Alyson Wright

Fascinating to learn in more detail about how participatory budgeting was combined with randomly sampled/stratified borough assemblies in NY. Sounds like a model that needs to be practiced more and awareness of it spread more widely. Community idea generation, borough civic lottery and vetting of ideas, voting, then funded implementation - very cool stuff. Read about it here: https://lnkd.in/gvHvKVzh

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We can't say enough how important democracy work is to climate progress. In a piece for Inside Philanthropy this week, foundation leaders Cathy Cha and Ralph Lewin remind us that "the strength of democracy — whether at the local, state or national level — has huge impacts on the ability of all funders and our nonprofit partners to deliver results on any issue and for any community." We see the impact of lack of representation across the South, from city councils and state regulatory agencies that greenlight polluting industry at the expense of residents' health, to a rash of state-level voter suppression and anti-protest laws that make it ever harder for Black, Brown, and Indigenous people to be heard. Supporting fair elections, accessible public processes, and engaged and energized voters needs to be all of our business. https://lnkd.in/g-vPep6r

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Friends in the Democracy and Creative Placemaking worlds - I need your help! I'm excited to be guest editing the next edition of Forecast Public Art's FORWARD magazine, which will be focused on democracy and civic engagement. FORWARD highlights how artists are partnering with cities, institutions, and communities to courageously tackle the vital issues of our time. As part of my role, I’m gathering subjects for case studies that will be deep dives into how artists are meaningfully engaged in democracy work. I'm looking for projects along the following four themes: + Civic Learning - the formal and informal ways in which artists and arts entities are equipping individuals and groups with information that helps them participate in civic life. + Connecting Across Difference - work done by artists and arts entities to help individuals and groups build relationships across difference with the goal of building a healthier civic life. + Civic Transformation - ways that artists and arts entities are changing how democratic systems and processes work in order to strengthen civic life. + Elections - ways in which artists and arts entities are engaged in and around the process of democratic elections. I'm trying to tap into a big, broad network. If you have anyone else you think I should reach out to about this, please tag them in the comments or send them my way!

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The #ClimateCrisis has never been higher in our awareness, yet charitable donations to environmental organizations have dropped over the last few years. Daniel Stein, the founder of Giving Green, and I sat down with Alison Stine, at the Nonprofit Quarterly to discuss the challenges and opportunities in climate philanthropy, meaningful giving strategies, and the importance of donor trust to address the underfunding of climate policy advocacy and tech innovation. Together, we are working to highlight high-impact climate organizations on Charity Navigator. #GivingGreen #ClimateChange #Philanthropy https://lnkd.in/eEyuvyMY

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At TPI, we work with many clients who are passionate about #environmental and #climate initiatives. For any #funders who want to get involved with such work, check out this insightful piece published by Inside Philanthropy to learn more on how #philanthropy can advance #sustainable solutions, strengthen #communities and the workforce, and disrupt environmental harm. 🌎 https://lnkd.in/eZMDCz7k

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I'm doing the most minimal of funder / foundation research. I'm looking at funders that have racial equity and democracy funding portfolios. The number of foundations that don't accept unsolicited proposals is mind blowing. Of the 17 foundations I looked at so far today, seven do not accept incoming requests for funding. Can we talk about how inequitable this is? [Update: I looked at 34 foundations. Fourteen do not accept unsolicited proposals. That's around 41%. If we assume this applies to Foundations writ large, this is ... not great]. Foundation staff know a lot in their specific area, but there's no way they can know every single organization nationally, let alone internationally. Also, this begs the question of how relationships impact funding strategies and implementation. This all seems a bit suspect, and imbalanced to follow white supremacist giving practices. [Yes, I get that staff capacity plays into this system. But, that is not a good enough reason to have such a system. Esp. if you claim you use a racial equity lens for your grant making]. #responsiblephilanthropy #racialequity

