How Foundations Achieve Impact Supporting and Engaging in Advocacy

1. How Foundations Achieve ImpactSupporting and Engaging in Advocacy Advocacy Learning Series [Customize w/Foundation Name]

2. Yes – It’s Legal to Advocate • It is entirely legal for foundations for advocate for systems change.

3. Advocacy vs. Lobbying • Public Policy--goals, laws, rules and funding priorities set by public officials • Advocacy – umbrella term: identifying, embracing and promoting a cause • Lobbying – supporting or opposing specific legislation

4. Foundation Roles

5. Reasons to Advocate • Mission • Achieve Impact

6. Advocacy Activities

7. Basic Rules – Private Foundations As grantmakers… Private Foundations may: • Make general support grants to public charities that lobby • Make project-specific grants to public charities for projects that include lobbying Private Foundations may not: • Earmark grants specifically for lobbying

8. Basic Rules – Private Foundations As advocates… Private Foundations May: • Engage in legislative communications including: • Nonpartisan analysis, study or research • Technical assistance requested in writing • Self-defense communications • Communications about jointly funded projects Private Foundations May Not: • Engage in lobbying as defined by the IRS (exceptions are above)

9. Basic Rules – Community Foundations As grantmakers… Community Foundations May: • Make unlimited general support grants to public charities that engage in lobbying • Earmark project-specific grants to public charities for lobbying Community Foundations May Not: • Exceed IRS lobbying limits

10. Basic Rules – Community Foundations As advocates… Community Foundations may: • Engage in direct and grassroots lobbying up to the organization’s IRS lobbying limit Community Foundations may not: • Engage in amounts of lobbying that exceeds IRS limits

11. Basic Rules – Community Foundations Community foundations can spend the following on lobbying (501 H Election) • A generous amount: • 20 percent of the first $500,000 of annual expenditures • 15 percent of the next $500,000 • 10 percent of the next $500,000 • And so on up to $1 million a year Charitable nonprofits may spend 1/4 of the total amount of their lobbying budget on grassroots lobbying

12. MI Public Policy Infrastructure

13. Presentation Source • Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest www.clpi.org