Nonprofit Advocacy & Organizing

Full title: Leveraging Limited Dollars: How Grantmakers Achieve Tangible Results by Funding Policy and Community Engagement

Published: January 2012

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This report distills findings from more than 400 pages of research amassed over three years as part of NCRP’s Grantmaking for Community Impact Project (GCIP). The project documented $26.6 billion in benefits for taxpayers and communities in 13 states, and found that every dollar grantmakers and other donors invested in policy and civic engagement provided a return of $115 in community benefit.

Full title: Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in the Gulf/Midsouth Region

Published: May 2011

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"Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in the Gulf/Midsouth Region" by Frontline Solutions looks at how 20 nonprofit organizations in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi and their allies leveraged foundation grants to secure nearly $114 of benefit for every dollar spent for Gulf/Midsouth residents. The report is the seventh from NCRP's Grantmaking for Community Impact Project (GCIP) series.

Full title: Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in Pennsylvania

Published: February 2011

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"Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in Pennsylvania" by Julia Craig looks at how 15 Pennsylvania nonprofits organizations and their allies leveraged foundation grants to secure nearly $122 of benefit for every dollar spent for Pennsylvania residents. The report is the sixth from NCRP's Grantmaking for Community Impact Project (GCIP) series.

Full title: Grantmakers and Policy Engagement: An Illinois Profile

Published: October 2010

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In July 2010 Donors Forum and NCRP jointly distributed a survey to Donors Forum members in order to learn more about their approach to policy engagement. The two organizations wanted this information to inform their mutual goal of fostering greater philanthropic understanding of the value of both engaging in advocacy and also funding nonprofits that use advocacy, organizing and civic engagement as tools to improve their communities. This report describes the survey findings.

Full title: Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in the Northwest Region

Published: September 2010

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The Northwest Region is NCRP's fifth site in a series of reports from the Grantmaking for Community Impact Project. Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in the Northwest Region looks at how 20 nonprofits and their allies helped improved their communities and amplified the voices of vulnerable residents in the democratic process through advocacy and community organizing efforts. These nonprofits leveraged foundation grants that generated a $150 return for every dollar invested in their policy engagement efforts.

Hard copies also may be purchased for $5 for members ($10 for nonmembers). Delivery of hard copies may take 7-10 full business days.

Note: Report updated 1/11/2011. Revisions made to correct typographical errors on pages 18 and 63.

Full title: Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in Los Angeles County

Published: March 2010

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Los Angeles County is NCRP's fourth site in a series of reports from the Grantmaking for Community Impact Project. In "Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in Los Angeles County" Lisa Ranghelli and Julia Craig explore how 13 nonprofit organizations and their allies leveraged foundation grants to secure nearly $91 of benefit for every dollar spent for Los Angeles citizens.

Hard copies also may be purchased for $5 for members ($10 for nonmembers). Delivery of hard copies may take 7-10 full business days.

Full title: Seizing the Moment: Frank Advice for Community Organizers Who Want to Raise More Money

Published: November 2009

Aaron Dorfman, NCRP’s executive director, and Marjorie Fine, director of the Center for Community Change’s The Linchpin Campaign, teamed up to offer useful and pragmatic tips that can help community organizers dramatically increase funding from institutional grantmakers and major individual donors.

The combination of tough economic times, unprecedented levels of needs, and growing public awareness of community organizing make this a ripe but challenging time for some serious fundraising. The authors talk about:

- Building relationships
- Making the ask
- Communicating the impact of your work
- Useful resources for fund seekers

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Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in Minnesota

Published: September 2009

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"Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in Minnesota" by Gita Gulati-Partee and Lisa Ranghelli looks at data from 15 Minnesota nonprofits, which shows high return on investments and non-monetary gains on a range of issues including housing, civil rights, transportation and access to medical care.

Hard copies also may be purchased for $5 for members ($10 for nonmembers). Delivery of hard copies may take 7-10 full business days.

Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in North Carolina

Published: May 2009

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"Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in North Carolina" by Lisa Ranghelli and Julia Craig looks at 2003-2007 data from 13 North Carolina nonprofits, which shows high return on investments and non-monetary gains on a range of issues including poverty, worker rights, education, health care, housing, environment and civil rights.

Hard copies also may be purchased for $5 for members ($10 for nonmembers). Delivery of hard copies may take 7-10 full business days.

Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in New Mexico

Published: December 2008

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"Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in New Mexico" by Lisa Ranghelli looks at 2003-2007 data from 14 New Mexico nonprofits, which shows high return on investments and successful policy changes that benefit New Mexicans, such as anti-predatory lending laws, minimum wage increases and homeless trust funds.

Hard copies also may be purchased for $5 for members ($10 for nonmembers). Delivery of hard copies may take 7-10 full business days.