This year at Foundations on the Hill (FOTH), the Michigan foundation delegation had four next generation attendees participating in advocacy work.

Kat Owsley, president, Bosch Community Fund and vice chair of corporate philanthropy, CMF Board of Trustees, attended with her 12-year-old son Finn.  

“I believe in and fund hands-on learning experiences for kids and felt FOTH would really be an ideal opportunity to hear about the work of foundations and how we talk and partner with our elected officials on important issues,” Kat said.

Finn joined the meetings with CMF members and our Michigan Congressional delegation.

“I liked the meetings with legislators where we talked about issues and problems with them,” Finn said. “I especially was interested to learn about the importance of the census and all the issues surrounding it.”

Both of Neal Hegarty’s sons have now attended FOTH. Neal’s oldest attended as a sophomore in high school and this year his youngest, Patrick, 16, participated in the meetings.

“It is a great benefit for a young person to learn how to navigate Capitol Hill and to participate in policy discussions with legislators and their policy staff leaders,” Hegarty, vice president of programs, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation said. “Many of us don’t get this opportunity until later in our careers. So, to learn the process and demystify a bit of the complexity of our nation’s policy process is a great opportunity for a teenager. It is made even better by learning how to advocate for public policy that promotes giving, philanthropy and the charitable sector!”

CMF members Diana Tarpoff, president, R.E. Olds Foundation and Sherri Reid Grant, president, Reid Family Foundation and trustee, CMF Board were also joined by their adult children, Polo Tate, director, R.E. Olds Foundation and Nathan Grant, trustee, Reid Family Foundation.

“It is so very important that we both see and join in the advocacy with our legislature on the Hill. Often, we next-geners get a feel for and adapt the philanthropic spirit, the impetus to give, the passion for helping from our previous generation,” Tate said. “However, we rarely get to see the or be a real part of the governmental oversight and aid that is an essential part of the philanthropic process. In order to exponentially effect our philanthropic endeavors on a national scale, we must understand the inner-workings of our government, and form relationships with our policy makers and change-makers. It is an honor to be a part of it all.”