More than 30 foundation and nonprofit leaders attended a roundtable discussion in Springfield on September 17 to provide insights into Donors Forum’s Strategic Plan, Engaging for Impact, and, more specifically, to help us identify our public policy priorities. 

The discussion follows three community meetings held in the Chicago area during the Summer as part of our effort to listen to grantmakers and nonprofits across the state and forge a more collaborative approach to strengthening the nonprofit sector in Illinois.

Much of our public policy work now falls within Building a Stronger Illinois, an effort to strengthen the partnerships between nonprofits, philanthropy, and government officials with one goal of deepening public officials’ understanding of nonprofits and the sector as a whole. 

In order to meet this goal we need to better understand the challenges nonprofits face when it comes to getting involved in public policy efforts and the available opportunities. Here’s what they told us in Springfield:

• Nonprofit boardslack a full understanding of what it means to be engaged in public policy.
•  Elected officials don’t understand the nonprofit business model and the fact that not all funding comes from the state.
•  Nonprofits need to learn how to effectively rebut certain claims from public officials, such as “private philanthropy will make up for state budget cuts.”
•  The narrative about nonprofits needs to change; elected officials need to hear about the positive economic impact of the sector.
•  More collaboration: Nonprofits need to work together on public policy rather than going it alone.
•  The nonprofit sector needs to realize it can legally fight legislation that is detrimental to the sector; organizations need to be educated about the difference between advocacy and lobbying and what can legally be done without jeopardizing tax status

In addition to learning more about how nonprofits see their role in public policy, we also sought feedback on our Engaging for Impact plan and how Donors Forum can play a larger role in strengthening the sector. Here’s what we heard:

• Provide more board training and opportunities to learn from experts about development capacity, diversifying funding streams, and taxation issues.
•  Donors Forum could provide data and fact sheets on the sector that can be used to educate boards and to start conversations with external audiences.
• Track local government issues and connect organizations so they can learn from each other.
•  Connect organizations for co-writing grant proposals

Our sincere thanks those who took time out of their schedules to participate in our discussion. The success of Engaging for Impact is reliant on our listening to leaders within the sector and incorporating what we hear into our work over the next three years. As part of this effort, Donors Forum has launched series of Q&As to highlight voices from across the state. Greg DiDomenico, President and CEO of Community Memorial Foundation, shares his thoughts in the first Q&A. 

Our next roundtable discussion is scheduled for October 30 in Champaign. Visit the website for details and to register.We will soon be announcing dates for additional roundtables in Champaign and Carbondale.

We are also gearing for the launch of a new online home for Building a Stronger Illinois that will include updates on Donors Forum’s public policy and the results of recently completed, comprehensive research on the nonprofit sector in the state. Watch your email in the next weeks for news of the launch.

— The Donors Forum Team