February 5, 2004 | Read Time: 1 minute
Foundations & Public Policymaking: Leveraging Philanthropic Dollars, Knowledge, and Networks, by James M. Ferris, discusses the benefits, costs, and risks to grant makers in trying to influence public policy. Mr. Ferris, director of the Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy at the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles, helps foundations determine if policy advocacy is consistent with their missions and falls within the limits of the law. He also discusses different ways of being involved in public policy, such as providing operating support to nonprofit advocacy groups or financing research. The report includes summaries of several papers written on the roles that grant makers have played in advocating changes in child-care and education systems, health-care accessibility, and wetlands preservation.
Publisher: Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy, School of Policy, Planning, and Development, U. of Southern California, Lewis Hall, Room 210, Los Angeles, Calif. 90089-0626; (213) 740-9492; cppp@usc.edu; http://www.usc.edu/philanthropy; 47 pages; free for download on the center’s Web page.
