Nonprofit advocacy
Using policy work to achieve missions

Voices for Illinois Children seeks to improve the lives of children and families in the state, and advocacy has proved a vital tool in achieving that mission. Noting the paltry state funding provided for preschools, Voices for Illinois Children and other nonprofits created a public awareness campaign to educate parents about the issue of early childhood learning and also pressured the state to increase funding. In the nearly 20 years Voices for Illinois Children has advocated for this issue, state funding has risen from $3 million to nearly $250 million this year.

The mission of nonprofits is to improve the quality of life in our society, and advocacy work is part of those goals, says Jerome Stermer, president of Voices for Illinois Children. “When we see that public policies stand in the way of achieving a better life, or that we can suggest improvements in public policy, it matches extremely well with our very missions as nonprofits.”

Advocacy encompasses more than seeking to influence federal or state legislation. Public awareness campaigns, media outreach and grassroots lobbying are all ways that nonprofits can influence public policy. Only 29 percent of Illinois nonprofits engage in advocacy activities, and those that do devote limited resources to it, according to Illinois Nonprofits: A Profile of Charities and Advocacy Organizations, released by the Donors Forum of Chicago in 2003. Why don’t more organizations take part in this important work?

Many nonprofits misunderstand the Internal Revenue Service rules around advocacy, thinking that any activities may jeopardize their tax-exempt status. However, the regulations allow nonprofits to undertake direct and grassroots lobbying as long as they do not exceed spending limits. Misconceptions also surround foundation activities around advocacy. While private foundations themselves cannot lobby except in matters of self-defense, they can fund nonprofit organizations that lobby. While a private foundation cannot earmark grant dollars for lobbying, it can give general operating support to nonprofits that do advocacy work.

Foundations can further their missions by funding such groups because most issues they address will be impacted by public policy, says Bob Glaves, executive director of the Chicago Bar Foundation. “If you aren’t engaged in advocacy work, then the voice of people working on the ground on an issue won’t be heard,” he adds.

Advocacy efforts of the Chicago Bar Foundation and other groups helped encourage the state legislature to pass the Illinois Equal Justice Act in 1999. The act recognized that the state has a fundamental responsibility to ensure that all citizens, regardless of income, have access to the justice system and also authorizes state funding to organizations that provide that access.

The Illinois Arts Alliance created an e-mail advocacy program that reaches arts organizations and their patrons across the state, and has mobilized them to write thousands letters to legislators in the last two years.

In an effort to prevent the state’s proposed budget cuts at the Illinois Arts Council, the Alliance and other arts advocates set up meetings with the members of the House and Senate appropriations committees in January and February. “We made the best use of limited resources by meeting with the members of the appropriations committees and establishing a personal connection,” says Alene Valkanas, executive director of the Illinois Arts Alliance. As a result of the meetings, the committees have indicated their support for restoring arts funding.

Public policies don’t change overnight, so persistence is key. Other vital elements of successful advocacy work are public awareness and building coalitions with like-minded organizations. Alliance for Justice (www.allianceforjustice.org) and the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest (www.clpi.org) offer advocacy tips and guides about lobbying rules for nonprofits and foundations. Visit the Donors Forum’s web site (www.donorsforum.org) for more information and resources.

No matter what advocacy activities a nonprofit undertakes, it is essential to get involved somehow in policy decisions that affect their issue areas. “Even if a nonprofit doesn’t engage in day-to-day policy work, it’s important to take a stand on the big questions,” Stermer says. “Otherwise the status quo will win out.”

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New Associate Member and Partners

The Donors Forum welcomes our new Associate Member:
Carole A. Cederstrom, president, Financial Controllers, Inc.

The Donors Forum welcomes our new Forum Partners:

Abraham A. Low Institute ACE Tech Charter High School Bush Home Owners and Tenant Association Chicagoland Pops Orchestra City Colleges of Chicago Foundation College Summit Chicago Community Housing Association of DuPage Community Resource Network Dorolyn Academy of Music God Will Provide Ministries Goldman Philanthropic Partnerships Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art

League of Chicago Theatres Murray McCool & Associates National Catholic AIDS Network National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum Nazareth Academy Promise Community Center Resources Advancing Initiatives for Nonviolence Service for Peace Chicago Swan Isle Press Test Positive Aware Network Voice of the Retarded World Relief

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People

UBS
Patrick Sheahan has been promoted to executive director, public affairs, at UBS. In his three years at UBS, Sheahan’s responsibilities have included community affairs and government relations for Illinois, as well as helping implement UBS community affairs strategies globally.

