As foundation leaders and regional association staff meet with Members of Congress across the next two days, they’ll be stressing the importance of protecting the charitable deduction. A donor who itemizes can take a deduction on his or her gift at the same rate as his or her tax rate. The charitable deduction encourages charitable giving, benefiting communities across the country. As Congress considers ways to raise revenue and simplify the tax code, the charitable deduction has come under scrutiny as a potential revenue generator. However, the charitable deduction is very different from other tax benefits because it is the only one that encourages individuals to give away a portion of their income without getting anything back.

Any effort to cap or limit the charitable giving will have a devastating impact on nonprofits. Academic studies of President Obama’s proposed cap of 28 percent project that up to $5.6 billion in charitable giving would be lost each year—that’s the equivalent of the annual operating budgets of the Red Cross, Goodwill, the YMCA, Habitat for Humanity, the Boys and Girls Clubs, Catholic Charities, and the American Cancer Society combined. The Forum, the Council, and the Philanthropy Roundtable encourage Congress to advance proposals to increase giving, not limit it.

To follow all the action as foundations head to the Hill, follow the hashtag #FOTH on Twitter. For more information on how to protect the charitable deduction, visit the website of the Charitable Giving Coalition at www.protectgiving.org. The time to use your voice is now.

Stack recounted her recent participation in the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce’s“Walk to Washington,” an event at which business, policy, and social sector leaders discussed recovery efforts from Hurricane Sandy.

“…As the speakers would count off all those different industries and groups that have been providing assistance, there was not one mention of philanthropy or nonprofits, the foundation community or the charitable sector. It was disappointing.  But it wasn’t surprising.  Why? Because we, as a sector, are terrible at communicating what it is we do. It is hard to boil down into a compelling sound bite the impact of philanthropy and why it matters.  But if there were ever a time to rise to the challenge it is now.”

Stack goes on to encourage foundation leaders and regional associations to take the opportunity to share their story at this year’s Foundations on the Hill. Read the full piece here.

The Forum, Council on Foundations, and Alliance for Charitable Reform are excited to announce that the Foundations on the Hill (FOTH) 2013 website is now live! The website, www.foundationsonthehill.org, has a lot of great information and resources including hotel information, legislative resources, and meeting planning resources.

Foundations on the Hill will take place on March 19-20, 2013. FOTH is an annual event for grantmaker and regional association representatives to meet with their members of Congress to promote the important role philanthropy plays in serving the public good in your regions. Last year saw more than 220 foundation and grantmaking representatives from 35 states and the District of Columbia, including 80 first-time attendees. Next year’s event marks our 11th year partnering with the Council and our first year of full partnership with ACR.

Stipends for first-time attendees of FOTH will once again be available. Stipends are worth up to $1,200 of travel (air and ground) and hotel expenses. Additionally, the recipient’s regional association receives a $300 award to continue public policy and advocacy efforts in the region. Applicants must be a member of the Council, a regional association, or ACR. The application and requirements will be available on the FOTH website later this week.

Foundations on the Hill (FOTH) 2013 will mark the 11th year of partnership between the Forum and the Council on Foundations but also the first year of full partnership with the Alliance for Charitable Reform (a project of The Philanthropy Roundtable)!

For the past few years, ACR has hosted a popular Summit for Leaders the morning before the official start of Foundations on the Hill. By partnering on one integrated two-day event, we hope to provide a more streamlined and comprehensive program for our members and to present a coherent front to Federal officials.

Stay tuned for an announcement on the launch of the FOTH website and registration!

FPN’s FOTH meetings were a success on this front. In a recent blog post, Biemesderfer writes:

While on the Hill we were pleased to hear broad support for philanthropy throughout Florida’s congressional delegation – on both sides of the aisle. The visits have already led to an increase in support for key foundation issues in Congress. After the FPN team visited the office of Congressman Dennis Ross (R-FL12), for example, he decided to support current bills to expand and extend the IRA charitable rollover provision and simplify the private foundation excise tax.

Read more at FPN’s blog.

It’s great to hear about all the productive meetings that regional associations and their delegations had with Members of Congress. Do you have your own success story to tell? Let us hear it in the comments.

I found this piece of intel particularly interesting:

In Philanthropy Northwest’s six-state region, we’re represented by five Senators on the Senate Finance Committee and two House members on the Ways and Means Committee—the committees that consider matters of taxation at the federal level.  We also co-hosted a reception with the Association of Small Foundations during which we heard from key Senate Finance Committee tax experts. What we heard—loud and clear—from those meetings is that comprehensive tax reform is coming. It will happen by the end of 2013 and everything is on the table. Everything.

