The context for advocates, advocacy organisations and foundations is increasingly polarised, fragmented and uncertain. NGOs and foundations are experiencing both a political and a funding squeeze, and while a few foundations may engage in overt ‘political philanthropy’, most are reluctant to embark upon or pursue funding or being associated to actions that challenge government policies or practice.
Those foundations that do take on more critical advocacy stances themselves have to navigate the policy and political environment, while they balance agency and collaboration between and among advocacy actors they support. The current and collective stress on these organisations reduces their ability to actively participate in the process of democracy, creating a potential participatory vacuum in and around crucial areas of public policy.
This one-year research and advisory project will contribute analysis and insights on the relationship between funders (primarily philanthropic foundations) and advocacy organisations (NGOs, advocates, grassroots movements, think tanks). We will explore how these relationships influence the success of advocacy efforts and the deployment of advocacy resources by both nonprofits and foundations. By focusing on both the challenges and opportunities inherent in these partnerships the findings and recommendations will inform future practices within the non-profit and philanthropy sectors at a time when progressive movements and resources available to them are under increasing political and economic pressure. We aim to provide solutions that will help funders and advocates do more with less, innovate beyond traditional advocacy methods, collaborate more effectively, and help sustainable, effective and progressive advocacy organisations thrive for the future.
We will explore these existing dynamics and additional challenges through qualitative and quantitative research, interviews, surveys and data collection. Outcomes will include actionable recommendations on how to foster more collaborative and impactful relationships between funders and advocacy organisations, both inside and outside Europe. We will offer best practices, pitfalls, guidelines and recommendations. Key questions include:
- how funders and advocacy organisations collaborate, share power, and negotiate priorities;
- how funders influence the mission, activities and standards of advocacy organisations;
- how organisations and individuals define, perform and measure advocacy impact;
- how funder-led advocacy is undertaken and how their own methods, range of tactics, standards and concepts can help or catalyse grantee funding and advocacy.
The Good Lobby is a driver of learning and practice for advocacy, participation and policy change. We combine high standards of conceptual analysis and research with immediate, relevant and practical experience. This project is led by one of our Senior Advisors, Neil Campbell, who has over twenty years’ experience working with NGOs and foundations on advocacy, funding and strategies for public policy impact.
