Strategies for Policy & Systems Change: Calls to Action from SCG's 2024 Policy Conference Speakers

SCG's 2024 Policy Conference: Long-Term Visions, Lasting Change, invited philanthropic and civic leaders to envision building sustainable, long-lasting change for our generation and those to come. Our incredible lineup of speakers explored how funders and policymakers can develop and implement policies that strengthen our communities, combat systemic injustices, and mitigate long-standing access issues. Collectively, we explored conversations around incorporating a policy lens into our work, advocating for a strong nonprofit sector, advancing gender equity, addressing homelessness, navigating a budget deficit, and preparing for changes with technology.

To help our attendees continue these conversations and apply the key lessons from our conference, we have connected with our breakout speakers to compile a list of their recommendations funders can take to advance policy change:

What's Your Score? Advancing Gender Equity with the Women's Well-being Index

Hannah Orbach-Mandel (California Budget and Policy Center), Laura Pryor (California Budget & Policy Center), Bamby Salcedo (The TransLatin@ Coalition), and Marcus Tran Degnan (The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation) provided an overview of the California Women's Well-Being Index and explored how funders can use it to inform policy strategies in California and implement gender equity in their work.

Our breakout speakers advised attendees to share the Women's Well-Being Index with their networks and discuss how tools like the index could inform their grantmaking strategies. They recommended circulating the tool with grantees, connecting other funders to this project, and continuing the conversation with the California Budget & Policy Center to inform future analyses. Our speakers also emphasized the importance of ensuring that gender equity is uplifted and incorporated into all of our work rather than isolated into a single issue area.

Redefining Nonprofit Sustainability and Resilience

Otha Cole (Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative), Eder Gaona-Macedo (The Fund for Santa Barbara), Carrie Harlow (Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative), and Soma Sharon (Amalgamated Foundation) explored the innovative ways that several philanthropic and nonprofit advocates have approached the issue of long-term nonprofit sustainability. Attendees worked alongside our speakers and their peers to develop their own definitions of resilience and think through what their organizations can do to foster a more robust nonprofit sector.

Foremost, our speakers emphasized resiliency as a form of community. They also recommended that funders reconsider reserve-building as a funding strategy, advised them to seek additional pathways for nonprofits to generate their own revenue, and to fight against withdrawal in times of struggle.

Resourcing a Long-Term Vision for Addressing Homelessness in L.A. County

Seyron Foo (Conrad N. Hilton Foundation), Veronica Lewis (Homeless Outreach Program Integrated Care System), Connor Lock (City of Long Beach), and Tommy Newman (United Way of Greater L.A.) discussed the impact of a new proposed ballot measure, The Affordable Housing, Homelessness Solutions, and Prevention Now Initiative, which focuses on improving homeless services, preserving affordable housing, and protecting low-income renters.

Our breakout leaders emphasized that regardless of whether funders are actively supporting or engaging with this measure, it will tremendously impact the future of homeless service work in Los Angeles County. They recommended reading up on the measure and ensuring that funders understand the implications for their work and the work of their grantees. Should the measure pass, all funders and nonprofit leaders can play a role in creating a more supportive ecosystem for implementation. 

The ABCs of Funding with a Policy Lens

Kate Anderson (Center for Strategic Partnerships), Margarita Luna, MSW, MPH, CPC (The California Endowment), Lauren Nichols (Anthony & Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation), and Joseph Villela (The California Wellness Foundation) elevated the importance of policy-oriented pledges and examples of successful policy-driven grantmaking and collaboration with their peers on shared challenges.

Our speakers urged philanthropy to continue exploring different avenues of supporting systems change, such as public-private partnerships, regional funding tables, and groups with shared agendas investing in policy. They also emphasized that philanthropy can leverage its voice and platform to ensure it elevates community needs and priorities to create policy change. 

Understanding and Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Create an Equitable Technological Ecosystem

Lili Gangas (Kapor Foundation), Samantha Gordon (TechEquity Collaborative), LeAnn Kelch Melendez (Goldhirsh Foundation), and Cristal Mojica (Michelson 20MM Foundation) gave attendees an overview of A.I.'s impact and the chance to learn more about its opportunities, challenges, and risks.

The TechEquity Collaborative shared its Guiding Policy Principles for Responsible A.I., a list of its recent events on A.I. + Equity, and a newsletter sign-up form, which attendees can use to stay up to date on A.I. Our speakers also compiled a comprehensive list of A.I. resources for the to build upon the conversation from their session. 

Identifying Policy Opportunities During a Budget Deficit

Chris Hoene (California Budget & Policy Center), Eduardo García (Latino Community Foundation), and Michael Russo (Catalyst California) provided an overview of the current state budget and the policies that can better prepare the state for tough economic challenges, such as utilizing the rainy day fund, creating an equitable non-partisan budget, and raising revenue.

To address California's daunting budget deficit going forward, our speakers recommended that funders invest in Budget Advocacy, continue distributing unrestricted multi-year grants, and deepen their investments in regions acutely impacted by the budget deficit.