Foundations should support advocacy

To the Editor:

This is in support of Pablo Eisenberg’s point about the importance of foundation funding of nonprofit advocacy (“Grant Makers’ Aversion to Advocacy Ignores Lessons of History,” August 22).

Our recent research with Tufts University found that grant-seeking nonprofits are often frustrated with private foundations for not providing funding that can be used for advocacy, and for including language in grant letters that unnecessarily restricts lobbying by public charities. These findings strongly suggest that many foundations are reluctant to support advocacy.

Current needs make it even more important than ever for private and community foundations to think hard about supporting advocacy. The good news is that there are some exciting examples, including: the California Wellness Foundation, which funds training of environmental-health organizers; the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which helped launch a project assisting community-based tobacco-control advocates; and the George Gund Foundation, in Cleveland, which has funded over 20 full-time public-policy positions in Ohio nonprofits. And a number of other foundations are entering this arena.

We hope that the issues facing us today and in the future will serve as motivation for foundations to protect their community investments by supporting nonprofit advocacy. Advocacy is as American as apple pie. More foundations should consider a bite.

David Arons
Co-Director
Charity Lobbying in the Public Interest
Washington, D.C.

Gary D. Bass
Executive Director
OMB Watch
Washington, D.C.

To the Editor:

Pablo Eisenberg’s column is an accurate assessment of all too many foundations. This is unfortunate.

It is also unfortunate that Mr. Eisenberg’s attempt to encourage foundations to put greater resources into advocacy efforts is unlikely to succeed. No one appreciates being publicly “shamed,” least of all the leaders of powerful institutions dedicated to the common good.

Despite the truth of Mr. Eisenberg’s assessment, it would have been more productive to cite some of the (admittedly, still too few) examples of recent and ongoing foundation-funded advocacy projects and to encourage foundations to follow these successful models and dedicate more funds to these kinds of efforts.

Mr. Eisenberg and The Chronicle should tell the success stories, give credit where credit is due, and encourage more of the same.

Chris Fitz
Salinas, Calif.