National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy

There’s never enough money for advocacy and organizing! Only 12 percent of all foundation dollars support any social justice work. Join NCRP’s session and join the revolution to rectify this societal problem. NCRP will equip you with two detailed strategies: how to make effective, memorable, and succinct funding pitches to foundations that already fund advocacy and organizing; and how to convince disinterested foundations to start funding advocacy and organizing. NCRP will teach participants how to identify, approach, maintain, and challenge foundations that already recognize advocacy and organizing as the solution. Participants will learn the ideal balance of statistics and stories necessary to persuade disinterested foundation that advocacy and organizing provides both staggering financial returns-on-investments and unparalleled long-term change—both of which advance every foundation’s mission and best interest. Both lessons will include case studies from NCRP’s research, including success stories from nonprofit samples in New Mexico, North Carolina, Minnesota, and Los Angeles that showed returns of $89 to $157 for every dollar invested in advocacy and organizing).

The nation’s 75,000 foundations control half a trillion dollars in charitable assets and distribute $43 billion in grants annually. Amid growing inequality, how do those working for social justice and democracy understand, act with, and challenge these institutions to do more? Despite the powerful roles they can play in furthering social justice, foundations are reticent to support grassroots social change and famous for burdensome application and reporting requirements. Last year, the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, the only independent watchdog of foundations, published Criteria for Philanthropy at Its Best, a new series of goals and provocative benchmarks for grantmakers. Citing the tax privileges that foundations enjoy, NCRP called for practices that truly support nonprofits. If more nonprofits challenged grantmakers along these lines, the result could transform philanthropy, our communities, and our democracy. In this session for all those working with and among foundations, participants will discuss their experiences with foundations, learn about philanthropic practices that empower and hinder communities, and challenge grantmakers to strengthen communities.

The nation’s 75,000 foundations control half a trillion dollars in charitable assets and distribute $43 billion in grants annually. Amid growing inequality, how do those working for social justice and democracy understand, act with, and challenge these institutions to do more? Despite the powerful roles they can play in furthering social justice, foundations are reticent to support grassroots social change and famous for burdensome application and reporting requirements. Last year, the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, the only independent watchdog of foundations, published Criteria for Philanthropy at Its Best, a new series of goals and provocative benchmarks for grantmakers. Citing the tax privileges that foundations enjoy, NCRP called for practices that truly support nonprofits. If more nonprofits challenged grantmakers along these lines, the result could transform philanthropy, our communities, and our democracy. In this session for all those working with and among foundations, participants will discuss their experiences with foundations, learn about philanthropic practices that empower and hinder communities, and challenge grantmakers to strengthen communities.

There’s never enough money for advocacy and organizing! Only 12 percent of all foundation dollars support any social justice work. Join NCRP’s session and join the revolution to rectify this societal problem. NCRP will equip you with two detailed strategies: how to make effective, memorable, and succinct funding pitches to foundations that already fund advocacy and organizing; and how to convince disinterested foundations to start funding advocacy and organizing. NCRP will teach participants how to identify, approach, maintain, and challenge foundations that already recognize advocacy and organizing as the solution. Participants will learn the ideal balance of statistics and stories necessary to persuade disinterested foundation that advocacy and organizing provides both staggering financial returns-on-investments and unparalleled long-term change—both of which advance every foundation’s mission and best interest. Both lessons will include case studies from NCRP’s research, including success stories from nonprofit samples in New Mexico, North Carolina, Minnesota, and Los Angeles that showed returns of $89 to $157 for every dollar invested in advocacy and organizing).