Philanthropy & Public Policy

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NCG Public Policy Committee

Northern California Grantmakers’ Public Policy Committee exists to help foundations advance their missions and leverage their resources by supporting public policy efforts. Its primary tasks are to:

• Educate the philanthropic community regarding the value, feasibility, and limits of engagement in the public policy decision-making process, including education regarding best practices in policy-related grantmaking.
• Facilitate collaboration on public policy issues among foundations, NGOs, and other organizations.
• Conduct research that supports the effectiveness of philanthropy in affecting public policy.

The key values guiding its work are:

• Foundations and nonprofit organizations play a critical role in society and the welfare of its members, and should have an influential voice in public policy.
• Collaborative efforts have a greater impact on public policy.
• Society is stronger when everyone participates in the public policy process.

Since its inception in 2002, the work of the Public Policy Committee has grown exponentially. From briefings on the state budget crisis to the creation of one of a kind resources on public policy for grantmakers, NCG’s Public Policy Committee is shining new light on these issues for foundations. In addition, Public Policy Committee members are available to serve as peer resources to members interested in funding public policy related activities.

Public Policy Committee Resources

The committee has produced three valuable resources that are useful to both grantmakers and nonprofit organizations.

Toolkit Project

Foundations are often interested in supporting public policy changes to achieve their long-term goals, yet they may be unsure of what activities are legal, and what information and expertise is needed to pursue such ends. The Public Policy Committee launched the Public Policy Grantmaking Toolkit in June 2005 to address these, and other, questions around funding public policy engagement. This free, online resource contains information for grantmakers on supporting long-term chanes in public policy. The Toolkit contains basic information including definitions, legal information, and strategies, as well as more in-depth information, including case studies of local public policy funding and information on evaluating such efforts. The Toolkit will be regularly updated with new information and resources on funding public policy efforts.

Ballot initiatives are an integral part of California’s public policy process. Yet foundations and non-profits that are supportive and engaged in public policy activities are reluctant to get involved in the initiative process. This is because of confusion about activities that are permitted under the IRS rules governing charities and the state’s political campaign and disclosure laws, the Political Reform Act (PRA).

To facilitate private and public foundation and nonprofit participation in the public debate on initiatives, Northern California Grantmakers’ Public Policy Committee published and disseminated user friendly guides detailing permitted activities and reporting requirements related to ballot measures under the PRA and IRS regulations. Prior to this, no such guides were available.

The Public Charity's Guide to the California Initiative Process provides an analysis of how the PRA and IRS regulations apply to private foundations. The second publication,

The Private Foundation's Guide to the California Initiative Process, focuses on the regulations as they apply to public foundations and nonprofit organizations. Both of the guides can be downloaded for free as PDF files. Printed copies can be ordered for $5.00 per copy.

In addition to these resources, the Public Policy Committee also hosts a number of educational briefings each year. These include an annual briefing on the state of the California budget, as well as workshops on the nuts and bolts of funding public policy efforts, and briefings on issue-specific policy developments and opportunities.

The Public Policy Committee regularly updates its members on developments regarding legislation and regulations that effect the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors at the local, state, and national levels through the NCG Policy Watch. The committee makes an effort to follow and respond to legislative and regulatory developments that our members care about, and it invites comments and suggestions from membership on this and all other committee activities. A subcommittee on legislation and regulations advises and guides NCG staff to resond to policy that affects the sector.

For more information on the Public Policy Committee, please contact Dion Ward, Program Associate, Public Policy at 415/777-4111 x23.