What We Do
The Funders Policy Institute (FPI) is an immersive learning program focused on increasing philanthropic resources to support policy advocacy advancing racial, economic, and gender justice throughout California. FPI affirms that the people closest to the problems and harm should be centered and shaping the solutions to address them. Participants learn directly from policymakers and advocates while connecting with other funders who are committed to effective, trust-based grantmaking that centers communities.
How We Work
Participants will learn:
- An intersectional feminist approach to supporting policy advocacy that centers those closest to issues and solutions
- Best practices to support policy change and budget advocacy efforts that target state and local governments
- How to optimize support for advocacy and lobbying
- Trust-based approaches to building partnerships with community advocates, movement leaders, and legislators
Who We Train
The Funders Policy Institute is for individuals who inform or decide how resources support social change organizations and movements. FPI is open to individual donors, staff of foundations and other grantmaking entities (e.g. program officers, grants managers, senior leaders), board members, philanthropic advisors, evaluators, affinity group leaders, and members of funding collaboratives or funding circles. FPI is open to people of all gender identities.
Past participants reflect a wide range of funding areas that cross issues and strategies, such as: racial justice, gender justice, LGBTQIA+ rights, economic justice, health equity, criminal legal system reform, reproductive health and justice, housing, education, childcare, aging and elder care, climate and environment, leadership development, civil rights, democracy and civic engagement.
Co Chairs:
Elena Chávez Quezada
Senior Advisor for Social Innovation to California Governor Gavin Newsom
Key Dates
- Registration Opens – February 1, 2024
- Registration Closes – April 15, 2024
Retreat Dates
- Virtual Retreat Orientation and Introduction: Wednesday, May 1, 2024
- In-person Retreat: Tuesday, May 14th – Thursday, May 16th
- Location: Embassy Suites, Sacramento Riverfront Promenade
- Please note that the tuition does not include travel and lodging expenses.
Eligibility
- For individual donors, staff of foundations and other grantmaking entities (e.g. program officers, grants managers, senior leaders), board members, philanthropic advisors, evaluators, affinity group leaders, and members of funding collaboratives or funding circles.
- Open to people of all gender identities.
Contact:
Please contact janel(at)womensfoundca.org with any questions or if you are interested in joining this year’s FPI class.
Registration Closed
Tuition
Tuition is based on a sliding scale:
$1,500
Annual grantmaking under $1M
$2,500
Annual grantmaking from $1M – $5M
$3,500
Annual grantmaking from $5M – $9,999,999
$4,500
Annual grantmaking from $10M – $24,999,999
$5,500
Annual grantmaking of $25M or more