Explore SCG's Policy Work

Priorities

• The philanthropic and nonprofit sectors can embrace their agency to carry out impactful work that is responsive to the current policy atmosphere and to adapt to calls for a changing sector
• Connections between philanthropy and government are crucial to better develop public-private partnerships, share best practices, and inspire innovative solutions

Strategies

• Providing pathways, tools, and opportunities for members to grow and learn about their own organizations, the philanthropic sector, and specific policy issues
• Making connections with government to ensure policies are inclusive of nonprofit, philanthropic, and community voices; acting as a convenor and advocating for a “seat at the table” for different groups

Priorities

• In order to have a fair and representative government at all levels, we must emphasize the importance of policy implementation, co-governance, and opportunities for civic engagement
• Rhetoric, narrative, and information-sharing have an enormous impact on how communities and individuals receive news, interact with civic systems, and feel about government institutions

Strategies

• Challenging dominant narratives and pushing for more accurate and accountable information-sharing systems
• Educating members on the wide spectrum of possibilities for philanthropic participation in civic engagement and the downstream effects of support for democracy work on specific issue areas
• Mobilizing philanthropy to adopt an expanding definition of civic engagement that encompasses more than “Get Out the Vote” or topics that feel political in nature

Priorities

• Nonprofits help communities thrive, acting as first responders during times of emergency and throughout the year, and that they are a direct connection to community voices
• Government and the private sector need to shift toward a culture of sustainability, inclusivity, and accessibility for nonprofits that are an economic engine of communities

Strategies

• Encouraging philanthropy to support the capacity of nonprofit organizations to engage in advocacy and organizing
• Fostering innovative partnerships with city, county, and state governments
• Supporting policies that remove barriers for local and BIPOC-led and serving organizations to access public and private funding

Priorities

• Rights are being rolled back at an alarming rate, through judiciary decisions and legislation across the country; although California often feels safe from these changes, it is important to remain aware of local and regional policies that can have widespread influence
• While there is still room for improvement, California has often been a model for other states and now is no different; philanthropy has the opportunity to make bold statements through the support of policy and advocacy work at the local, state, and federal levels

Strategies

• Continuing to work to raise consciousness of inequalities and the policies and institutions that purposely or inadvertently uphold these inequalities
• Uplifting diverse voices and amplifying the important work being carried out by partners with expertise in racial and gender justice