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𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝...  Social Finance are partnering with the Healey Administration to create the Massachusetts Climate Careers Fund. This will be an outcomes-based workforce fund designed to fill climate workforce gaps, increase access to economic mobility for workers, and support a diverse clean energy workforce. It's great to see more being done to help fill the skills gap in the Climate Tech space and hopefully we will see more of these types of funds being started! What do you think about this new fund? Any other cool developments you've seen in this space to help improve the skills gap? ⬇ #smartbuildings #climatetechnology #skillsgap #carboncapture #energyinnovation

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I’m ready - are you with me? With deep appreciation for the teams at PolicyLink, Civil Strategies, and to Midy Aponte for sharing - here’s to transforming the #Nonprofit sector and #NonprofitLeadership: “Nonprofits will need to build from a past rooted in charity and move toward a model of liberation—a future where our laws, regulations, customs, and institutions are structured so all people can thrive.” #Leadership #Leaders #Management #Liberation #RacialJustice #SocialJustice #AntiRacist #AntiOppression #LFG

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In 2022 the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) rate in Massachusetts increased to the highest levels we’ve seen since the measure was first released in 2009. This is likely a reflection of expired pandemic-era relief measures like the expanded federal child tax credit (CTC) that we know helped reduce poverty levels. Meanwhile, the Official Poverty Measure (OPM) shows that poverty stayed relatively unchanged from 2021 to 2022 - this is a reflection of the measure's limitations. While the OPM makes a simple calculation of income, the SPM adjusts income based on noncash public benefits (e.g. CTC, SNAP) and local differences in cost of living. Due to the SPM's more nuanced approach, we see the fluctuations in poverty coinciding with the expansion and expiration of pandemic-era relief measures. The expansion of public benefits successfully reduced poverty rates - but only temporarily - by allowing these benefits to expire, many have been pulled back into poverty. To read more about the SPM, check out this 2022 Boston Indicators brief from my former colleague Anne Calef: https://lnkd.in/dmfnAySR

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Data is critical for non-profits as they look to access grants and also reduce the admin/reporting for grants they've already received We work with non-profits to collect all the data associated with their volunteers, events, and donations in one place This also allows them to report to their communities on the important impact they have been able to achieve Reach out if you think it could help your organization https://lnkd.in/grBJXDvN

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🌍 As temperatures soar in California, the impact of extreme heat on vulnerable communities cannot be ignored. From urban centers to rural areas, we know that people face heightened health risks and economic challenges due to persistent rising temperatures. This is as much a climate change issue as it is public health and economic justice. While extreme heat is not yet recognized as a disaster by FEMA, I am heartened by the Biden Administration's recent actions to accelerate toward the nation's first ever federal safety standard for excessive heat in the workplace that specifically supports low-wage and vulnerable groups. And while California leads the way with programs like #CommunityResilienceCenters, gaps to respond and build resilience to the impacts of extreme heat still persist, particularly in frontline communities that have lacked the resources to proactively plan for and adapt to this threat. In recent weeks, philanthropy has been called upon to mobilize resources in the battle against extreme heat. As funders, the sector plays a crucial role in supporting partners on the ground to immediately mitigate the impacts of heat impacts while ensuring folks have the long term resources to plan for, prepare, and scale resilience strategies. 🔗 I invite you to read more about how philanthropy is making a difference in helping cities adapt to extreme heat: https://lnkd.in/g3nRiJ9v If you're interested in engaging around specific strategies, organizations leading this work, and ways to support these efforts from response and recovery to long term capacity and infrastructure, don't hesitate to reach out! #ClimateAction #Philanthropy #CommunityResilience #ExtremeHeat Northern California Grantmakers

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I joined David Brancaccio on Marketplace by APM this morning for a conversation about The Guarantee, baby bonds, and how strengthening our economic floor can help drive ambition and innovation. Listen on your local NPR affiliate or read and stream the interview here. https://lnkd.in/gDnfYpDE #economy #politics #books #economics #npr

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From Memorial Day until Halloween or so, billions will be raised from Americans’ disposable income, and not by #501c3 orgs. Tajana and Abe share great insights on what to expect and, more importantly, what strategies to consider in this #electionyear. Every #nonprofit needs to be prepared, so check this article out (and have a great #memorialdayweekend !)

