If you'd like to join Foundations on the Hill, please reach out to Holly M. Davis at hdavis@inphilanthropy.org.

Your Attendance Has Impact

Regardless of your experience in policy work or participating in legislative visits, we invite and encourage all members to join. When polled by the Congressional Management Foundation, congressional staffers consistently indicated that direct constituent interactions have the highest influence on lawmakers’ decisions—more than any other advocacy strategies. 

By joining IPA FOTH, your members of Congress better understand the impact of the work you do in Indiana and the policies necessary to ensure you can effectively carry out your missions. Building relationships with members of Congress and their staff is critical to influencing policymakers on issues that matter most and gaining their support for the philanthropic sector.  

Member Feedback

"I think everyone should consider a FOTH experience at least once. It is a chance to be part of the democratic experience and to really appreciate the process from our legislators perspective. As nonprofits, we need to understand the special space we occupy as a tax exempt entity—tax law is what defines our professional space—and Congress can narrow it, making our jobs harder, or broaden it, giving us more freedom to serve our constituencies. We need to make sure they understand the implications of each vote."
TRACY SOUZA | Heritage Fund–The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County

"I came away understanding more about how the political sausage is made and how to better make our case with legislators on the state and federal level when my community’s issues need legislative solutions to complex problems. I was also able to talk to a Senator’s staff about an initiative that is important in Kosciusko County—the shortage of child care. I am now connected to the staff person leading child care/education initiatives on behalf of the Senator.
STEPHANIE OVERBEY |  Kosciusko County Community Foundation

"After 18+ years in the field, I took this opportunity—and I honestly wish I had done so earlier. There were other first-timers on this trip. But you wouldn't know it because we were prepped and on message for every meeting. Our wonderful IPA staff prepped the group in advance and provided us with information that was the envy of other groups attending FOTH." 
LIZ TATE | Retired Grantmaker

"FOTH is our opportunity to bring impactful stories of success to the forefront to ensure policies remain aligned with funding, and to provide sound recommendations on those that do not. I would encourage all foundation leaders to participate, to strengthen our collective voice around issues that affect us and the nonprofits we support."
RACHEL GOODSPEED | CareSource Foundation

Schedule: Congressional Meetings