The Power of a Network to Amplify Philanthropy’s Voice

David Biemesderfer, Board Chair of the Forum and the President & CEO of the Florida Philanthropic Network discusses the power of the Forum Network to advance philanthropy and the recent success of Foundations on the Hill on the Center for Effective Philanthropy's blog.
 
I recently wrote a post for the CEP blog about the power of the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers - the Forum Network - to advance philanthropy across the field. That power of the Forum Network, the largest network serving philanthropy in America, was on display again in March when nearly 200 representatives of foundations and other philanthropic organizations converged on Washington, D.C. for Foundations on the Hill. The event is the one time each year when the philanthropic sector gathers together in the nation's capitol to provide a collective voice for philanthropy with federal legislators and other policymakers. People from 31 states held more than 260 meetings with House and Senate members to tell their personal stories about the value of philanthropy in their states and districts, and to highlight important federal policies that can strengthen and grow philanthropy.

Bringing together this collective voice could not have happened without the Forum Network, which is comprised of 33 regional philanthropic associations with a combined membership of more than 5,500 organizations. Aside from bringing their significant logistical muscle to make all those meetings happen, the Network's regional association members know the local stories about philanthropy that resonate with legislators, and they know the philanthropic leaders who can best tell those stories.
 
Read the full post at the Center for Effective Philanthropy blog.