Keystone Policy Series: Investing in Change - Foundation Support for Lobbying and Other Advocacy

Funder-only program by invitation
When: 
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
2:00pm to 3:30pm EDT
Where: 
Webinar
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The ongoing Keystone Policy Series endeavors to highlight how Pennsylvania funders are working on selected statewide policy issues. But are you a funder who’s uncertain about how to begin? Not sure how to make the case for funding advocacy? Uncertain whether you can fund grantees that lobby? Wondering whether your public or private foundation can speak out on a particular issue? This session will answer these questions and more. During this special 1.5 hour Keystone Policy Series webinar, we will cover:

  • Reasons for public and private foundation support for advocacy
  • Overview of activities that constitute advocacy and public policy work
  • Various advocacy roles for foundations
  • Definitions of lobbying
  • Activities that are exceptions to the definitions of lobbying, including those which are permissible by private foundations
  • Rules for private and public foundation grants to nonprofits that lobby, including general support, specific project, and multi-year grants
  • Grant agreement language that permits support for policy work

 

There will also be plenty of time for Q & A at the end of the program.  If you have a question you would like to submit prior to the program, please take the opportunity to do so in the space provided during registration.


Speaker

Abby Levine serves as Director of Alliance for Justice’s Bolder Advocacy program. She provides legal guidance that encourages grantmakers to support advocacy and other nonprofit organizations to participate in policymaking decisions through an understanding of federal tax and election law. Abby’s work includes creating curriculum, teaching workshops, providing technical assistance, writing plain-language legal guides, and describing federal legislative and regulatory developments that impact nonprofits.

Prior to joining Alliance for Justice in 2004, Abby served as the Public Policy Analyst at the National Council of Nonprofit Associations (NCNA). At NCNA, Abby monitored and analyzed issues affecting the nonprofit sector, such as challenges to nonprofit tax exemptions and advocacy, state budget cuts, government grants streamlining, and corporate governance.

Before working at NCNA, Abby was an associate in the tax department at Squire, Sanders & Dempsey in Cleveland, Ohio. 

(B.A., American University; J.D., Case Western Reserve University School of Law)