Mindie promises to follow up on that with another blog post soon. In the meantime, check out her full post at Philanthropy Northwest’s blog.

There were 14 of us in all — representing just about every type of funder making grants to nonprofits in communities all over the state (and every one of the state’s congressional districts.)

We had foundations of every size and stripe.  Some of them fund broadly and others focus on a single issue. Some focus on the entire state, while others invest locally and in rural communities. We had corporate foundations, family foundations, even out-of-state foundations with family connections to Colorado.

It’s no accident that we managed to get ample time with all nine members of our congressional delegation.  Just as a good story captures your attention, our diverse group did just that.

Read more over at Colorado Giving Voice,  a blog from Colorado Association of Funders.

Do you have your own FOTH story to share? Let’s hear it!

This year’s Foundations on the Hill is shaping up to be one of the best yet.  According to the latest predictions, the Cherry Blossoms should be at their peak bloom as philanthropy leaders come to town to meet with their Members of Congress.

But we’ve got more than beautiful flowers for you. Check out our list of expert speakers, designed to help prepare you for your policy meetings on the Hill.

Stuart Rothenberg Editor and Publisher, The Rothenberg Political Report and Columnist,Roll Call
For years, Rothenberg has reported on the nation’s political news with unbiased clarity and nonpartisan precision. The Rothenberg Political Report is a biweekly newsletter that provides reporting on and analysis of American elections—and the potential ramifications of those elections. He also writes a column in Roll Call twice a week. Rothenberg has contributed op-ed pieces to The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and the Orlando Sentinel. He also has appeared on Meet the Press, Today, This Week, Nightline, and The McLaughlin Group.

M. Jeff Hamond
Vice President, Van Scoyoc Associates
Hamond specializes in taxation, economic policy, and philanthropic issues. He joined Van Scoyoc Associates after serving as the top economic policy adviser to three U.S. Senators: Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), and Evan Bayh (D-Ind.). During his tenure on Capitol Hill, he played a key role in developing a number of economic initiatives, including the American Opportunity Tax Credit (included in the stimulus package in 2009), the “Cash for Clunkers” program, the expansion of tax-free benefits for transit users, and several pieces of legislation benefitting the charity and foundation sectors.

Seth Harris
Deputy Secretary, Labor Department
Before joining the Labor Department in February 2009, Harris served as a professor at New York Law School and as director of its labor and employment law programs. In addition, he was a senior fellow at the Life Without Limits Project of the United Cerebral Palsy Association and a member of the National Advisory Commission on Workplace Flexibility. Harris also served at the Department of Labor during the Clinton administration. He held several positions during that time, including counselor to the secretary of labor and acting assistant secretary of labor for policy.

Gabriella Gomez
Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs, U.S. Department of Education
Gabriella Gomez was confirmed on May 1, 2009, by the U.S. Senate as assistant secretary for Legislation and Congressional affairs. In her role, she advises the secretary of education on legislative matters pending before Congress and serves as the department’s liaison to congressional requests. Gomez previously served as a lead policy adviser on higher education issues and lead negotiator for House Democrats on higher education legislation, including helping to successfully pass the Higher Education Opportunity Act and the College Cost Reduction and Access Act.

Suzanne Immerman
Director of Strategic Partnerships, U.S. Department of Education
Suzanne Immerman serves as the director of Strategic Partnerships for the U.S. Department of Education and special assistant to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and facilitates alignment with the philanthropic and business community. Immerman has earned more than 15 years of experience in the independent sector, spanning corporate, private, and family philanthropy as well as nonprofit program development. She previously served as director of the Wolfensohn Family Foundation and deputy director of the September 11th Fund, a $530 million foundation established in response to the terrorist attacks.

Rocco Landesman
Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
Rocco Landesman was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the 10th chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in 2009. Prior to his appointment, he was a Broadway theater producer and an assistant professor at the Yale School of Drama. He has also served as president of Jujamcyn, a company that owns and operates five Broadway theaters. Landesman has produced several Tony Award-winning Broadway shows, including The Producers (2001), and has advocated relationships between the commercial and not-for-profit sectors of the American theater.

The full FOTH agenda is available at www.foundationsonthehill.org.

Photo by bhrome

There has never been a more challenging time for philanthropy. Globalization, natural disasters, and economic turmoil have placed additional stresses on social safety nets already stretched to the max. In this environment, the philanthropic sector must be smarter, more adaptable, and more collaborative.

