Back to top
Back to top
'Public Policy Peer Community' overlaid on plaid of different shades of blue

Public Policy Peer Community

Public Policy Peer Community

Policy Listserv (publicpolicy@lists.unitedphilforum.org)- You must be a member of the Forum & this Peer Community to post to this list.

In order to help members navigate the ever-evolving legislative landscapes at the federal, regional, and state levels, the Forum remains committed to building the capacity of our members.

Through that commitment, the public policy peer community serves as the principal facilitator for Forum members and colleagues to become informed and engaged, about all things public policy. This peer community strives to uplift Forum members to be effective advocates and industrious government relations practitioners, on behalf of the sector.

Informed + Engaged

The Public Policy Peer Community is a sounding board and exchange for Forum members to connect and learn from one another. Peer Community members will have the opportunity to: 

  • Share news, ideas, and advocacy related strategies
  • Read timely Public Policy Updates and share them with their members
  • Participate in meetings & engaging discussions with policy experts and guest speakers
  • Use peer community listserv to discuss and uplift public policy best practices.
  • Meet in-person at the Forum's Annual Conference
  • Receive timely Policy Alerts delivered to all peer community members

A true community of colleagues using public policy to advance philanthropy’s impact for the common good, the public policy peer community is a place where members can foster ideas, share strategies, and network with each other.

This peer community is for our members and sector leaders who work or are interested in government relations, advocacy, legislative affairs, and public policy efforts for their organizations. Interested in joining this Peer Community? Submit your email address on the form at the bottom of the Our Networks page. If you have resources to share, please share them online or by emailing Brandon Iracks-Edelin. 

Many philanthropy-serving organizations engage in government relations, advocacy, and/or public policy work at the local, state, and national levels and have different capacities to do this work. Policy resources are easily accessible on this page. If you have resources to post, please share them online or by emailing Nate Borek.

Forum Staff Leads: Matthew L. Evans, (202) 759-6920 and Nathaniel Borek, (202) 386-6426

Co-Chairs

Holly Davis, Indiana Philanthropy Alliance

Holly oversees IPA’s public policy initiatives, executes strategic initiatives important to IPA members, and secures partnerships to aid in furthering IPA's mission. She directs the John M. Mutz Philanthropic Leadership Institute. 

Holly joins the team at IPA after working for trade associations representing home builders in two of the fastest growing cities in the country—Austin and Seattle. Prior to working on housing policies, Holly served as executive director of the Center for Women and Democracy, Indiana Leadership Forum, and Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series, non-profits focused on civic engagement.   

From 2008-2010, Holly served as an appointed Commissioner on the Marion County Alcoholic Beverage Commission. She has worked for various levels of government, including as staff to the Indiana Senate and Program Director for the Indiana State Treasurer's Office, overseeing the Public Deposit Insurance Fund (PDIF) as well as the Education Savings Authority.  Additionally, Holly implemented a new voting system while directing the Marion County Election Board in 2001, and later organized the first satellite voting sites in the state of Indiana setting the stage for current vote centers. She is the current Vice President of Education and Training for the National Women's Political Caucus. 

Holly made the Indianapolis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list in 2009, and was recognized by Governor Mitch Daniels as a Distinguished Hoosier in 2010. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Indiana University-Bloomington and is a 2007 alumnae of the Campaign School at Yale University. She and her husband, Michael, live in the Old Northside neighborhood of Indianapolis with their three daughters. 

Carrie Arblaster, Philanthropy Ohio

Carrie serves as Vice President of Public Policy to ensure that Ohio’s philanthropic community is well represented at the state and federal levels and that policymakers understand the vital role philanthropy plays in their communities. Additionally, Carrie provides timely information about state and federal policy, empowering our members to make informed decisions about their work. 

Building Systems

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.

Public Policy Committee Charters

Sample Public Policy committee charters from regional associations in the PolicyWorks for Philanthropy initiative.

RA Public Policy Committee and Affinity Groups Descriptions

Sample descriptions of RA affinity groups working on policy.

Public Policy Job Descriptions

Sample job descriptions and requests for proposals for public policy related positions including fellows, lobbyists, liaisons, and consultants.

Policies on Legislative Positions

Sample policy and procedures that provide a framework for public policy work and the process by which public policy committees adopt and express legislative positions.

RA Policy Positions

Sample public policy agendas, principles, and action plans from regional associations participating in PolicyWorks for Philanthropy.

Endowed Philanthropy

Position statements made by philanthropy-serving organizations in defence of endowed philanthropy.

Logic Models and Evaluation Tools

Sample logic models and evaluation tools, such as outcome maps, from regional associations participating in PolicyWorks for Philanthropy.

Advocacy Funder Collaboratives

For this suite of resources, GrantCraft captured the wisdom of philanthropic leaders who have participated in multi-party advocacy collaboratives and conducted a literature scan of how foundations talk about advocacy-focused collaborative work.

Tools for Encouraging Members Policy Work

What, Why, and How of Advocacy

An overview of how foundations and their grantees can participate in advocacy developed by the PolicyWorks for Philanthropy community.

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.

Foundations for Civic Impact - CommunityFoundations

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.

Tools for Engaging Policymakers

PolicyWorks Outreach Worksheet

This worksheet developed by the PolicyWorks for Philanthropy community can help regional associations develop strategies to reach policymakers.

PolicyWorks Outreach Checklist

This checklist developed by the PolicyWorks for Philanthropy community can help you create strategies to reach policymakers. It focuses on seven core questions to explore and includes reflections from regional association leaders.

Sample RA Letters to Congress Regarding Donor Advised Funds and the IRA Charitable Rollover

Sample communications from regional associations and their grantmaker members to Members of Congress encouraging an end to the prohibition for Donor Advised Funds in the IRA Charitable Rollover.

PolicyWorks Materials for Legislators and Candidates

Sample leave-behind information for legislators developed by regional associations to equip their members with tools for engaging state and local candidates on the most important issues to philanthropy.