Join us at Foundations on the Hill (FOTH) along with more than 300 philanthropy representatives from around the country as we meet virtually to speak with our elected officials about the policies that matter most to philanthropy.
FOTH is presented by United Philanthropy Forum in partnership with the Council on Foundations and Independent Sector. It is an annual advocacy opportunity for grantmakers and philanthropy serving organizations (PSOs) to meet with their federal lawmakers.
At FOTH, attendees advocate on behalf of the philanthropic sector and educate lawmakers about the importance of philanthropy in America, and the impact it has on their districts and constituencies.
While the philanthropic sector builds relationships with Congress year round, FOTH is the one time a year when philanthropy comes together to speak with one, unified voice to our policymakers about the unique and vital role that charitable giving plays in America.
Foundations on the Hill:
• Informs and educates Congress about philanthropy;
• Creates visibility for foundations and philanthropy on Capitol Hill;
• Advocates on issues important to foundations;
• Encourages Congress to view foundations as resources on key public policy issues; and
• Builds your organization’s relationship with lawmakers and their staffs.
Your Attendance Has Impact!
When polled by the Congressional Management Foundation, congressional staffers consistently indicated that direct constituent interactions have the highest influence on lawmakers’ decisions – more than any other advocacy strategies.
By hearing from their constituents in philanthropy, your members of Congress better understand the impact of the work you do in their state and the policies necessary to ensure you can effectively carry out your missions. Building relationships with members of Congress and their staff is critical to influencing policymakers and gaining their support for the philanthropic sector.
By participating in FOTH, you have significant potential to further develop key relationships on Capitol Hill and advocate for the issues that matter most to the sector and your organization.
How It Works
Prior to FOTH, your delegation captain will schedule meetings on Capitol Hill with members of Congress. Your delegation captain will be in charge of setting up the meetings, sharing policy priorities and topics of interest to discuss, communicating with you about scheduling updates, and coordinating a pre-FOTH call for all delegation members where you will be provided with everything you need to know.
In addition, there will be on-site training to prepare you for everything you should expect during your meetings on the Hill.
Regardless of your experience doing policy work or
participating in legislative visits,
we invite and encourage you to join the delegation!
We look forward to seeing you (virtually) at Foundations on the Hill 2021 in March!
