This week, members of our CMF community will be engaging with policymakers during the first-ever virtual Foundations on the Hill (FOTH). 

Over the course of the next two weeks, CMF members and CMF staff will connect with Michigan lawmakers and their legislative staff through virtual meetings, to discuss the opportunities for philanthropy and government to work in partnership for thriving, equitable communities across Michigan.

With the guidance of CMF’s member-led FOTH Planning Committee, led by Jennifer Poteat, trustee at the Harry A. and Margaret D. Towsley Foundation, in partnership with several other members of CMF’s Government Relations Public Policy Committee, we have designed our conversations with policymakers to highlight four specific lanes of partnership: 

• Crisis response and relief efforts, using examples of philanthropy’s leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic.  

• Matters of economic prosperity, education and public health, highlighting the ways that philanthropy effectively engages in these spaces. 

• Constituent connection opportunities, recognizing the ways philanthropy serves as a convener in communities and how foundations can be an on the ground resource for policymakers to talk directly with the public. 

• Issues that affect the health of the charitable sector, especially when lifted in policy, encouraging policymakers to invite philanthropy leaders to the table and ensure we are part of the dialogue. 

Through these FOTH visits and conversations throughout the year with policymakers, philanthropy will be highlighted as a thought partner and resource in times of crisis and throughout a policymaker’s service. CMF is also sharing videos with policymakers featuring several CMF members discussing how their foundation works in partnership with government and policymakers in their district.

“We can help convey the community voice,” Karima Amlani, vice president of development at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, shared in one of our videos. “It’s a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship, we can’t touch policy and advocacy in a way that they can.”

CMF is also asking that policymakers:

• Support policies that incentivize all Americans to be charitable givers. 

• Support policies that would permit tax-free distribution from individual retirement accounts (IRAs) to community foundation donor-advised funds (DAFs). 

• Ensure that efforts to address broadband affordability and accessibility are included in future infrastructure legislation to be considered. 

• Connect with our Michigan community of philanthropy so that we may serve as a resource to you as you consider policies that may impact our ability to respond to community needs. 

CMF members and staff will also hear from policymakers on the issues they care about most and where they may see opportunities to work in collaboration.  

“We’re there to help and quite often we’re there to help when government can’t or if there is a gap between what the government and other nonprofits can provide, philanthropy is there to help fill that void,” Carolyn Bloodworth, secretary/treasurer of the Consumers Energy Foundation shared in a video to policymakers. 

The CMF team will be providing real-time updates on all things FOTH via our social media channels. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter @michfoundations via the hashtags #FOTH2021 and #CMFontheHill.

After FOTH, there will be ongoing opportunities to engage with policymakers. This year, CMF’s Government Relations Public Policy team will be providing virtual engagement opportunities with state legislators as we seek to continue year-round conversations with our policymakers at both the state and federal levels. 

Want more?

Watch CMF’s videos we’re sharing with policymakers: Michigan Philanthropy: Partners in Crisis and Beyond featuring the Community Foundation of Greater Flint and the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area as well as the Community Foundation of St. Clair County and Consumers Energy Foundation. 

Access the recording of our recent webinar: The Why and How of Engaging with Policymakers.

View CMF’s 2021 Government Relations Goals. 

View CMF's Policy Domains and Principles.