Because District Days occurs in August, foundations and regional associations are encouraged to take advantage of scheduled activities or create an activity that can be used to solicit the participation of federally elected officials. Such events can be used to benefit communities and better educate our lawmakers on the impact of philanthropy. Here are two examples of successful District Days events:
- Site Visits helps grantees build relationships with members of Congress. Several times a year, grantees arrange site visits or meetings with their representative. The meetings promote the work of the foundation and grantees to critical audiences including the media, potential corporate funders, community organizations, and the general public.
- Annual Luncheon meetings in the member's district inform him or her about philanthropy at work. After the initial event, the member of Congress will continue to value this annual meeting as an important source of information about his nonprofit constituency.
Previous District Days Events
- Project Connect
Project Connect, organized by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, helps grantees build relationships with members of Congress through meetings and site visits held several times a year - Minneapolis Regional Association
The regional association in Minneapolis plans annual meetings with each of its representatives, seeking balance among those attending to include foundation type (corporate, community, and private foundations), size, and grantmaking interest. The member gets a perspective of the grantmaking community that, while diverse in its approach to philanthropy, is unified in its purpose. - Ribbon-Cutting Event: Ashtabula County Civic Development Corporation
Stuart W. Cordell of the Ashtabula County Civic Development Corporation invited Representative Steven LaTourette (R-Ohio) for a ribbon-cutting event celebrating a new recreational trail. - Coordinated effort between foundation representatives in the state: Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
Nancy Van Milligen, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, hosted a district meeting with her fellow foundation colleagues in Iowa where Senator Grassley's (R-Iowa) staffer Theresa Pattara was present. - The Community Foundation Serving Richmond & Central Virginia
Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott visited J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College at its downtown campus in Richmond, Virginia. The theme for the day was to highlight the work of grantmaking foundations –specifically The Community Foundation serving Richmond and Central Virginia and the Richmond Memorial Health Foundation. The focus was workforce development and the role of community colleges, which receive funding both the public sector and private sector. - Akron Foundations Group
This group of grantmakers hosts an annual luncheon meeting to inform their representative about philanthropy at work in his district.
Who gets invited to or hosts the meetings and events is entirely up to you. Invitees can range from board members to grantees, depending on the type of event or meeting you decide to host. However, if you are aiming for a smaller, more intimate breakfast, for example, you may want to invite board members only. Think strategically: Who on your board or staff has established relationships with these Congressional offices? Do you want to invite the press? Is this an event for 200 people or a smaller event for 10?
Would your member of Congress prefer a larger crowd or a more intimate gathering? The choice is completely yours. Remember to also include an invitation to staff. Creating or fostering a relationship with them is just as important since staffs are usually asked to provide the member of Congress with their recommendations on policy issues.
As you can see, there is no set formula for a successful meeting. The important factor is to allow the representative an opportunity to hear the story of foundation philanthropy from the people who know it best to increase his or her sensitivity to and appreciation of the contributions of foundations in that district.
