In 2023, the Center for Community:Foundation Advocacy (CC:FA) concept was offered as a community service version of the consulting offered directly to community foundations (CFs) through the Center for Community Foundation Policy Leadership.  It was discussed as a different approach that CFs could take toward strengthening their services, i.e., by pursuing that support not for their own organization, but for the benefit of those they support.  There was great support for the concept, but it proved that most CFs felt their own organizations needed such development first so they opted for taking on the consultancy as their initial approach.  So the effort was not funded last year.

The biggest challenge the CC:FA encountered is that it is a new concept, in a non-profit grant form (which removes it yet another small step from most things offered to CFs).  It also seems that in the wake of the exaggerated "anti-woke" counter-attack last year, many community foundations (boards'?) grew increasing skittish about seeming to engage on policy issues.   And it seems that though though ALL foundations and community groups have complete legal permission to "advocate," most equate advocating with the "lobbying" and presume it's all prohibited.  (What's more, many who ultimately understand the difference admit they also just don't want to run the risk of getting caught in any policy crossfire, so would prefer to just stay out of such discussions.)

Yet in 2024, the Center for Community:Foundation Advocacy will continue to be elevated as a smart way for service organizations to think about and pursue their policy leadership potential.  The colon between "community" and "foundation" stresses the joining between communities and philanthropy that community foundations can so readily facilitate - yet doesn't limit the policy guidance to any one of those three groups.  

We're looking forward to leaning further into this concept and the CC:FA's work ahead in 2024!