Government Update

2004 Foundations on the Hill Day

While the second combined hill day for of the Regional Associations of Grantmakers and the community foundations promised to be a record-breaking event, the unforeseen complications associated with the closure of the Senate office buildings (because of the Ricin scare) created significant challenges for this year's Foundations on the Hill.

The partnership between the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers and the Council on Foundations brought nearly 140 people to Washington, DC, on February 3 and 4. The Council held its first legislative workshop February 3 to help familiarize participants with the process of making hill visits and update them with the status of H.R. 7 and the CARE Act, both currently stalled in Congress.

Despite having to cancel the February 4 breakfast briefing and luncheon, this two-day event provided Members of Congress the opportunity to hear about the projects and programs grantmakers are funding in their states and districts, as well as the federal tax incentives that can increase giving.

Participants canvassed Capitol Hill with more than 100 visits to congressional offices. The information gleaned from those meetings is invaluable in the Council's ongoing lobbying efforts; equally important is the goodwill on Capitol Hill generated by the annual visits.

For more information, please contact Katie Lamb, Council on Foundations coordinator of government relations, at lambk@cof.org or 202/467-0429.