Highlights of This Edition
- Philanthropy + Policy Institute Underscores Importance of PSO Engagement
- Registration for the 2024 Foundations on the Hill Opens Soon
- Matthew L. Evans to Speak at Independent Sector’s Upswell Summit
Key News + Announcements
Philanthropy + Policy Institute Underscores Importance of PSO Engagement
Last week, United Philanthropy Forum was joined by our PSO members, foundation leaders, and guest speakers for the 2023 Philanthropy + Policy Institute. A throughline of this year’s Institute was the opportunity that PSOs have to lead advocacy efforts and the role their foundation members can play as advocates and by supporting nonprofit advocacy work.
For example, Demos President Taifa Smith Butler kicked off the Institute by speaking about Demos’ support for a network of frontline nonprofit democracy advocates, enhancing civic engagement, and the importance of year-round philanthropic sector engagement. Other presentations touched on engaging board members about advocacy, the role of 501(c)3s and (c)4s in power-building, and opportunities to advocate for equity in the Farm Bill, state voting policies, and a fair and accurate Census count.
Despite these trying times, the Philanthropy + Policy Institute showed that PSOs have a broad set of tools that can be used to lead advocacy efforts for the sector and the communities we work with and in. The Forum is proud to help lead that work and appreciates the guest speakers, presenters, and attendees who helped to ensure that #PPI2023 has a lasting impact on the work of our member network and the broader sector.
Attendees are encouraged to take the 2023 Philanthropy + Policy Institute event survey to provide feedback. Access to videos and post-conference materials will be available next week.
Registration for the 2024 Foundations on the Hill Opens Soon
The leaves are beginning to change, and the time is almost here. Registration for the next Foundations on the Hill will open soon! The largest annual public policy and advocacy gathering of the philanthropic sector, #FOTH2024 will take place in Washington, D.C., from February 25-28.
Mark your calendars, save the date, and begin making your travel plans to join sector advocates and leaders for an engaging and impactful public policy conference experience. #FOTH2024 will build on the success of this year's Foundations on the Hill, providing multiple days of engaging conference sessions, opportunities to advocate together, and the chance to continue to build relationships with Members of Congress on Capitol Hill.
The Forum will share registration information for the 2024 Foundations on the Hill in the coming weeks.
Forum Thanks Sector Leaders for Joining the Philanthropy Day of Action
United Philanthropy Forum would like to express our deepest gratitude to our PSO members, their foundation members, and our colleagues who advocated in support of the Charitable Act during the Philanthropy Day of Action last week. Thanks especially to the many members who promoted the Day of Action and Charitable Act Engagement toolkit to their foundation members and on social media.
Because of the efforts of these sector leaders and advocates, dozens of Members of Congress received letters, phone calls, and social media posts asking them to co-sponsor and support the Charitable Act, and one senator, Ted Budd (R-NC) signed on as a co-sponsor of the bill on the Day of Action.
As the Forum seeks to continue to engage and mobilize the broader sector on important issues, the work cannot be done without the leadership and advocacy efforts of member PSOs. The Forum will keep members updated about the status of the Charitable Act and our ongoing endeavors to urge Members of Congress to support the legislation.
Rep. Sewell Urges Enactment of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
On October 5th, Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL) praised the adoption of a fair Alabama congressional map and called for a renewed federal Voting Rights Act. In a statement, Sewell wrote:
“While we celebrate this historic victory, the continued resistance that we face from state officials should not be lost on anyone. This long and arduous battle over Alabama’s congressional map serves as a solemn reminder that efforts to deny fair representation to Black and minority voters are still alive and well.
“Now more than ever, we must restore the FULL protections of the Voting Rights Act. We need the John R. Lewis Voting RightsAdvancement Act and we need it now.”
Sewell reintroduced the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act last month. The Forum endorsed the bill last Congress and will do the same during the 118th Congress. It is in that spirit that the Forum will soon release a new sign-on letter aimed at garnering broad nonprofit and philanthropic sector support for the legislation. Please be on the lookout for the opportunity to add your organization’s name to the letter, in the coming days.
