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Public Policy Resources

Strengthening Philanthropy’s Capacity to Engage in Policy: Progress Report on United Philanthropy Forum’s PolicyWorks Initiative

Publication date: 
09/2018

This report highlights key areas of progress for the Forum’s PolicyWorks initiative during its first nine years, based on the responses of 32 regional PSOs. It documents some dramatic gains in regional PSOs’ capacity to engage in government relations, advocacy and public policy work, and the critical role that the Forum has played in directly supporting this growth.

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Resource type: 
Forum Publication
Audience: 
Philanthropy-Serving Orgs
Topic(s): 
Public PolicyPolicyWorks Institute

In Search of the Spark: Getting Your Members Fired Up about Policy Work

Publication date: 
07/2012

The guide is based on a premise supported by everyone we interviewed: that philanthropy-serving organizations can and should become more intentional about building member support for policy work in order to be more effective in that work, and also, according to some, to be more effective associations generally.

PolicyWorks Starter Kit & Case Studies

The PolicyWorks Starter Kit has been created for use by the PolicyWorks Community of regional associations of grantmakers who have made a commitment to growing their capacity and increasing their work in government relations and public policy work.

Private and Public Foundations May Fund Charities that Lobby

501(c)(3) public charities may legally seek to influence legislation—in other words, lobby – subject to generous limits. In addition, private foundations and public foundations (which are public charities) may support public charities that lobby. Foundations should follow the following rules when making grants to grantees that lobby.

Foundations for Civic Impact - Private Foundations

This advocacy and civic engagement toolkit is designed for private foundations that want to educate and encourage their grantees about getting involved in civic and policy activities to increase organizational capacity and impact. While its primary focus is on the grantmaking activity of foundations, the toolkit also addresses rules and guidance for policy involvement by foundation officials acting on behalf of their foundations.

Foundations for Civic Impact - Community Foundations

This advocacy and civic engagement toolkit is designed for community and public foundations that want to educate and encourage their grantees about getting involved in civic and policy activities to increase organizational capacity and impact. While its primary focus is on the grantmaking activity of these foundations, the toolkit also addresses rules and guidance for policy involvement by foundation officials acting on behalf of their foundations.