Case Studies.
Establishing the Community Foundation Awareness Initiative (CFAI)
Public Policy and Advocacy
The Philanthropy Practice’s first client in 2012 was one of the nation’s largest community foundations (CFs). While helping this foundation engage its Congressional delegation, we had a critical realization: why wasn’t there a dedicated voice for community foundations in Washington? CFs exist in every Congressional district and are uniquely positioned to bring a constituent perspective to philanthropic and nonprofit issues.
Community Foundation Awareness Initiative (CFAI)
Brand Building and Strategic Communications
Policy impact requires visibility. Alongside CFAI’s advocacy, we built a complementary communications strategy to elevate CFs’ role nationally.
Building Relationships for Individual CFs
Delegation Engagement
Meeting with policymakers should start by establishing trust: who you are, what you do, and why it matters — well before making any “asks.” It’s vitally important – particularly for the nonprofit sector, which doesn’t get involved in campaigns or fundraising and so has limited political levers to pull – to explain who you are before you come to the Hill with an ask. This is the approach VSA takes with its philanthropy clients.
Private Foundation
Highlighting Grantee Successes to Influence Policy
A nationally known private foundation came to us with a unique challenge: How could they take what they’ve learned from their grantees’ research and service delivery programs to influence better policy outcomes, without crossing the lobbying line for private foundations? The specific focus was on the experience of post-9/11 veterans and their families.
Veterans’ Service Organization
Developing a Policy Agenda
Since 2019, we have been the go-to government relations team for a veterans’ service organization (VSO) founded to empower veterans. The VSO came to us with many policy ideas, backed by their experience delivering services and evaluating various programs.
Regional Association of Grantmakers
Broadening Foundations' Engagement Beyond Taxes
The Philanthropy Practice has believed in the importance of foundation storytelling. Our work is based on the premise that one important way to build Congressional support for foundations and philanthropy is to ensure elected officials understand the work foundations are doing in their states and districts, and the impact philanthropy has on their constituents.
Private Foundation
Organizing Grantees for Fly-In Days
One large private foundation in the Midwest faced a challenge: The leadership there cared deeply about public policy and advocacy, and several program areas of the foundation had key public policy linkages, but as a private foundation they had to avoid direct lobbying. They wanted to influence the conversation but didn’t want to cross the line.