WEST WING? Advocacy, Public Policy, and Transformation in the Civic - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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WEST WING? Advocacy, Public Policy, and Transformation in the Civic - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Seyron Foo, Philanthropy California February 25, 2019 VEEP, HOUSE OF CARDS, OR THE WEST WING? Advocacy, Public Policy, and Transformation in the Civic Landscape Objectives Warm- Up: Whos Here? Systems Change Public Policy What is?

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VEEP, HOUSE OF CARDS, OR THE WEST WING?

Advocacy, Public Policy, and Transformation in the Civic Landscape

Seyron Foo, Philanthropy California February 25, 2019

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Overview

Objectives Warm-Up: Who’s Here? What is…?

Systems Change Public Policy Advocacy Lobbying

Where do funders fit in? Case Studies Questions

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Objectives

GRANTMAKER: Learn the opportunities for funders to engage in systems change, public policy, and advocacy.

01

GRANTMAKING: Provide an overview

  • f the rules related to

funding advocacy.

02

BIG PICTURE: Understand that funders change the civic landscape, even if we don’t fund advocacy.

03

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Warm-Up: Who’s Here?

Does your foundation engage in public policy? Does your foundation fund advocacy? Does your foundation fund research? Does your foundation provide unrestricted

  • perating grants?
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What is systems change?

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Source: The Water of Systems Change, FSG

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What is public policy?

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Amoebic by Nature

  • Collection of actions and rules set forth by the government to promote

social goals.

  • Actions of government.
  • Response to issues brought before decision makers, coming in the form
  • f laws and regulations.
  • Created by any governing body.
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What is advocacy?

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Advocacy

  • “Advocacy activities can include conducting policy research, meeting

with reporters, educating the public, lobbying a legislator, meeting with a government regulator, filing a lawsuit, or mobilizing voters.” from: Philanthropy Advocacy Playbook

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What is lobbying?

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Lobbying

Lobbying is an attempt to influence specific legislation by communicating views to legislators or asking people to contact their legislators. Lobbying is a type of advocacy.

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Where do we fit in?

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What can we do?

Corporation (including LLCs) Private Foundation Public Foundation 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Advocacy (Non-Lobbying) Lobbying Support/Oppose Candidates

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Types of Public Policy Work

  • Direct Involvement:
  • Engaged in public policy and/or advocacy.
  • Engaged in direct or grassroots lobbying activities.
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Types of Public Policy Work

  • Grantee Involvement:
  • Organization funds grantee for public policy and/or advocacy.
  • Organization funds grantee with unrestricted operating grants, and grantee uses

it for lobbying.

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The Macy Olivas Foundation instructs its 25 grantees to write to Rep. Selene Preciado to urge full funding for Census 2020.

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The Stephanie Cook Foundation, a public foundation, provides a $25,000 grant to Children Now to lobby for additional funding for health services to children.

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The Lenise Andrade Foundation, a private foundation, provides a $50,000 unrestricted operating grant to the Dance Institute of San Diego. The Dance Institute uses part

  • f the grant to contact Rep. Alvin Ailey to oppose the budget

bill that eliminates funding for arts programs.

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The Jennifer Love Bruce Foundation, a private foundation, funds a study that looks at the affect of arts education on the achievement gap. The research finds that students who had arts classes at school scored 100 points better on the

  • SAT. Jefferson Smith is the President and CEO of the Rose

Foundation.

  • Mr. Smith goes to Washington to share this research with

Senators Jean Arthur and Jimmy Stewart.

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Philanthropy in Public Policy

  • Case Studies:
  • Emergency Foster Care Grants
  • Women’s Policy Institute
  • Foundations on the Hill
  • Proposition HHH and Measure H
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Together, we can!

 Foundations have a

wide berth to engage in public policy and advocacy.

 Bolder Advocacy, an

initiative of Alliance for Justice

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Rules, Rules, Rules

Federal

Governs your activities – are they tax-exempt?

State and Local

Governs disclosure – do you have to let people know?

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California Reporting Requirements

Direct and grassroots lobbying in the state Legislature and with the Executive Branch (administrative advocacy) What activities require reporting?

Direct lobbying: A communication with a state legislative or administrative official for the primary purpose of influencing a state-level legislative or administrative action. Grassroots lobbying: Soliciting or urging members of the public to enter into direct communication with a state legislative or administrative

  • fficial for the primary purpose of influencing a legislative or

administrative action.

Definition

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When do you have to report?

$5,000 Filer

Spending $5,000 or more in a calendar quarter on direct or grassroots lobbying.

Employing an In- House Lobbyist

Employing an in-house employee who qualifies as a lobbyist.

Hiring a Lobbyist or Lobbying Firm

Contracting with an individual lobbyist or lobbying firm.

Source: “California Lobbying Disclosure Thresholds,” Alliance for Justice

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Please sir, may I have some more?

  • 501(c)(3) – tax exempt organization for charitable purposes
  • 501(c)(4) – tax exempt organization for social welfare purposes
  • Unlimited lobbying activity
  • Can engage in political activity (not exceeding 50 percent of their activity)
  • Contributions are generally not tax-deductible
  • 527 – political action committee
  • Primary purpose is to engage in political activity
  • Contributions not tax-deductible
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A force for good?

501(c)(3) 501(c)(4) 527

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Philanthropy California’s Public Policy Team

Objectives of the the Public Policy Team

  • Coordinate the advocacy strategy
  • f three regional associations.
  • Build relationships with

policymakers.

  • Advance the policy interest of the

philanthropic sector.

  • Advance our members’ interests in

public policy.

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Resources

SDG and Philanthropy CA’s Public Policy Team Alliance for Justice, Bolder Advocacy Initiatives

https://www.bolderadvocacy.org/

Free technical assistance during standard business hours, ET: 866-NP-LOBBY (866-675-6229) Philanthropy Advocacy Playbook

Learn Foundation Law

http://learnfoundationlaw.org/

Free refresher webinars on what we discussed today.

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Public Policy Events

  • Foundations on the Hill
  • March 11 – 13, 2019
  • Washington, DC
  • SCG Public Policy Conference
  • Monday, April 8
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Philanthropy in the State Capitol
  • May 21 – 22, 2019
  • Sacramento, CA
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Questions?

Seyron Foo

Director, Public Policy and Government Relations Seyron@socalgrantmakers.org (213) 680-8866 ext. 221

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An Unlikely Advocate

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  • Mr. Rogers Goes to Washington