None of us has all the answers, but some innovative approaches to giving already have shown strong results. Our sector must focus on bringing about meaningful change to create sustainable value. In other words, we must move away from “checkbook charity” and toward an integrated approach to giving that includes volunteerism, contributions of expertise (including mentoring), and public-private partnerships that enable all participants to leverage their best assets in service to the greater good.

Here are some examples:

• In New York, a partnership among the corporate sector, the school system, and the community college system has created Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH), an institution that prepares young people, starting in 9th grade, for tomorrow’s jobs and further education. P-TECH continues beyond 12th grade to confer both the high school diploma and an associate degree in technology. Each student and teacher at P-TECH is paired with a corporate mentor, and graduates will be first in line for entry-level jobs at the school’s corporate partner. Already being replicated in Chicago, the P-TECH model is designed to roll out in any locale where parents, teachers, students, and civic and corporate leaders are ready to forge a direct connection between education and jobs.
• In cities and communities across the United States and around the world, “citizen diplomats” are dedicating their time and expertise to help overcome some of the world’s toughest challenges. Among the subjects being discussed are economic development, public safety, health care, and digital connections to improve everything from education to access to public services.
• In Japan, where 23,000 people lost their lives and 84,000 lost their homes in last year’s earthquake and tsunami, contributions of technological expertise (not just cash) helped a devastated community reconnect, regroup, and begin the lengthy process of recovery.

These efforts, and their results, would not have been possible without public-private partnerships to tackle problems that are just too big for individual organizations to address. And those were just the headlines.

In the background, we must continue our work to educate and influence decision makers and the media about the sustainable value of what we do. This is most effectively accomplished by speaking with a unified voice. United, we can work together to forge new relationships and enhance existing ones. Together, we also can share the vision that guides us toward new ways of accomplishing our mission and new models for giving as philanthropy continues to evolve. See you at FOTH!

Florida Philanthropic Network is pleased to once again be leading the state’s delegation to Washington, D.C., for Foundations on the Hill (FOTH), March 21–22. Although we coordinate visits with our members of Congress back in their home districts throughout the year, FOTH is a critical part of our annual public policy engagement work.

Because Florida is such a large state, FOTH offers a great opportunity for our grantmaking members from Miami to the Panhandle to gather in the nation’s capital for two days of focused interaction with our senators and representatives and their staffs. Our FOTH team members always walk away from the experience feeling energized and inspired by the collective voice we bring to Washington, on the statewide and national levels, and they enjoy the camaraderie that the FOTH experience always engenders.
FOTH is also a great model of collaboration between the Council on Foundations, the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, and the Forum’s members across the country. Our sector is much better served, and has much more power, when we all come together for the common good.

A highlight for us last year was our meeting with Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), who at the time was a new member of the all-important House Ways and Means Committee. Two years ago, it was our meeting with then-Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, which led directly to her introduction of a bill to extend the IRA charitable rollover. Talk about seeing our Hill visits make a difference! We always walk away from our days on the Hill learning something new, making new connections, and feeling like we moved the needle just a bit further in helping philanthropy to build a better Florida.

I’ve been involved with FOTH since the beginning, and my advice to our delegation members never changes. First, make sure you tell your story, in your own words, about the good work you’re doing in your communities. Second, always wear comfortable shoes.

I admit it. I’m a policy wonk who happens to serve a foundation that understands the importance of public policy and advocacy work. We consider weighing in where our participation may be a catalyst for positive change in our state, our region, and our nation. That’s why the annual trek to Washington, D.C., for Foundations on the Hill (FOTH) is a highlight of the year. In addition to being a welcome opportunity for face-to-face meetings with our state’s congressional delegation and staff, it’s also a prime opportunity to visit with peers, team up with regional associates, and exchange stories and ideas about how philanthropy can make our communities stronger.

Rasmuson Foundation is located in Anchorage, Alaska, which is just about as far away from the nation’s capital as you can get and still be a member of the Council. And while there are many wonderful things that make Alaska unique, our quality of life is in many ways shaped by federal legislation, the tax code, and their intersection with the nonprofit sector—things we share with our peers across the United States.

FOTH is a chance for us to speak up for the causes that matter to us. It’s an opportunity to tell the stories of how our grants, convenings, and research make an impact back home. It’s a time to advocate on behalf of nonprofits, charities, and philanthropic organizations, as well as to share examples of innovative ways we and our grantees are tackling some of society’s toughest challenges. Part of the magic of FOTH is we receive direct feedback from policymakers, which helps in framing conversations and asking the right questions down the road.

