Achieving our Mission Through Policy and Advocacy Abby Levine, Legal Director of Bolder Advocacy, Alliance for Justice James Head, Vice President of Programs, The San Francisco Foundation Colleen M. Cotter, Executive Director, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

501(c)(3) Private Foundation 501(c)(4) Examples Lobbying Activities Electoral Activities Contributions tax-deductible Tax-Exempt U NLIMITED Cannot support or oppose a candidate for office Secondary activity Follow federal and state election law PROHIBITED Tax on foundation & managers 501(c)(3) Public Charities Contributions tax-deductible Tax-Exempt Cannot support or oppose a candidate for office LIMITED Insubstantial Part or 501(h) Tax Treatment

Community Organizing Public Education Educate Legislators Nonpartisan Voter Ed. PARTISAN POLITICAL LOBBYING Get to Know Legislators Educational Conferences Research Lobbying Exceptions Influence Corporations Training Regulatory Efforts Litigation Avenues for ADVOCATING CHANGE Avenues for ADVOCATING CHANGE

Foundation Involvement in Advocacy: Continuum of Roles Fund Engage No involvement Capacity builder Funder: General Support Funder: Specific Project Convener Advocate: quietly Advocate: loudly Lobbyist Responder

Lobbying Public charities, including community foundations, may lobby: Insubstantial part test 501(h) expenditure test

What is Lobbying ? DIRECT Communication Legislator Expresses a view about specific legislation GRASSROOTS Communication General public Expresses a view about specific legislation Call to action

Community Foundations may FUND grantees that lobby Specific Project Grants General Support Grants $$$ Earmarked For Lobbying

WEST COAST Alliance For Justice th Street Suite 425 Oakland, CA EAST COAST Alliance for Justice 11 Dupont Circle, NW 2 nd Floor Washington, DC

Community Foundation Policy and Advocacy Examples Research Silicon Valley Community Foundation Report on the Statues of Payday Lending in California (2009) The San Francisco Foundation Research on Minimum Wage increase efforts in the Bay Area (2014) Grantmaking Alliance for Justice work to educate nonprofits on advocacy and lobbying requirement Legal Aid Society of Cleveland work to provide individual and issue advocacy to address economic and social disparities

Direct Community Foundation Involvement The Issue Proposition 8 Amends the California Constitution to provide that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California Prop 8 intent of unequal treatment for California Residents on the basis of sexual orientation How TSFF got involved

San Francisco Foundation Response $250,000 contribution (grant) to the Equality for All Campaign (a 501c4) organization Co-sponsored a donor briefing on the issues Provided mini-grants for a Get Out The Vote (GOTV) education campaign targeted at young voters Documented and reported all staff, grant, cost of our involvement to the IRS

Strategic Plan Goal 1: Improve Safety and Health

Selected Outcomes Increased safety 100% Eliminated/reduced risk to child 98.9% Increased safety 100% Eliminated/reduced risk to child 98.9% Total Financial Impact: $4,741,127 Total Financial Impact: $4,741,127 Total Cases Handled 1,414 Case Types, Cases Handled (2013) Improve Safety and Health - Family

Selected Outcomes Increased safety in 100% Secured access to health insurance 88.6% Increased safety in 100% Secured access to health insurance 88.6% Total Financial Impact: $1,097,414 Total Financial Impact: $1,097,414 Total Cases Handled 1,866 Case Types, Cases Handled (2013) Improve Safety and Health - HEWII

Appellate case to set standard for issuing civil protection order Advocacy with courts to ensure they waive fees for people with low income Advocacy to allow those with U- and T-Visas (immigrant victims of serious crimes or human trafficking) to pay in-state tuition Advocacy on utility rates and to ensure due process in utility terminations Working in partnership to overcome Affordable Care Act enrollment issues Safety and Health- Advocacy

Strategic Plan Goal 2: Promote Education and Economic Stability

Selected Outcomes Removed Barriers to Employment 96.9% Increased or Maintained Income 73.6% Removed Barriers to Education 86.7% Removed Barriers to Employment 96.9% Increased or Maintained Income 73.6% Removed Barriers to Education 86.7% Total Financial Impact: $1,203,389 Total Financial Impact: $1,203,389 Total Cases Handled 1,910 Case Types / Handled (May 2013-April 2014) Promote Education and Economic Security - HEWII

Selected Outcomes Foreclosure Prevented and Saved the Home 73.3% Reduced/Avoided Debt 88.9% Preserved/Increased Assets 82.9% Foreclosure Prevented and Saved the Home 73.3% Reduced/Avoided Debt 88.9% Preserved/Increased Assets 82.9% Total Financial Impact: $22,823,696 Total Financial Impact: $22,823,696 Total Cases Handled 3,477 Case Types / Handled (May 2013-April 2014) Promote Education and Economic Security- Consumer

Cashland v. Scott – Ohio Supreme Court case challenging Ohio’s pay day lending scheme Bradberry v. City of Bedford – Appeal concerning standard for sealing criminal record Complaint resulting in school district now sending progress reports to parents with children with special needs Economic Security and Education- Advocacy

Strategic Plan Goal 3: Secure Decent, Affordable Housing

Selected Outcomes Evictions Prevented 98.5% Secured Subsidized Housing 95.6% Reduced Rent/Fee 100% Evictions Prevented 98.5% Secured Subsidized Housing 95.6% Reduced Rent/Fee 100% Total Financial Impact: $614,518 Total Financial Impact: $614,518 Total Cases Handled 1,414 Case Types / Handled (Sept 2013-April 2014) Secure Decent, Affordable Housing- Landlord/Tenant

Selected Outcomes Foreclosure Prevented and Home Saved 75% Extended Client’s Stay in Home 98.9% Default Judgment Averted 82.9% Foreclosure Prevented and Home Saved 75% Extended Client’s Stay in Home 98.9% Default Judgment Averted 82.9% Total Financial Impact: $11,627,490 Total Financial Impact: $11,627,490 Total Cases Handled 490 Case Types / Handled (Sept 2013-April 2014) Secure Decent, Affordable Housing- Landlord/Tenant

Federal appellate case challenging the way housing authority calculates portion of rent due from tenant Advocacy with housing authority regarding bans on persons with prior convictions Advocacy with state agency to ensure people with low income benefit form tax-supported developments Advocacy with courts to establish mediation programs for foreclosure Housing - Advocacy