capacities (Indicators) I Advocacy Goals, Plans & Strategies 1.Preparation 2.Agenda 3.Plans, Strategies & Adaptability III Advocacy Avenues 10. Administrative 11. Legislative 12. Ballot Measures, Referenda & Initiatives 13. Electoral 14. Litigation II Conducting Advocacy 4. Research & Analysis 5. Field Operation 6. Advocacy Partners & Coalitions 7. Messaging 8. Media Relations 9. Influencing Decision-Makers IV Organizational Operations to Sustain Advocacy 15. Organizational Commitment 16. Funding Advocacy 17. Decision-Making Structure & Process 18. Fiscal Management & Sustainability

26 Advocacy Capacity Tool

27 Get Common Understanding of Advocacy, Community Organizing Early Measure Incremental Progress Value Flexibility/Adaptability Combine Metrics and Stories (See Benchmarks) Value Partnering: Contribution not Attribution Measure Capacity Built Principles for Evaluating Advocacy

28 Supporting ADVOCACY

29 Make Lobbying Grants public or community foundations can fund lobbying directly General Support Grants funding grantees that advocate through general support Specific Project Grants funding non-lobbying portions of advocacy projects Fund Electoral Activities advocacy includes nonpartisan electoral activities HOW CAN FOUNDATIONS SUPPORT ADVOCACY?

30 Provide multi-year funding Provide general operating support Provide maximum flexibility Hire staff and recruit board members with policy or advocacy experience Build grantee partners advocacy capacity Help grantee partners understand the legal rules of advocacy Evaluate advocacy work with grantee partners Collaborate with other foundations Listen to the needs of grantee partners and communicate the foundation s support for advocacy Share advocacy successes with other foundations Best Practices

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32 WEST COAST th Street Suite 425 Oakland, CA N Alameda Street Suite 340 Los Angeles, CA EAST COAST 11 Dupont Circle NW 2 nd Floor Washington, DC TEXAS 501 Elm Street Suite 450 Dallas, TX advocacy@afj.org