Steans Family Foundation
Steans Family Foundation welcomes Chindaly Griffith as the new grants manager and office administrator. Griffith comes from The Joyce Foundation, where she was the manager of grants and office administration. Keisha Herron also joins the foundation as administrative assistant.

Peoples Energy
Peoples Energy welcomes Patricia Alexander as the new corporate contributions representative. Alexander is responsible for all employee volunteer programs, the United Way campaign and assisting with grant proposal reviews. She has worked for Peoples Energy for 18 years in the customer service division.

The Chicago Community Trust
Julia C. Langfelder joins The Chicago Community Trust as the communications associate. Langfelder previously served as director of marketing and development for the Center for Conflict Resolution. The Trust also welcomes Sylvia M. Sykes as assistant director of donor services. Sykes formerly worked as a consultant to Chicago-area nonprofits. The Trust named Prudence R. Beidler as chairperson of the executive committee. King Harris was appointed to the committee and Martin J. Koldyke has retired.

The Joyce Foundation
Veronica Salter, program assistant at The Joyce Foundation, was promoted to manager of grants and office administration. Salter has been with the foundation for five years.

Donors Forum of Chicago
The Donors Forum welcomes David Barshes as the new member services coordinator, effective April 7. Barshes will coordinate programs with various Member groups and help plan Member events. He most recently served as manager of marketing and communications at the American Medical Association Foundation.

Staff and Board Changes at Local Nonprofits
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago welcomes Martin Grochala as the new director of development... Juvenile Protective Association welcomes Jordan G. Lamm to its board of directors... Centro Romero announces that Abel Nuñez is the new associate director... Children’s Memorial Foundation appointed four new members to the board of directors: Gregory H. Sachs, Don Yannias, Eric P. Lefkofsky and Robert Kaplan.

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Grants & Awards

Retirement Research Foundation
The Retirement Research Foundation announces funding through its Accessible Faith Grants Program to enable Chicago-area houses of worship to make their facilities more accessible. Houses of worship in Cook, Lake or DuPage counties are eligible to apply. Deadlines for applying are May 2 and August 1. For a full program description and an application form, visit www.rrf.org or call (773) 714-8080.

Community Organizing Awards
The Community Organizing Awards recognize effective community organizing and collaborative efforts in the Chicago metropolitan area. The awards are sponsored by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Wieboldt Foundation, Woods Fund of Chicago, The Chicago Community Trust, and Mayer and Morris Kaplan Family Foundation. Nomination deadline is April 8. To request copies of the nomination criteria, please contact Jeff Pinzino at (312) 782-2698 ext. 103, or jpinzino@woodsfund.org.

Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., as part of its outreach activities to Hispanic communities, announced that its subsidiary, the Community Revitalization Fund, Inc., will invest $1.5 million in a new National Council of La Raza program. The program improves the long-term financial stability of low-income Latino families and develops new strategies to help Latinos maintain their homes.

Illinois Humanities Council
The Illinois Humanities Council awarded mini grants totaling $12,941 to six nonprofit organizations for the development and production of public humanities projects. The Council invites nonprofit organizations to apply for its next cycle of mini grants of up to $2,000 by its April 15 deadline. For more information and grant applications, visit www.prairie.org/grants.

United Way of Metropolitan Chicago
The United Way of Metropolitan Chicago announced its top 25 corporate citizens and honored other organizations and individuals at its Celebration Event in March. The Top 25 Corporate Citizens included the following Donors Forum Members: Illinois Tool Works, Northern Trust, The Tribune Company, Bank One, HSBC - North America, Exelon Corporation, Harris Bank, Sears, Roebuck and Co., LaSalle Bank, Bank of America, Deloitte, Quaker/PepsiCo Beverages and Foods, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Walgreen Co., Allstate, BP America, Aon Corporation and Sara Lee Corporation. Quaker/PepsiCo Beverages and Foods won the Community Spirit Award, while Cheryl Lamm Gunn, manager of community relations, was given the Frances Wisebart Jacobs Award. Other honors included- Illinois Tool Works: Corporate Support Pillar and Communication Pillar awards; Northern Trust: Employee Support Pillar Award; Harris Bank: Volunteerism Support Award. Million Dollar Corporate Gift Award Winners were Illinois Tool Works, Bank One Corporation, and Sears, Roebuck and Company.

