Why supporting advocacy makes sense for foundations

We are starting with this topic because funding advocacy too often is the philanthropic road not taken, yet it is a road most likely to lead to the kind of lasting change that philanthropy has long sought through other kinds of grants.

It provides information and lessons about the wide spectrum of advocacy activities funders can support, including:. Research and Dissemination: Credible research is an excellent tool for raising the profile of a problem and explaining the ongoing impact of a policy or condition on individuals, communities and nations. Many foundations support this frequently. Raising Awareness: Increasing public consciousness is important to advance action on an issue, because important constituencies are often not fully aware of the problem or its dimensions.

These efforts can take many forms, including media placement, advertising, speeches to influential audiences, legislative testimony, regulatory boards and commissions.

Community Organising: Supporting communities that organise on their own behalf is a critical component of funding advocacy, enabling those most affected to voice their concerns and promote their interests with government officials and powerful private entities. Reliable publications and the IRS website provide important resources that help foundations most effectively and safely maximize their influence in advocacy.

More information about the h election is available in a previous post, Introduction to Lobbying by Public Charities. The naming issue would be a matter of state law.

Business cards, letterheads, and websites are examples of the many ways a foundation can broadcast its message e. Furthermore, the clearer the foundation is about advocacy-related goals, the more likely it will attract potential grantees that are equally clear about advocacy efforts in their proposals. Additionally, conducting pre-application workshops, asking questions, and introducing advocacy options to strictly direct service providers are all avenues that encourage applicants to explore advocacy in their programs.

Foundations and Advocacy in Europe Advocacy as lobbying for a general and public interest where traditional lobbying, in contrast, is for a private interest Advocacy taking any of these nine forms: research and dissemination; raising awareness; community organising; building capacity; policy development; litigation; grassroots mobilisation; lobbying; or electoral activity as suggested by Atlantic Philanthropies in Investing in Change: Why Supporting Advocacy Makes Sense for Foundations Advocacy as advancing an idea, arguing a position, or enriching a debate as suggested by GrantCraft in Advocacy Funding: The Philanthropy of Changing Minds.

What does it take? When deciding whether advocacy is right for your organisation, consider: Long-term and effective change usually takes significant time and resources. You need to be prepared to be criticised. You need to be prepared to take risks. You need to understand your organisation's philosophy, which will help you determine which issues you want to support.

Why bother? The GrantCraft report Speaking Up! Foundations and Advocacy in Europe suggests a number of strengths grantmakers can bring to advocacy: Substance acquired through having worked directly with stakeholders Independent opinion independent from governments and political parties Independent resources and the ability to gather funds quickly if necessary Bridge-building capacities the ability to build bridges between grass-roots organisations and policy makers Impartial reality checks again, as intermediaries between grass-roots organisations and policy makers Diverse networks often with direct access to decision makers.

The challenges and risks You might feel strongly that by funding others' advocacy you are keeping issues at arm's length, but it is likely that there will be at least some critics out there who won't see you as impartial.

You risk being perceived as biased. You may face opposition or resistance to your message and to your organisation. Grantcraft's Advocacy Funding outlines strategies for dealing with this, including acknowledging the possibility of controversy; balancing confrontation and negotiation sometimes it is best to confront opposition head-on ; bracing yourself in advance; gathering allies who understand the territory and will stand by you; and persistence in educating and engaging.

The impact of advocacy-related grants tends to be difficult to assess. You are faced with the challenge of measuring intangible outcomes.