Community foundations have a unique capacity to promote upward mobility through policy advocacy and address deep-rooted barriers to economic success, dignity, and equity within their communities. As stable, place-based institutions, they are well-positioned to drive systemic change that improves people's lives. By engaging in policy, community foundations can manage complex issues that require collaboration across sectors. However, challenges such as funding constraints and political considerations can limit their ability to create impact, making structured support essential.
Authors
- Pages
- 78
- Published in
- United States of America
Table of Contents
- Contents 3
- Acknowledgments 5
- Executive Summary 7
- Introduction 9
- Who Is This Toolkit for? 10
- How to Use This Toolkit 11
- Model for Policy Change 11
- Where to Start 12
- Step 1: Prepare to Engage in Policy Advocacy 15
- Action 1: Learn about Policy Change Models 16
- Action 2: Ensure You Understand the Difference between Policy Advocacy and Lobbying 16
- Action 3: Familiarize Yourself with the Various Roles Community Foundations Can Play in Policy Change and Study Examples from around the Country 18
- Action 4: Establish Your Foundation’s Policy Engagement Decisionmaking Process 20
- Action 5: Assess Your Foundation’s Capacity and Strengths 21
- Action 6: Discuss Where Your Foundation Has Comparative Advantage and What Role It Wants to Play in Policy Advocacy 24
- Action 7: Build Your Foundation’s Policy Muscle 25
- Step 2: Define the Problem and Identify a Policy Solution 26
- Ensure You Understand the Problem 26
- Write Your Rationale for Action 29
- Identify the Right Solution or Policy Change Effort 30
- Update Your Rationale for Action with Your Policy Solution 32
- Step 3: Understand the Policy Environment 33
- What Is Policy Ecosystem Mapping and Why Do It? 33
- Components of an Ecosystem Map 34
- Reflecting on Your Ecosystem Map 35
- Summarize Your Insights into a Policy Ecosystem Memo 35
- Step 4: Draft a Policy Change Agenda 37
- Step 5: Build a Policy Change Campaign 39
- Assess Your Barriers or Roadblocks 39
- Determine Your Policy Change Campaign Activities 40
- List Your Key Steps 40
- Assess Progress and Outcomes of the Policy Change Campaign 41
- Set Milestones for Adoption 41
- Identify Success Measures for Your Process and Your Intended Systems and Population Outcomes 41
- Conclusion 44
- Appendix A: Policy Change Models in the Field 45
- Adapted from Martha Fedorowicz and Laudan Y. Aron, “Improving Evidence-Based Policymaking: A Review” (Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2021). 45
- Appendix B: Community Foundation Roles in Policy Change 48
- Adapted with permission from BoardSource. 48
- Appendix C: Lead, Join, or Fund Scenario Group Exercise 50
- Scenario 1: Funders 50
- Mission Statement 50
- Vision 50
- Values 51
- Scenario 2: Joiners 51
- Mission Statement 51
- Vision 52
- Values 52
- Scenario 3: Leaders 52
- Mission Statement 52
- Vision 53
- Values 53
- Appendix D: Researching the Problem Worksheet 54
- Resources in the Field Key 54
- Data Collection Sheet 55
- Appendix E: Writing Your Rationale for Action 57
- Step 1 57
- Step 2 57
- Appendix F: The Fairfield County’s Community Foundation Rationale for Action 58
- Written by Elaine Minz and Chinedum Nnodum of the Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. 58
- Sources: 60
- Appendix G: Policy Assessment Worksheet 62
- Appendix H: Rationale for Action Elevator Pitch Exercise 64
- Who You Are 64
- Goals 64
- Part 1 64
- Part 2 65
- Part 3 65
- Part 4 65
- Appendix I: Policy Ecosystem Mapping 66
- Responsible Actors 66
- Allies 67
- Opponents 68
- Equity Implications 68
- Community’s Role and Perspectives 69
- Appendix J: Policy Ecosystem Memo 70
- Appendix K: Policy Change Campaign Template 71
- What Is a Policy Change Campaign? 71
- Step 1: Assess Your Barriers or Roadblocks 71
- Step 2: Describe Your Policy Change Campaign Activities 72
- Step 3: Create an Action Plan 73
- Notes 74
- References 75
- About the Authors 76
- Statement of Independence 77
