Notes from an NPO Conversation at GMA Foundations
Last month we were joined by leaders from non-profits working to advance policy change in Boston and Massachusetts. Our guests explored with us the challenges facing advocacy work as well as the building blocks to effective advocacy that set the stage for progress. We were particularly interested in learning about communicating these challenges and successes with funders.

From teen pregnancy to voter turnout, organizations advocate for legislative and policy agendas that will improve the lives of individuals and families, recent immigrants, low-income communities, and everyone in between. The message for funders? 1) Don’t lose sight of the individuals and families who need these changes, and 2) Patience is key.

Key Themes
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The Foley Hoag Foundation is now accepting applications for its December review cycle, which carries an application deadline of October 22, 2015.

Originally focused on improving race relations among youth in Greater Boston, the Foundation’s mission is now broadened to support programs addressing inequality in its various forms, including but not limited to racial, ethnic or gender disparities. Preference is given to innovative projects where a small grant is likely to make a meaningful difference.

Through its grantmaking activities, the Foundation is committed to fostering a spirit of mutual respect, understanding and cooperation among people of diverse backgrounds, for the long-term benefit of all residents of the city. The Foundation’s guidelines may be accessed at http://foleyhoag.com/…/the…/foley-hoag-foundation-guidelines

NPO Conversation at GMA on September 15

We invite leaders of nonprofit organizations to join us each quarter for a brown-bag lunch discussion about issues, ideas, and concerns in the nonprofit and philanthropic community. The meetings are a time for us to move beyond the usual conversation between foundations and nonprofit organizations. Each session focuses on a particular topic, and reservations are required. Guests will learn a little more about GMA and a lot about their peers’ perspectives on important issues.

Topic for Conversation: Advocacy, Organizing and Influencing Policy

Nonprofits and philanthropic donors seeking to change the world, striving for greater equity and prosperity, have embraced a variety of approaches to bringing about progress. Providing great services or developing new models of action are always important, but can be hard to scale to meet the need.

Seeking change by the truckload rather than the tablespoon, some see policy change as the best course of action. We are aware that effective policy solutions are hard to achieve and that many funders turn away from advocacy, which they incorrectly equate with direct lobbying. Still, when nonprofits win at organizing and advocacy, those triumphs can be big. We are eager for a frank discussion of how we can be better partners in this arena.

Read on for conversation outline and registration details:

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