What role can and should foundations play in policy reform? What strategies have the most impact -- from raising awareness and knowledge to inciting action and, ultimately, to securing political commitments in Washington?   

As part of the evaluation of a national initiative for the Rockefeller Foundation, TCC Group's latest research examines what motivates foundations to engage in advocacy, the methods they apply, and the results they achieve.  This study contributes to the growing literature on foundation involvement in policy advocacy. 

"Although the study focuses on federal policy, many of factors and strategies relate directly to foundation policy reform activities at all levels of government," says TCC Group Director of Evaluation Jared Raynor. "We hope that our examination of these important strategies and their likely outcomes inspires thoughtful conversation on how philanthropies can be most effective in their support of advocacy." 

Read the report.

It is a discussion that occurs frequently at executive committee meetings of nonprofit organizations of all sizes and types. It goes like this: "We have several issues that need addressing and believe that embarking on a strategic planning process is the most effective way to deal with everything." There are a few problems, however: board engagement is wanting; meeting attendance is poor; board fundraising is disappointingly low; and there is a general lack of enthusiasm and energy in almost every aspect of board activity. Everyone agrees that the board needs to be strengthened. So the question boils down to when to do it: before planning begins so as to have new board members involved or after the plan is completed, when a new vision and mission can be used to recruit individuals with the skills needed to take the organization to the next level.

Join us on December 17 at 2pm Eastern for a webinar hosted by BoardSource and TCC Group.  The session will focus on the question of when is the best time to build and improve the board -- before planning begins or after it is completed.  Over TCC Group's 33-year history, the firm has facilitated hundreds of planning projects. President and CEO Richard Mittenthal will lead a discussion with two CEOs of nonprofit organizations who have engaged in strategic planning on several occasions -- Gail Nayowith, Executive Director of SCO Family of Services, a broad network of health and human service programs in New York City and Long Island; and Jim Wendorf, Executive Director of the National Center for Learning Disabilities, an organization that improves the lives of all people with learning difficulties and disabilities by empowering parents, enabling young adults, transforming schools, and creating policy and advocacy impact.

The discussion will focus on which path to take for organizations at various stages of development and will address two questions:

• What information does the board need and what criteria might it establish to make a decision?
• Have board members experienced similar discussions while serving on other boards? 

Register here. 

Learn more about the power of culture. 

This volume will be of great interest to evaluation scholars, practitioners, and those interested in international development projects, programs, and policies.