Our commitment to participate in FOTH is grounded in a desire to strengthen the sector, speak up about our role as a funder, learn from other practitioners, and explain how we are making a positive difference in the lives of real people across our great nation, in our state, and in the very neighborhoods in which we live.

“If we are not at the table, we run the risk of being on the menu.” How I remember that comment from last year’s Foundations on the Hill (FOTH). Sure enough, we had a close call this past season with efforts to trim the charitable deduction. This alone provides a major incentive for CMF and our members to again come together and join colleagues from across the country for FOTH on March 21–22.

Yes it is an election year, and political pundits say nothing gets done by Congress in an election season. However, this is actually a time when members of Congress are trying to look good to their constituents and partnering with philanthropy is good for their and the government’s image.

Therefore, we focus on public-private partnerships in our meetings with the Michigan Congressional Delegation. From local examples like Flint, where the C.S. Mott Foundation is helping the city address public safety issues, to regional examples like Southeast Michigan, where the 10 foundations supporting the New Economy Initiative are leveraging countless partnerships to support economic development, there’s no shortage of examples in urban and rural Michigan to share.

In fact, our congressional members and their staffers are pleased to know that our joint study with the Michigan Nonprofit Association on the economic impact of the nonprofit sector in Michigan confirms that one of every 10 working Michiganders works for a 501(c)(3). Foundations are an important part of each of our states’ economic engines and we cannot be shy about telling our stories!

Yes, they have heard some of these stories before, but repetition is OK. I have learned after 18 annual FOTH trips that they need to be reminded of the progress that philanthropy is facilitating through these public-private partnerships. While face-to-face visits in Washington are vital, we also have visits in the districts as part of our educational outreach and progress reports to our members of Congress.

Long-serving members of our delegation remark that the good work of foundations provides a sense of continuity that folks back in their districts are investing in long-term – balancing support for basic needs with innovative ideas – to partner in shaping a better future for constituents in their community and Michigan. Don’t miss this opportunity to be at the table on March 21–22!

On March 21–22, organized philanthropy will gather in Washington, D.C., for Foundations on the Hill, two days of face-to-face meetings with our nation’s legislators.

It’s important that you be there. Shrinking government budgets put an ever-brighter spotlight on foundations. To some in Washington, we’re a big pile of cash waiting to be spent. To others, we are potentially valuable partners. But for most, we’re an enigma. Spending time with our legislators and their staff members is critical to helping them understand that our work directly improves the quality of life for their constituents.

One of the beautiful parts of Foundations on the Hill is the hard work that the Council’s talented staff puts into making it easy for you to connect to your members of Congress. You’ll receive a thorough briefing on key issues facing the field before you’re sent off to Capitol Hill. Council staffers will help you coordinate your meetings and make sure you can find your way around. In short, if the idea of traipsing around the Capitol looking for the offices of your elected officials is daunting, Foundations on the Hill should take away that concern.

At the Council, there is a great Public Policy Committee and a wonderful staff team led by Andrew Schulz, vice president of legal and government relations. But their efforts aren’t enough. It’s critical that members of Congress hear directly from you to truly understand the importance of philanthropy in their states and districts.

As the head of the Berks County Community Foundation in Reading, Penn., I get to see my members of Congress regularly in their home districts because Washington, D.C., is only a few hours away. Still, one of our congressmen thanked me for coming to the nation’s capital to visit last year and told me, “It’s good for the staff down here to see how much you care.”

Foundations on the Hill is a great chance to promote your work with key policymakers and help advance the field. Will you join me in Washington D.C. March 21–22? Register today!

Each stipend will cover up to $1,200 in travel and hotel costs associated with attending Foundations on the Hill. Registration fees will also be waived for all stipend recipients. A stipend recipient’s regional association will also receive a $300 award to continue public policy and advocacy efforts in the state.

To apply for a stipend, an applicant’s organization must be a member of either the Council on Foundations or a regional association of grantmakers and must be a first-time attendee of FOTH. Community foundation representatives must also be compliant with the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations. Preference will be given to next generation leaders (ages 40 and under), minorities, and to representatives of foundations that meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Applicant’s foundation has assets less than $25 million
• Applicant’s foundation is located in a underrepresented area (see stipend guidelines for details)
• Applicant’s foundation is located in a rural area (see  stipend guidelines for details)
• Foundation location in a House Ways and Means Committee member’s congressional district, a Senate Finance Committee member’s state, or the district/state of a House/Senate leadership member (e.g., the Majority Leader)

Awards are limited to one person per foundation and are non-transferrable to other foundations or foundation staff. Due to limited funds and anticipated demand, the stipend award may not be able to support all eligible applicants.