House Republicans Determining Who Will Be the Next Speaker
Last night, Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) dropped out of the race for speaker of the House when he failed to build enough support to get the 217 votes needed ahead of a floor vote after securing the GOP nomination by narrowly defeating Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), 113-99, on Wednesday, as reported by Bloomberg Government. House Republicans plan to select a new nominee for speaker today.
Without a speaker of the House, the chamber can’t advance bills to address the unfolding crisis in the Middle East, the November 17th government funding deadline, and more.
The Forum will continue to update members about the race for speaker of the House and how it could impact the philanthropic sector and the communities we serve.
PSO Resources + Updates
Matthew L. Evans Will Speak at Independent Sector’s 2023 Upswell Summit
November 15-17, Independent Sector’s 2023 Upswell Summit will focus on self and community care, tackle what the political landscape means for our communities, help leaders navigate the opportunities and challenges around creating a healthy and just nation, and look ahead to 2024.
Matthew L. Evans, Forum Senior Director of Public Policy, will serve as a featured speaker for the Upswell conference session: Win Some, Lose Some: Applying Lessons from Nonprofit Policy Successes and Failures. As a speaker, Matthew is joining a lineup of influential sector leaders to share his expertise about the latest policy issues affecting nonprofits and the broader sector.
Learn more from Independent Sector’s Upswell Summit event page.
Register Today for the Next PSO Advocacy Check-In on Oct. 31st
The Forum’s next PSO Advocacy Check-In is scheduled for Tuesday, October 31st, at 1:00 pm ET. Sign up to join the Advocacy Check-In and learn about the impact of the Philanthropy Day of Action, the status of the race for speaker of the House, the November 17th government funding deadline, and what it all means for PSOs, foundations, and communities.
PSO Advocacy Check-Ins feature comprehensive updates and analysis on legislative issues impacting the sector at the federal and state levels, as well as an open discussion on current policy hot topics and timely tips on public policy best practices for PSOs and their members.
Register today for the upcoming PSO Advocacy Check-In.
Resource Spotlight: New Report Shows Nonprofits Are Trusted Institutions
Last month, Independent Sector released its 2023 Trust in Civil Society report. The findings include that only 52% of Americans trust nonprofits to do what’s right today, down a statistically significant 4 points from last year, while 34% trust philanthropy.
Despite the decline, nonprofits remain among the most trusted institutions in the United States. The report’s findings provide insights into how nonprofits and foundations can manage and enhance trust in today’s polarized environment.
Read the new report from Independent Sector.
State + Local Public Policy News
Federal Judges Select New Alabama Congressional District Map
On October 5th, federal judges selected new congressional districts for Alabama, creating a second district in which Black voters are a substantial portion of the electorate. The new map more accurately reflects the state’s demographics and will likely affect the makeup of the House of Representatives during the next election cycle, potentially flipping one House seat from Republican to Democratic control and could lead to the election of two Black Congressional representatives to the state’s delegation for the first time.
The judges picked the new map after ruling that Alabama illegally diluted the voting power of Black residents and that the Republican-controlled legislature failed to fix the Voting Rights Act violation when adopting new lines this summer, after the Supreme Court decision Allen v. Milligan, ruled against the state by upholding the three-judge panel’s previous ruling earlier this year.
Find out more from the Associated Press.
New Mexico Supreme Court Order Requires Nonprofits Funding Public Universities to Disclose Records
In September, the New Mexico Supreme Court issued an order upholding a previous decision requiring nonprofits raising money for the state’s public universities to disclose certain records. The case involved the University of New Mexico Foundation and Lobo Club, nonprofits that raise funds for the university and its athletics department.
The state Supreme Court found that these nonprofits are not exempt from state Inspection of Public Records Act requests. Independent journalist Daniel Libit filed two lawsuits seeking records relating to the naming rights of an arena and a university donor trip.
See the full story from Yahoo News.
