United Way and Public Policy

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+FY+1997.'+%ef%82%a7+24%25+decline+in+social+welfare+spending+by+federal+government.'%0d%0a%0d%0a%ef%82%a7+UWA+Public+Policy+Priorities+are+key+community+bedrocks%3a+Social+Services+Block+Grant+(SSBG)%2c+Temporary+Assistance+of+Needy+Families+(TANF)%2c+Emergency+Food+and+Shelter+Program+(FEMA)%2c+Head+Start%0d%0a'Source%3a+The+Nonprofit+Sector+and+the+Federal+Budget%3a+Recent+History+and+Future+Directions%2c+The+Aspen+Institute%2c+1999.%0d%0a%0d%0aUnited+Way+and+Public+Policy%3a+HOW+%26+WHY%0d%0a%0d%0a12%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cSources+of+Agency+Income%2c+1999%0d%0a29.0%25+29.0%25%0d%0aFees+%26+Dues%0d%0a%0d%0a40.7%25%0d%0aGovernment%0d%0a%0d%0a10.5%25+10.5%25%0d%0aAgency+Fund+Raising%0d%0a%0d%0a1.0%25%0d%0a13.7%25%0d%0aOther%0d%0a%0d%0a5.0%25%0d%0a%0d%0aAdditional+United+Way%0d%0a%0d%0aReporting+United+Way%0d%0a%0d%0aSource%3a+1999+Community+Impact+Survey%2c+United+Way+of+America+Research+Services+This+analysis+may+exclude+some+large+national+organizations+with+whom+United+Way+has+partnerships%2fcontracts.+These+agencies+(e.g.+American+Red+Cross%2c+American+Cancer+Society%2c+American+Heart+Society)+tend+to+receive+a+larger+percentage+of+their+budget+from+United+Way+funding+than+others.%0d%0a%0d%0aUnited+Way+and+Public+Policy%3a+HOW+%26+WHY%0d%0a%0d%0a13%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cWhy+do+Public+Policy%3f%0d%0a%ef%82%a7+Policymakers+face+difficult+choices+stemming+from+limited+resources.+%ef%82%a7+If+you+do+not+lobby%2c+other+priorities+will+take+precedence.+%ef%82%a7+You+are+the+experts+on+the+needs+of+your+agencies%2fclients.+%ef%82%a7+Cultivation+of+policymakers+can+lead+to+future+collaborations.%0d%0a%0d%0aUnited+Way+and+Public+Policy%3a+HOW+%26+WHY%0d%0a%0d%0a14%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cPublic+Policy+%26+Impact%0d%0a%ef%82%a7Being+active+in+the+area+of+public+policy+is+a+key+element+of+being+a+community+impact+leader.+%ef%82%a7Funding+from+government+can+significantly+impact+capacity+to+create+community-level+change.+%ef%82%a7Government-mandated+regulations+can+also+impact+(help+or+hinder)+United+Way+and+its+partners+abilities+to+deliver+on+a+community+impact+agenda.%0d%0a%0d%0a%ef%82%a7United+Ways+need+to+work+with+state+and+local+governments+to+advance+public+policy+agenda%2c+as+well+as+working+with+UWA+to+advance+a+federal+agenda.%0d%0aUnited+Way+and+Public+Policy%3a+HOW+%26+WHY%0d%0a%0d%0a15%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cPublic+Policy%0d%0a%0d%0aFrom%3a%0d%0aReactive+-+activities+focused+on+avoiding+funding+and+program+cuts%0d%0a%0d%0aTo%3a%0d%0a%ef%83%bcProactive+-+identifying+a+public+policy+agenda+to+go+with+the+community+impact+agenda+and+shaping+decisions+on+those+issues%0d%0a%0d%0aReporting+-+providing+updates+only%0d%0a%0d%0a%ef%83%bcAdvocating+-+Using+public+policy+agenda+to+engage+stakeholders+to+write+letters%2c+make+calls+and+get+involved%0d%0a%ef%83%bcNecessary+Influencing+public+policy+can+be+a+powerful+way+to+move+the+needle+on+key+issues%0d%0a16%0d%0a%0d%0aOff-limits+-+United+Ways+avoid+%e2%80%9clobbying%e2%80%9d+due+to+potential+conflicts+with+donors%0d%0aUnited+Way+and+Public+Policy%3a+HOW+%26+WHY%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cPublic+Policy%0d%0a%0d%0aFrom%3a%0d%0aUtilizing+relationships+with+corporate%2c+major+donors+only+for+fundraising+Elected+officials+having+no+real+concept+of+what+UW+stands+for+UW+data+on+community+needs+is+just+used+for+allocation+decisions%0d%0a%0d%0aTo%3a%0d%0a%ef%83%bcUtilizing+relationships+with+corporate%2c+major+donors+for+influence+with+policy+makers+%ef%83%bcAdvocating+-Elected+officials+being+made+aware+of+UWs+position+on+issues+%ef%83%bcUW+is+the+%e2%80%9cgo+to%e2%80%9d+resource+for+community+data+for+elected+officials%0d%0a%0d%0aUnited+Way+and+Public+Policy%3a+HOW+%26+WHY%0d%0a%0d%0a17%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cPublic+Policy%0d%0a%0d%0aFrom%3a%0d%0aMarketing+and+public+policy+function+in+silos+Narrow+board+involvement+in+public+policy%0d%0a%0d%0aTo%3a%0d%0a%ef%83%bcMarketing+and+public+policy+function+together+to+develop+messages+and+strategies+%ef%83%bcPublic+policy+is+a+key+component+of+every+board+member%e2%80%99s+responsibilities+%ef%83%bcGovernment+reduces+funds+%3d+UW+and+partners+advocate+for+priority+issues+%ef%83%bcUW+non-partisan%2c+but+political%0d%0a%0d%0aGovernment+reduces+funding+to+priority+issues+%3d+UW+has+to+raise+more+%24%24%0d%0aUW+is+non-+or+a-political%0d%0aUnited+Way+and+Public+Policy%3a+HOW+%26+WHY%0d%0a%0d%0a18%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cPublic+Policy+Barriers%0d%0a%ef%82%a7Resistance+from+board+and+senior+staff%0d%0a%0d%0a%ef%82%a7Limited+resources+of+staff+and+volunteers%0d%0a%ef%82%a7Confusion+around+the+legality+of+non-profits+lobbying+%ef%82%a7Fear+of+angering+major+donors+and+stakeholders+%ef%82%a7Lack+of+basic+understanding+of+legislative+process+%ef%82%a7Misperception+that+hired+lobbyists+are+the+only+effective+advocates%0d%0a%0d%0aUnited+Way+and+Public+Policy%3a+HOW+%26+WHY%0d%0a%0d%0a19%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cEffective+Advocacy%0d%0a%ef%82%a7+Target+Decision+Makers%3a+%e2%80%93+Determine+which+policymakers+influence+each+issue+(relevant+committee%2c+leadership%2c+relevant+administrative+agency).+%e2%80%93+Identi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