PND (7/25/2000) -- National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy Releases Report on California Social Change Nonprofits

The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy has announced the release of A Democratic Landscape: Funding Social Change in California, a new study of how foundations and nonprofit groups influence progressive social and economic policy in the nation's third-largest state.

Based on interviews with leaders of 73 nonprofit advocacy groups and eight of the state's leading foundations, the report finds that California's progressive nonprofits "play a crucial but undervalued role" in shaping public policies benefiting the state's most vulnerable communities.

In contrast to conservative public policy organizations, which receive major support from conservative foundations, corporations, and individuals, community-based public policy groups often struggle for funding. Of the 65 nonprofits engaged in public policy, the report reveals that 34 allocated less than 20 percent of their budget to influencing policy at the state level. And a third cited the lack of general support as the most significant obstacle to their doing effective policy work.

"Community-based nonprofits are a crucial link between marginalized communities and the public policies that affect those communities," said NCRP president Rick Cohen. "NCRP hopes that this report will help catalyze foundation support for community-based public policy work."

"A Democratic Landscape: Funding Social Change in California." National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy 6/15/2000.

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