Boston Public Health Commission Report Finds Racial Inequities in Maternal and Infant Health
Last week, the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) released a report on maternal and infant health in the city. The report found several racial inequities in maternal health outcomes, including that Black residents experience the highest rates of infant mortality, preterm births, and low birth weight.
The report says the findings underscore the need to address racism, discrimination, and bias within healthcare systems.
For more information, read the BPHC release and report.
The Philanthropy + Policy Update regularly features state updates from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities’ State Priorities Partnership (SPP).
After Federal Child Tax Credit Expiration, State Partners Point to State and Local Solutions
Newly released 2022 Census data show a historic increase in the poverty rate and a doubling of child poverty after the expiration of the expanded federal Child Tax Credit (CTC). State Priorities Partnership groups are strategizing about how to use state and local policies to regain some of the lost ground.
Washington, D.C., for example, saw poverty decline in 2022 to 13.3% from 16.5% percent, likely due to a decline in unemployment, a growing minimum wage, and other public investments. According to the DC Fiscal Policy Institute, the drop seems also to be driven by a 6.4% point drop in Black poverty.
An expanded federal CTC, however, would have more consistent impacts across the country.
This month, advocates from New Jersey Policy Perspective called for the program to be made permanent on the federal level and expanded further in the state so that more low-income households could qualify.
Advocacy Across the Forum Network
Forefront Hosting Event on SCOTUS Affirmative Action Decision and Possible Effects on Foundations, Nonprofits
Forefront is hosting a virtual briefing, Impact of Affirmative Action Decisions on Foundations and NPOs in Illinois, on October 13th at 12:00 pm CT. Speakers will discuss the Supreme Court’s decision striking down race-based affirmative action in higher education and its potential effect on foundations’ and nonprofits’ policies and practices, grantmaking guidelines, and more.
This event is intended to build upon the conversation recently hosted by the Partnership for College Completion about their report “Racial Diversity On Campus After Affirmative Action” by considering the potential secondary impacts to other not-for-profit institutions.
View Forefront’s event page for details.
Maryland Philanthropy Network Hosting Session on Public-Private Partnerships
Maryland Philanthropy Network is hosting a special session, Strategies for Public-Private Partnerships. Scheduled for October 22nd, attendees will learn about Governor Wes Moore’s new Maryland Council on Innovation & Impact and the opportunity for philanthropic leaders to help guide public-private partnerships (PPPs).
Kathleen Kelly Janus, former Senior Advisor on Social Innovation to California Governor Gavin Newsom and lecturer at Stanford University, will talk about what PPPs are, what form they can take, the process through which they are created, and best practices in creating and managing PPPs.
Find more information on Maryland Philanthropy Network's event page.
Native Americans in Philanthropy Publish Blog About Potential Effects of Government Shutdowns on Tribal Nations
On September 27th, Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) CEO Erik Stegman published a blog about the effects a potential government shutdown could have on Tribal Nations. Stegman wrote that shutdowns violate treaty obligations, risk interrupting vital services such as schools and health centers, could reduce tribal finances due to covering shortfalls, and more.
Stegman also cited a joint statement from eight national tribal organizations urging Congress to prevent a shutdown and echoed their call.
Read Erik Stegman’s blog to learn more.
Exponent Philanthropy Podcast Focuses on Funding Advocacy and Engaging Board Members
In July, Exponent Philanthropy’s podcast discussed a step-by-step guide to funding issue advocacy and engaging board members with John Amoroso, Executive Director of The David and Lura Lovell Foundation, and AZ Impact for Good Board Member.
In the podcast, Amoroso discusses how the Lovell Foundation views advocacy as a means to not only alleviate issues but potentially solve persistent or urgent social problems.
Listen to Exponent Philanthropy's podcast episode.
Legislative Calendars
House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is in session.
View the House of Representatives calendar.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is in pro forma session.
View the United States Senate calendar.
2023 State Legislative Session
For State Legislative Calendars:
View the National Conference of State Legislatures' 2023 State Legislative Session Calendar.
