The current political and economic climate presents opportunities and challenges. We are poised to make significant changes to improve conditions for our communities, yet the economic climate calls for foundations to consider seriously our role in building coalitions and the capacity of community-based organizations. This session will look at opportunities to invest in coalition-building strategies that involve low-income groups, women, immigrants and communities of color to create lasting change. Participants will learn about collaborations that are creating innovative systems change solutions to a range of issues including: economic security, environmental health and justice, reproductive health and justice, transportation, and gender equity.

Through a series of case studies, this session will explore:

The benefits, challenges, and opportunities of combining strategies and linking community leaders across movements;

• The respective roles of funders and nonprofit organizations in policy and advocacy efforts;
• How movement-building efforts can leverage foundation resources and impact systems to effect long-term change;
• What additional support, besides grant dollars, foundations can provide to effectively advance community-based efforts for policy change.

This event is co-sponsored by Southern California Grantmakers, Women's Foundation of California, Liberty Hill Foundation, AAPIP, and Health & Environmental Funders Network - California.

For more information and to register for the program, visit Southern California Grantmakers.