Building Resilient Nonprofit Organizations January 28, 2004  The Nonprofit Forums Unleashing the Power of Nonprofits June 30, 2004  Governance as Leadership December 15, 2004  Linking Money to Mission June 1, 2005 Managing for Mission April 26, 2006

The Nonprofit Forums:
Unleashing the Power of Nonprofits

Panelists, from left: Judy Meredith, founder of the Public Policy Institute; Lydia Lowe, Executive Director of the Chinese Progressive Association; James W. Hunt, Jr., President and CEO of Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers; Margaret Blood, Founder and President of Strategies for Children; and State Senator Jarrett T. Barrios.
Professor Jeffrey M. Berry listens to the panel discussion.

Nonprofit organizations have the potential to do far more in the area of advocacy— especially on behalf of those who have the ‘softest’ voices in our political system, such as the medically uninsured and battered women. This was the primary message of the keynote speaker at an Understanding Boston forum held on June 30th.

“What is disturbing,” said Jeffery M. Berry, Ph.D., “is that such a large percentage of 501(c) (3) nonprofits misunderstand the tax code so badly that they believe their taxdeductible status has stripped them of basic First Amendment freedoms. Ironically, their voice is quieted by a policy that the government abandoned in principle in 1976.”

Prof. Berry, who is the John R. Skuse Professor of Political Science at Tufts University, made his presentation to a room full of representatives of nonprofit organizations and a panel that included nonprofit leaders and Massachusetts State Senator Jarrett T. Barrios.

This was the second convening in the Boston Foundation’s new series of forums, research, and resources overseen by TBF Program Director Geeta Pradhan, and designed to help the region’s nonprofit sector improve its effectiveness. The series is part of the Foundation’s Understanding Boston program. The forum examined the importance and power of nonprofit advocacy in representing constituent needs, highlighted successful examples of nonprofit advocacy, and clarified the ‘do’s and don’ts’ of lobbying by nonprofits.

Background and Agenda
Unleashing the Power of Nonprofits,June 30, 2004

Several compelling reasons are prompting the need for better and more accurate information regarding issues of advocacy — its importance, what it means for nonprofit activities, and how it is best done to affect change.  At the first Nonprofit Forum in this series, keynote speaker Prof. Lester Salamon, pointed out that all major social movements grew out of the volunteer sector, bringing into the public arena voices that would otherwise not be heard. He also highlighted the challenges of Fiscal Stability, Competition, Effectiveness, and Legitimacy — all of which require a heightened role of advocacy, particularly, given the growing distance between governments perception and support of nonprofit activity and the Sector’s increasing role in Greater Boston’s economy, the maturing of the sector and the growing complexity of nonprofit operations.

This forum is focused on the importance and power of nonprofit advocacy in representing constituent needs and garnering support and resources.  The program will highlight successful examples of nonprofit advocacy and clarify the do’s and don’ts of advocacy and lobbying by nonprofits.

Welcome

Paul Grogan
President and CEO, The Boston Foundation

Keynote

Prof. Jeffrey M. Berry
Tufts University

Discussion panel

Moderator:
Judy Meredith

Lydia Lowe
Executive Director, Chinese Progressive Association

James W. Hunt, Jr.
President & CEO Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers

Margaret Blood
Founder and President, Strategies for Children

Sen. Jarrett T. Barrios
Massachusetts State Senator for Middlesex, Suffolk and Essex District

Audience Questions and Reflections