Families Funding Advocacy and Policy Change

Advocacy is an important tool for funders seeking to address systemic inequalities ingrained in our policies and practices, and it can be the sole focus of an organization or an additional strategy employed to create lasting change. Many families pursue advocacy because of a founder’s interest or legacy, while others have introduced advocacy into their grantmaking portfolio after listening to grantees, studying the philanthropic landscape, and deep reflection within the family.

In light of the pandemic and massive responses to racial injustice, many giving families are pivoting or considering significant changes to their grantmaking focus to respond to the current reality. This panel will discuss different approaches to supporting advocacy goals and discuss the role that family legacy, responsiveness, and evaluation and success play in this work.