Council on Foundations
Two Donors Forum Members were honored with the Council on Foundation’s Wilmer Shields Rich Awards for Excellence in Communications. VNA Foundation was recognized for its web site and The Chicago Public Education Fund for its annual report. The awards will be presented at the Council on Foundation’s Annual Conference on April 11. Visit www.cof.org to see a complete list of winners.

Exelon Corporation
Exelon Corporation was named one of America’s “Most Admired Companies” by Fortune magazine in its annual report card on corporate reputation, released in March.

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Foundations on the Hill

On March 9, the Donors Forum sent a team to the annual Foundations on the Hill event in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the Council on Foundations and the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers.

In addition to Donors Forum staff and our president, Valerie Lies, the team included Janice Rodgers, Quarles and Brady; Bob Glaves, Chicago Bar Foundation; Harry Wells, Chicago Youth Centers; Lynette Malinger, Albert J. Speh and Claire R. Speh Foundation; Sunny Fischer, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation; Robin Tryloff, Sara Lee Foundation; and Jim Parsons, The Brinson Foundation.

The team met with staffers for Senators Richard Durbin and Barack Obama and visited 16 House offices, including meetings with Representatives Judy Biggert, Jan Schakowsky, John Shimkus, Melissa Bean and Bobby Rush.

During the meetings, we highlighted the recently published Illinois Nonprofit Principles and Best Practices, part of our Preserving the Public Trust Initiative. Congressional staff responded positively to the fact that the Illinois nonprofit community is taking a proactive step to improve governance and organizational effectiveness.

The Donors Forum team emphasized the need for thoughtful deliberation - and consultation with foundation and nonprofit representatives - before any new legislation is passed that could broadly impact the charitable sector.

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Employment

Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation
The Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation seeks a senior program officer to help craft the foundation’s strategic grantmaking program. The senior program officer will be responsible for the implementation and management of all aspects of the foundation’s grants program. Required: Bachelor’s degree in related field with at least eight years of prior professional experience at the foundation level, in public health, social service or related fields. Please e-mail your resume and salary requirements to susankerr@ilchf.org for consideration. Visit www.ilchf.org for more information on the foundation.

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31st Annual Luncheon: Join Your Colleagues!

The Donors Forum of Chicago’s 31st Annual Luncheon, the premier event in Chicago’s philanthropic and nonprofit community, will be held Thursday, June 23, at the Hilton Chicago. Open to current Members, Associate Members and Forum Partners only.

Show your support by sponsoring the event. To be listed in the luncheon invitation, please send in your sponsorship by April 15. Call Robin Berkson at (312) 578-0090 for more information.

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Upcoming Events

Grantmaking Members can log into the Members Only pages for a list of upcoming programs.

Nonprofit workshops at the Donors Forum can help your organization reach its full potential. See the complete workshop listings and register! Forum Partners receive a 20 percent discount on all workshops.

Donors Forum of Chicago seeks to create a community of shared inquiry characterized by mutual respect and trust. We ask all participants to support the learning environment by refraining from soliciting funds or business at DFC meetings.

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e-Forumnotes is the electronic version of Forumnotes, the monthly Donors Forum of Chicago newsletter. e-Forumnotes is sent to Members, Associate Members and Forum Partners of the Donors Forum.

We encourage Members, Associate Members and Forum Partners to contribute information and short news items to Forumnotes about new program initiatives, recent publications by their organization, personnel changes and other items they wish to communicate to their colleagues. Please submit news items to info@donorsforum.org. The deadline for the May issue is Monday, April 18.

If you would like to subscribe to e-Forumnotes, log into the Members and Partners Only section to find subscription information.