More information about the stipend program is available at www.foundationsonthehill.org/stipendprogram.asp

The deadline to submit applications for the stipend is Friday, December 16, 2011 and award recipients will be notified by Friday, January 27, 2012. To apply please fill out the application form and return it to Chatrane Birbal at the Council on Foundations via email or fax (703-879-0889).

FOTH gets bigger and better each year. More than 250 foundation and grantmaking representatives from 35 states and the District of Columbia attended FOTH 2011, including 77 first-time attendees. These attendees had meetings in 35 Senate offices and nearly 150 House offices. Let’s continue the momentum by promoting a political environment that is constructive for philanthropy.

Registration for FOTH 2012 is now available online at www.foundationsonthehill.org.

During our visits with both our Minnesota and North Dakota members of Congress we talked specifically about defining philanthropy’s role in society by sharing the real story of philanthropy in our communities. We asked for their support of the field in general, but also a partnership in continuing to build a strong and healthy charitable and philanthropic sector which is vital to a prosperous nation and vibrant communities.

Just two weeks after Foundations on the Hill there’s great news to report! Two bills have been introduced in the Senate which would encourage charitable giving at a time of great need: The Public Good IRA Rollover Act and a Private Foundation Excise Tax bill.

Last week, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) introduced a Private Foundation Excise Tax bill – S.593. This bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify and simplify the excise tax on the investment income that private foundations pay. S.593 would remove the current two-tiered excise tax imposed on private foundations and replace it with one flat rate. The bill sets the excise tax rate at 1.39 percent, deemed to be revenue neutral by the Joint Committee on Taxation in the 111^th Congress. S.593 would be applicable to tax years beginning after the date the bill is enacted.

Two weeks ago, Senators Schumer and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) introduced the Public Good IRA Rollover Act of 2011 – S.557. The bill proposes to extend the IRA charitable rollover beyond 2011 and allow gifts made to donor-advised funds, supporting organizations, and private foundations to qualify for the incentive. Additionally, the bill proposes to lift the $100,000 cap on distributions and allow planned gifts beginning at age 59 ½.

The Minnesota Council on Foundations, along with our colleague organization, the national Council on Foundations, strongly supports these bills and has been encouraging passage over several years.

Please Ask Your  Senators to Sponsor Excise Tax and IRA Rollover Bills: we strongly encourage you to contact your Senators to ask them to support the charitable sector by adding their names to the list of co-sponsors of S.593 and S.557. The more co-sponsors, the better chance that the bills will be passed. The national Council on Foundations has made it easy for you to support these bills through its Legislative Action Center.

We will continue to monitor the Private Foundation Excise Tax bill and Public Good IRA Rollover Act and will provide updates as they become available.  If you would like to review MCF’s complete list of 2011 legislative priorities, please visit our website.

- Chuck Peterson, MCF vice president of member relations

Delegation members with Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho (second from left)

Reports from FOTH are beginning to roll in. Mindie Ruele, Program Manager for Public Policy at Philanthropy Northwest, comes in first with her excellent recap over on the PNW blog.

Mindie and her regional delegation met with 18 elected officials or their staff while in DC. Here are some of her takeaways:

Philanthropists and elected officials share a deep commitment to figuring out society’s toughest challenges. Philanthropy’s independence from government allows our sector to approach those problems in different ways than government might. Several times, I heard elected officials say, “Philanthropy would be the perfect neutral convener for a conversation about (fill in the blank).” You can fill in that blank with lots of different topics: tax reform, poverty alleviation, better public-private collaboration, education, and more.

Many of our Senators and Representatives have economic development on their minds. They want to know what else can be done to ensure that all Americans have access to good-paying jobs. In addition to being part of and funding the nonprofit sector – which makes up around 8-12% of private sector jobs in most of our states – philanthropy supports programs that provide training, loans and assistance for low income and marginalized populations across our region.

Read Mindie’s full post here. Did you delegation have a similar experience? Let us know in the comments.

