Colleagues,

This month has seen the start of yet another reckoning over the senseless deaths of Black Americans at the hands of police. This has caused nonprofits and direct service providers to reexamine the roles that our sector plays in institutional racism. Around the country, organizations of all shapes and sizes, solving different problems for their communities, are looking for new ways to examine our systems and serve Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

Here at Bolder Advocacy, we, too, are exploring better ways to stand with our partners serving BIPOC and show support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

Alongside this reckoning, COVID-19 has further reminded us how our healthcare systems treat people differently based on race, and how many stressors have been put on our nonprofit and public service sector by these issues.

Against this backdrop, Leslie Barnes, senior counsel, and Abby Levine, senior director, crafted our new resource, Private Foundations Engaging in Direct Advocacy Amid Disaster.

This resource has garnered much attention since its release, as private foundations are looking to support their grantees in proposing policy solutions to issues and concerns affecting their communities. Inside Philanthropy interviewed Abby Levine about the increase in advocacy by foundations. She told Inside Philanthropy, “There is no right way to do this. There is no key starting point. For some foundations, it’s really starting with their grantees and grantmaking. For other foundations, it’s jumping in on an issue.” In addition, Nona Randois, California Director, spoke with Southern California Grantmakers about the basics of funders engaging in advocacy.

To showcase the work of private foundations engaging in advocacy, we have compiled a short list of examples in the hopes of inspiring other to follow their lead:

• Marguerite Casey Foundation, Statement on Police Killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade
  • “As we are faced, yet again, with the heart-wrenching news of Black people murdered by police in our country, Marguerite Casey Foundation will take immediate action. The foundation is making rapid response grants totaling $600,000 to Black-led abolitionist organizations in Minneapolis, Tallahassee, and Louisville.”
• Colorado Health Foundation, “Racism is a Public Health Issue: What George Floyd’s Death Can Teach Funders”
  • “Racism is a public health issue. If we are to make any progress in our attempts to close the equity gap, we – as funders – must understand this inextricable link and hold it at the center of every discussion about our community investments and community engagement strategies.”
• Meyer Memorial Trust, “Now is the time to change the system”
  • “Meyer is committed to investing in meaningful, transformative shifts in policies, processes, relationships and power structures. To upend generations old systems takes collective, multi-layered, long-game work and we do not do it alone. Our grantees and community partners stand on the front lines, moving the needle and advocating for measurable change. We hear their calls and we are by their side.”
• The California Endowment, “Outrage is Good, but Strategy is Critical”
  • “Cobbling together statements of outrage has value, but the best use of our time is investing in a winning, people power-centered strategy.  I’ve given up on the miraculous moment where America rises to have the Great Awakening on Race. This is now about People Power, and we need the discipline of developing and executing a plan.”
• Heising-Simons Foundation, “A Statement of Solidarity”
  • “And so we stand with our grantee partners, working tirelessly on this issue. We see their power, centering Black leadership and Black-led organizing as a tool for challenging racist policing practices and systems of incarceration and surveillance.”

A Primer on Advocacy for Funders with Nona Randois

Nona Randois spoke with Southern California Grantmakers about the ways that Funders can engage in advocacy and what is and is not permissible under IRS guidelines.

With Change in the Air, Foundation Interest in Advocacy Blooms

Abby Levine spoke with Inside Philanthropy about foundation interest in advocacy, and where interested foundations can start when looking at engaging in advocacy

Everything and the Kitchen Sink

Your Technical Assistance Questions, Answered: a comprehensive list of Technical Assistance questions that have been asked during this election season and during the COVID-19 crisis.

Texans, It's Time to Mask Up and Hit the Polls

June 29^th saw the start of early voting in Texas, after a Supreme Court decision that makes Texas one of the only states in the country to not have vote by mail during a global pandemic. Texas Director Natalie Roetzel Ossenfort writes about what nonprofits can do to promote get out the vote efforts at this time.

Bolder Advocacy's Statement on the Recent SCOTUS Decision on DACA

Bolder Advocacy remains committed to helping find permanent solutions for DREAMers and other immigrants, particularly with the recent Supreme Court ruling on DACA.

Proud to Celebrate Pride Month

A message about Bolder Advocacy’s commitment to supporting advocacy efforts for LGBTQIA+ people

The Final Disclosure Rule Has Been Released  

Ronnie Pawelko, senior counsel, wrote about the recently released IRS rule concerning 501(c)(4) organizations no longer need to disclose the names of donors on Schedule B form of the IRS Form 990.

Private Foundations Engaging in Direct Advocacy Amid Disaster 

Here are a few tips for those private foundations that want to join sign-on letters, leverage relationships with decisionmakers, and speak out publicly on relief efforts. Learn more.

Seize the Initiative 

This guide offers clear and concise information on the range of legal questions that could arise when nonprofits consider working on a ballot initiative. Check it out to learn more!

Helping You Advocate During Covid-19 

Here is a running list of Bolder Advocacy resources for advocacy during the coronavirus pandemic, from election engagement to 990 guidance. Click here to access the resources. 

AFJ's Building the Bench Event

May I Approach? Courts & the Power of Inclusion
Wednesday, July 1  - 6 PM ET 

AFJ’s Building the Bench Initiative is hosting their inaugural May I Approach event on Wednesday, July 1. This event will be discussing the impact of Black women judges in the appellate court systems, and what more diversity would mean for the courts. Click here to learn more and sign up. 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Public Webinars

Webinars cover our most frequently requested topics. They’re presented by one of AFJ’s attorney-coaches and last approximately 1 hour. You may register online. Workshop registration is $35 per attendee and free for current AFJ members.

All of these workshops come with access to related resources (such as fact sheets and publications), a PDF of the presentation, and a 30-day access to a recording of the webinar. Several workshops are conducted in Spanish. Note: You will need high-speed internet access to participate in these webinars.

How To Manage 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) Affiliated Projects and Coalitions
Tuesday, July 7  - 2 PM ET

Is your organization part of a family of organizations? Thinking about creating a new entity? This session examines the different roles of 501(c)(3)s, (4)s and political organizations, and explores the federal tax rules on how these organizations can work together. Click here to learn more and sign up. 

California Ballot Measure Advocacy 
Tuesday, July 14 - 11 AM PT

Nonprofits can safely, legally, and effectively engage in state-level advocacy and lobbying work in California, but they need to understand what rules apply to their lobbying activities under California state law in addition to federal tax law. Click here to learn more and sign up. 

Local Advocacy in LA County Now 
Tuesday, July 21 - 11 AM PT

It’s crucial for advocates and organizers to have a keen understanding of organizational capacity so that they can act quickly when opportunities arise. Alliance for Justice’s free capacity assessment tools – ACT and PowerCheck – are designed to help organizations, groups, and coalitions become more nimble, strategic, and resilient while carrying out their missions. Click here to learn more and sign up.

Más Sabio y Más Audaz: Activismo No Partidista
Tuesday, July 28 - 2 PM ET

¿Pueden criticar a una candidata?  ¿Tienen derecho de elogiar a un político? Y ¿cuáles son los derechos y deberes de las organizaciones comunitarias buscando sacar el voto? Dejen de dudar y aprendan sobre el poder del personal y voluntarios de las organizaciones 501(c)(3) de involucrarse en asuntos de elecciones. Hagan clic aquí para aprender más e inscribirse.