Philanthropy professionals in Pennsylvania understand how state policy affects the nonprofit sector, and many have a history of engaging and educating state policymakers. Even given private foundations’ constraints on lobbying, there are numerous opportunities for communication between philanthropy and the public sector that are permissible and can serve to build relationships and advance important issues.
A number of Pennsylvania funders work to ensure that both public and private dollars are used effectively to promote quality results, to the benefit of both taxpayers and communities. Funding organizations that work regularly in fields like public education, healthcare or workforce development often house deep knowledge, expertise and connections that can be useful to fellow funders whose work is place-based or occasionally touches upon these fields.
The Keystone Policy Series of conference calls/ webinars has been developed by Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania (www.gwpa.org) andPhilanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia (www.philanthropynetwork.org) to inform all Pennsylvania funders about how their colleagues are working on selected statewide policy issues. Funding organizations across the state will:
- Learn background information about a community issue from a statewide perspective
- Hear about work undertaken by Pennsylvania funding colleagues to address a policy challenge
- Learn about potential solutions in Pennsylvania and potential roles for philanthropy
- Build/ strengthen working relationships with other funders across the state
Join us for the first in the series:
EDUCATION ADVOCACY
January 31, 2017
2:00-3:00 PM
Join our funding colleagues as they address statewide education advocacy efforts currently underway; including current priorities and challenges, the role their organizations play in these initiatives, and opportunities for other funders to become involved. Examples for discussion include:
- Pre-K for PA, an initiative of Early Learning PA established in 2014 with the goal of making pre-k a priority issue in the gubernatorial and legislative elections and advocating increased access to high-quality pre-k for all Pennsylvania’s 3- and 4-year olds.
- The Campaign for Fair Education Funding, a non-partisan coalition of 50+ statewide organizations whose mission is to ensure that Pennsylvania adopts and maintains an adequate and equitable system of funding public education. Funders will hear about the implications of House Bill 1552, signed by Governor Wolf in June 2016, which establishes a funding formula and provides emergency funds for two of the commonwealth’s financially distressed school districts, as well as his call for new funding to help restore equity to Pennsylvania public school districts.
- The Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission (ELIC), which was created in September 2008 through Executive Order. Funders will hear about how the Commission works to secure public investment in early learning by focusing on practices that are educationally, economically, and scientifically sound by increasing business, civic, and public awareness of the importance of early childhood education.
Speakers:
- Kristen Burns, Associate Director, Grable Foundation
- Michele Figlar, Vice President of Learning, The Heinz Endowments
- Stan Thompson, Education Program Director, The Heinz Endowments
- Elliot Weinbaum, Great Learning Program Director, William Penn Foundation
REGISTER:
Please click here to register on *GWPA's website. If there are any questions or concerns about registration please contact Kabria Rogers atkabria@philanthropynetwork.org.
*Please Note: You will need to create an account to register for this program.