Yesterday, participants ran through a full day of programming geared towards preparing them for today’s visits. Among the program highlights were sessions with Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD). A full recap of Rep. Blumenauer’s session is available from the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

During his remarks at the joint Council, Forum, and Alliance for Charitable Reform luncheon, Council CEO Steve Gunderson echoed what has become a theme of this year’s FOTH, “Philanthropy represents independence, innovation, and investments to advance the public good.” The meetings taking place today mark the beginning of a relationship between philanthropic entities and their federal representatives that will last well-beyond these two days in DC, often resulting in productive long term conversations on how the public and private sectors can work together to better each district.

The issues focused on in today’s Hill meetings include:

• Simplifying the excise tax on private foundation on net investment income to a flat rate
• Maintaining the current law permitting full deductibility of itemized charitable deductions
• Providing challenge and capacity building grants to benefit economically distressed rural counties
• Permanently extending the IRA chartable roll over and expanding the provision to remove the limits on donor age and gift size

Be sure to follow all the action as it happens on Twitter using the hashtag #FOTH.

In some respects, it was an exciting time to be in Washington and feel the energy and deep passion (from both sides of the aisle) surrounding this historic and important issue we face as a country.  Over 200 foundations from around the country attended this year’s Foundations on the Hill event, including six from Minnesota and North Dakota.

Representing the Minnesota Council on Foundations were staff and trustees from the Fargo Moorhead Area Foundation, Headwaters Foundation for Justice, Mardag Foundation, Northwest Area Foundation and the Southwest Initiative Foundation.  MCF members have long supported engagement in this important annual opportunity for grantmakers to meet with our members of Congress from Minnesota and North Dakota.

During our time on the Hill, we shared information with our members of Congress about grantmaking trends and examples of how grantmakers have responded to the economic crisis and supported our communities in extraordinary ways during these challenging times. We also discussed our legislative agenda (pdf) and encouraged all our elected representatives to support the IRA Charitable Rollover legislation (pdf) (HR 1250/S 864), simplification of the excise tax (pdf) (HR 4090/S676), and maintaining the current charitable deduction rates (pdf).

In addition to attending our meetings on the Hill, I participated in several conversations about philanthropy and public policy. Discussions focused on opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for the sector, practical tools and examples of how to tell our stories, and the importance of building long-term relationships with our members of Congress as well as their staff.

While many thoughts and ideas where shared, one point in particular stood out for me when Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) made clear the intersection of philanthropy and public policy: “ . . . both lawmakers and philanthropists are charged with the task to improve the lives of the people and community we serve and we need continued dialogue to identify ways we together can partner on our joint missions.”

Shaheen also highlighted the work between her Congressional office and the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation on several issues ranging from mental health for military veterans to greening public buildings in the state. Her conversation with us emphasized the importance of the philanthropic sector having a voice at the table, to both assist and be a resource to local, state and federal lawmakers to develop good policy and responses to community needs.

Before I left Minneapolis to fly to Washington, I wondered if I would be on the Hill the day Congress voted on health care reform.  While a vote had not been taken when I flew out on Wednesday evening, I left with a renewed sense of commitment to my work and a sense of accomplishment knowing that Minnesota and North Dakota members of Congress are supportive of and understand the importance of philanthropy in our communities and the impact we collectively have on improving people’s lives.

-Chuck Peterson, V.P. of member relations

Photo CC Wallyg

During Foundations on the Hill, foundation trustees, executives and staff, working with their regional association, schedule meetings on Capitol Hill to personally discuss their work with members of Congress. In addition to congressional meetings, participants attend training sessions and a breakfast event featuring remarks by a member(s) of Congress.

The purpose of Foundations on the Hill is to:

• Inform and educate Congress about philanthropy
• Create visibility for foundations and philanthropy on Capitol Hill
• Advocate on issues affecting foundations
• Encourage Congress to view foundations as resources on key public policy issues

With a new Congress convening in January, it is critical that elected officials hear from their foundation constituents. By attending Foundations on the Hill, you can develop or strengthen your relationships with your members of Congress and share your views on the latest charitable legislation. Members of Congress are most influenced when constituents from their states or districts advance a cause on behalf of themselves and their national organizations. A meeting in Washington shows an extra level of dedication and commitment to that cause.

Foundations on the Hill 2010 will take place on March 16- 17. Registration for Foundations on the Hill is open to trustees, executives and staff of grantmaking foundations and regional associations of grantmakers. While Foundations on the Hill is open to both Council/Forum members or nonmembers, your organization must be eligible to be a member of the Council or Forum (see eligibility criteria).

If you are interested in attending Foundations on the Hill 2009, contact Chatrane Birbal (703/879-0689) at the Council or Courtney Moore (703/879-0809) at the Forum.