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Exponent Philanthropy is exploring new ways funders can increase their impact! Read and download "How Grantees Think Funders Can Improve" today. This report surveyed over 400 nonprofits across six foundations over the last two years. It highlights how funders can improve in effect and process. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4aCklUc.

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As we know, without additional information or guidance, many coastal donors tend to fund locally or in geographies they are familiar with. Grateful to Inside Philanthropy for recognizing The Just Trust as one of the key organizations funding and partnering with criminal justice leaders in the South, one of the most under-resourced areas for philanthropy and investment in our issue area. This is how to develop solutions that can work in all 50 states and political contexts. Full article here: https://lnkd.in/g_ky4VKz

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Boston Globe, "As federal pandemic aid dries up, Mass. nonprofits scramble for new revenue" Nonprofits across the country and Massachusetts are facing the same dilemma. While ARPA funding allowed them to serve more people, households, and target communities during the global pandemic, they now face the reality that the end to this significant funding means their expanded services and impact won't last - even though the need remains. One example of this in the Commonwealth is the MassDREAMS program. The program provided down payment and closing cost grants to low- and middle-income first-time homebuyers who lived in one of the 29 communities disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of 2022, 1,600 people received benefits. As the Massachusetts Legislature starts the conference committee process for the Affordable Homes Act, it must not only refund the MassDREAMS program but also increase the level of total funding allocated. Each dollar spent moved the needle on our housing crisis and our state's racial wealth gap.

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A big thank you 🙏 to NTEN and Heller Consulting for producing the /2024 Nonprofit Digital Investments Report/ — a must-read for nonprofit leaders, board members, and funders. https://lnkd.in/eFU9MeRV I focus on helping nonprofits streamline operations through adoption of modern work practices, so I found this data from the report especially interesting: >> 75% of respondents said “improving inefficient processes” significantly impacts technology decisions. >> 61% said “saving time for staff” significantly impacts technology decisions.  >> 75% said cost considerations significantly impact technology decisions >> 43% said the organization culture is not supportive of learning new technologies. >> 54% said the organization does not have the necessary time to learn new technologies. I’m still parsing the data on revenue sources for technology budgets, but it’s clear that foundations and government funders could step up to help cover technology costs. None of this is a surprise, and the irony is thick: we need to improve processes and help staff save time, but we often don’t have the culture or the time or the budget to support these change efforts– which are frequently technology enabled. When we couple this with perennial staffing challenges faced by nonprofits, we see a critical need to focus on implementing better work practices, supported by technology. The whole report is worth a read, and I look forward to hearing how others interpret different aspects of the data. Thanks again NTEN and Heller!

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Really appreciate this group of 60+ changemakers who assembled tonight to write to our legislators about transmission reform for the U.S. power grid. If you want to read on, see a quick summary below from the Climate Changemakers action alert on why this matters, then check out their post for how to take action. Why we need to add capacity to the U.S. electric grid? Demand for electricity is increasing and the current grid structure cannot support the expected electrification of enormous swaths of our economy as we try to rapidly decarbonize. Electricity demand also naturally increases each year as a byproduct of tech-heavy economic growth. There’s already more clean energy waiting to connect to the U.S. power grid than the total generation capacity of existing power plants. Grid capacity isn’t the only reason for that backlog, but the grid simply can’t handle that excess generation without expansion and modernization. How can we advocate for this issue? -Congress can pass federal laws that address key issues affecting building new transmission, like requiring transferability between regions, making it easier to permit new lines, and granting more regulatory authority to the federal government. (SITE Act, BIG WIRES Act, CETA) -State utility regulators can use their regulatory authority over electric utilities to improve how they use existing transmission lines. They can incentivize practices that reduce grid stress, like the use of grid-enhancing technologies or better demand management. -State governments can tighten requirements on utility regulators and approve transmission siting and permitting requests quickly.

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