This Bainum Brief highlights 10 ways foundations can engage in policy advocacy, with examples from many funders, including the Bainum Family Foundation, across an array of topics. It also provides lessons learned to make the best use of scarce resources and maximize the chances of success.

The Declaration of Independence, written 245 years ago, inspired a revolution that helped birth a nation. The power of the Declaration’s “self-evident” truths also inspired global movements for human rights and democracy that remain powerful today, by declaring that all “are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” As we emerge from a tumultuous year—of pandemic, racial strife, and party polarization—it is worth returning to these fundamental truths, and to reflect on how they might help us heal and rebuild our incredibly diverse nation. This 4th of July weekend, a group of funders, thinkers, creators, and community leaders are launching the New Declaration campaign, which invites every community to join in reflection and creative expression. Our goal is to strengthen the foundations of our nation in advance of the Declaration’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, one of the 50 largest private charitable foundations in the United States, hosted its 12th Employee Giving Program Tuesday as employees gave grant recommendations to give $20,000 to 33 Baltimore-area non