Foundations on the Hill 2019

Join us for Foundations on the Hill (FOTH), a two-day event that brings together hundreds of foundation leaders from across the country to meet with Congress and discuss issues of critical importance to philanthropy. FOTH is our opportunity to share the work of philanthropy so that Members of Congress can take the best practices developed from your grantmaking and scale it up to improve the lives of millions who call our country home.

With new Members of Congress joining the California delegation, it is crucial that we build strong relationships with our policymakers that can have profound impact on grantmaking and issues we care about.
#FOTH19 is timed perfectly to help current and new elected officials understand the value of philanthropy to the social and economic fabric of our country, and to stress the importance of philanthropy and government working as equal partners to ensure the continued health of our sector.
Foundations on the Hill aims to inform and educate Congress about philanthropy; create visibility for philanthropy on Capitol Hill; advocate on issues affecting foundations and communities; and encourage Congress to view foundations as a resource and partner on key public policy issues.

What is Foundations on the Hill (FOTH)?

As a part of Philanthropy California, members of NCG, SCG, and SDG will join foundation leaders, and regional and national grantmaking associations across the country to ensure policymakers in Washington, DC understand the landscapes of the communities we serve.

FOTH is the one time each year when philanthropy speaks with a strong, collective voice on Capitol Hill.

The purpose of #FOTH19 is to:

Educate legislators and the administration about philanthropy’s role in civil society, the importance of 2020 Census, and best practices on issues that you fund;
Develop and cultivate relationships with fellow policy-oriented peers and policymakers; and,
Encourage legislators to view foundations as thought partners.

Hosted by United Philanthropy Forum, FOTH is a two-day event that brings foundation leaders to D.C. for meetings with Congress about key issues of importance to foundations and philanthropy. We must change the unrealistic expectation that philanthropy will “step-in” to “fill-the-gap” and educate policymakers on the crucial role that philanthropy plays in innovation. Additionally, we will focus our conversations on the 2020 Census, protecting nonprofit nonpartisanship (Johnson Amendment), and potential post-tax reform issues, such as the universal charitable deduction.