Community foundations have traditionally preferred to influence public policy with a light, often unseen hand. They have been happy to let the community's more partisan voices paint their protest signs and shout out their sharp demands.

But the times may be changing, as The Chronicle noted in an article in its latest issue.

In Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Foundation sprang into action after Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett proposed cutting $4-billion from state programs to close a budget shortfall.

The foundation believes too many of those budget cuts are coming from programs that help young children, disabled and elderly adults, and women who have suffered domestic violence.

As a result, it staged a protest rally in downtown Pittsburgh last month with the United Way of Allegheny County. About 300 protesters carried red signs: "Why cut what works?"

The 2011-12 state budget talks are expected to wrap up this month, with more than $400-millionin human-service program cuts. Grant Oliphant, chief executive of the Pittsburgh Foundation, and Bob Nelkin, head of the city's United Way, are now organizing a statewide campaign to persuade lawmakers to restore money for effective programs in the next legislative session and to prevent further cutbacks.

A new Web site invites nonprofits to explain how their programs improve community life and help vulnerable people.

The two organizations plan to share the cost of hiring a campaign manager, and they say other community foundations, religious groups, and United Ways have expressed interest in joining their campaign.

Mr. Oliphant says "frustration" led his foundation to act. Pennsylvania's budget problem stems partly from the loss of federal stimulus funds, so some cuts may be necessary, he says. But he wants more discussion about the value of social programs, which people should understand "are not a luxury" and can save the state money in the long term.

Still, the foundation faces a tough fight. Pennsylvania voters have made it clear they don't want tax increases, so the state has no choice but to cut spending-and it has to look in areas other than programs like medical assistance and aid to needy children that go to everyone who qualifies, says Kevin Harley, communications director for Gov. Tom Corbett.

"Their protests are heard and understood," he said in an e-mail message, "and they are very persuasive save one fact: No number of protests will cause money to fall from the sky."

Cathleen Palm, executive director of the Protect Our Children Committee, a statewide group that fights child abuse, is hoping the involvement of community foundation leaders will make a difference. "They bring credibility to the conversation, because they are charged with being fiscally wise with their donors' dollars."