14th Annual Briefing and Strategy Discussion for Grantmakers Agenda – Economic Opportunity Funders

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Philanthropy’s Response to Our Nation’s High Stakes Budget and Tax Debates:
14th Annual Briefing and Strategy Discussion for Grantmakers

March 1, 2017 | Washington, DC

AGENDA

8:30am	Breakfast
9:00am	Welcome and Introductions
	Amy Brown, Senior Program Officer, Civic Engagement and Government, Ford Foundation
10:00am	New President, New Administration, New Priorities Invited speakers will provide a “left to right” discussion on the implications of the elections for us as a nation and for social policy.
	Julie Kohler, Senior Vice President for Strategy and Planning, Democracy Alliance (Moderator) Felicia Wong, President and CEO, Roosevelt Institute Mark Rodgers, Principal, Clapham Group
11:00am	Break
11:15am	Federal Policy, Budget and Revenue Outlook – What’s in store during the 115th Congress? Noted tax and budget policy expert Bob Greenstein will provide an overview on the key provisions in the federal budget, discuss current and upcoming budget debates and battles, and offer insights on the potential impact for low income families, workers and communities.
	Robert Greenstein, Executive Director, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
12:15pm	Lunch
1:15pm	A Focus on the States – Areas of opportunity and frontlines of change A panel of experts will explore key battles and opportunities in the states, discuss the role states play in building power and moving policy, and examine what’s at stake in the 2018 elections.
	Bill Vandenberg, Division Director, U.S. Special Initiatives and Partnerships, Open Society Foundations Nick Johnson, Senior Vice President, State Fiscal Policy, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Roger Vann, Executive Director, State Voices
2:15pm	Meeting the Challenges Ahead Together – Post-election strategies for moving forward Several concurrent breakout sessions will be offered to explore engagement and communications strategies for addressing upcoming federal, state and local battles. Breakouts will offer participants the opportunity to engage in small group discussions with guest speakers about key strategies for moving forward in the months ahead.
	Breakout 1: Mobilization: Grassroots, Grass Tops and Network Engagement This breakout session will provide an opportunity for grantmakers to talk with field leaders about the ways they are adjusting mobilization strategies to build power among those most impacted by potential changes in policies, to connect to coalitions of engaged organizations, and to engage opinion leaders. This session will also explore the vertical integration of mobilization efforts and emerging gaps in the field. Ryan Canney, Program Officer, Wellspring Advisors (Moderator) Deepak Bhargava, Executive Director, Center for Community Change Wendy Chun-Hoon, Co-Director, Family Values @ Work DaMareo Cooper, Organzing Director, Ohio Organizing Collaborative Breakout 2: Words Matter: Communicating Effectively for Policy and Social Change This breakout session will provide an opportunity for grantmakers to explore how communications messages and tactics are evolving to improve the field’s ability to connect with diverse audiences, and to ensure our narratives are building broad-based support for safety net polices, work support programs, employee protections, and concern for vulnerable families and communities. This session will also explore emerging gaps in the field. Greg Noth, Program Associate, Wyss Foundation (Moderator) Jesse Graham, Executive Director, Maine People’s Alliance Glenn Harris, President, Center for Social Inclusion Judd Legum, Editor in Chief for ThinkProgress and Senior Vice President for Communications, Center for American Progress
4:00pm	Large Group Breakout Session Reflections Participants will share key take-a-ways from the breakout sessions.
	Ami Nagle, Co- Director, EOF
5:00pm	Closing Remarks and Adjourn
5:30pm-8:00pm	Dinner Program – A Round Table Discussion on the Condition of America’s Working Class Location: Acadiana, 901 New York Avenue, Washington, DC Please note there is a $40 fee to attend the program to help defray the costs of the dinner.
	Michael Laracy, Director, Policy Reform and Advocacy, Annie E. Casey Foundation (Moderator) Tamara Draut, Vice President of Policy and Research, Demos and author of Sleeping Giant: How The New Working Class will Transform America Tamar Jacoby, President & CEO, Opportunity America and former journalist and author