Democracy & Policy

Investing in a new paradigm of multiracial democracy.

About

Achieving racial equity and sustaining a viable democracy go hand in hand. NCG defines democracy as the processes, systems, and structures for historically marginalized and underrepresented community members to participate in a political system that fulfills the promise of an equitable multiracial society. As a region, Northern California can model a viable democracy, ensuring that people of color and other communities fully engage in the democratic process.

NCG's Approach

NCG is building on three approaches to make this condition a reality:

Deepen Analysis

NCG believes investing in democracy is an investment in the success of thriving and resourced communities. While there are foundations leading the way in funding this way, the majority of foundations have yet to change their grantmaking. To support this, NCG is sharing learnings, resources, and wisdom from movement groups so we can deepen the consciousness of democracy investments.

Sharpen Practice

NCG believes that philanthropy must shift how and what it funds to support the lifecycle of democracy. By doing this philanthropy can give movement groups the freedom needed to lead the way. To support this, NCG is identifying and promoting tools for foundations interested in funding this way. Our newest Community of Practice, the c(4) Learning Community brings teams of foundations together to understand the art and craft of c(4) and aligned c(3) investments to build power for movement groups.

Mobilize Progressive Investments

NCG believes progressive local and statewide policy investments in California are key to transforming power structures. By investing in movement groups working to strengthen democracy, philanthropy can build on the wisdom of local communities and invest in confidence. To support this NCG amplifies intersectional policies and voices that are creating a functional democracy.

How to Engage

NCG creates and supports programming, communications, and organizing efforts that support the life cycle of a functional democracy, from equitable access to fair elections to governance to policy implementation, holding decision-makers accountable with emphasis on investing in movement builders to strengthen these systems. We recognize policy is a powerful tool to advance equitable change and believe philanthropy has a vital role to invest in power-building organizations.

As ever, this work cannot progress alone. NCG relies on a number of informal and formal partnerships to play its part effectively, including a formal partnership with One4Democracy that intentionally works to increase direct investment in the democracy ecosystem with an eye to increasing both individual and institutional giving to movement groups in the region.

Democracy Hub

NCG's Democracy Hub brings focused information for philanthropy to stay up-to-date, take action, collaborate with others, and learn from a curated resource list.

As chaos is unleashed at the federal level, many in philanthropy are striving to track, understand, and respond to the shifting landscape, the whirlwind of executive actions, and the real material impact on local communities. This frenzy of activity has been concerning and distressing even for the most prepared organizations and team.

You and your institutions are not alone in trying to sort through, make sense of, and determine how to best operate under these difficult and evolving conditions. It's imperative we move through the overwhelm and distractions to ensure we can stay grounded in our values of justice and equity for a better future.

At NCG, we remain committed to our goals of advancing racial equity, uplifting and drawing more resources to our movement partners, and engaging philanthropy to strengthen civil society and invest in a multi-racial democracy. NCG members and partners are invited to help shape public policy and advocacy strategies with us and plug into our upcoming programming. Additionally we invite you to share you resources with us to help you amplify. Connect with the democracy team to learn more.

Opportunities for Action

Call Your Representatives: This section shares resources and information about contacting your representatives during the mark up period of a bill.

1. On Monday, May 12th, the House Ways and Means Committee released a tax package that includes provisions that would increase the tax rate on investment income for certain private foundations, in addition to granting the Treasury Secretary unprecedented authority to revoke nonprofit tax-exempt status.

NCG along with SCG, United Philanthropy Forum, and Council on Foundations, strongly oppose these provisions that threaten philanthropy’s ability to support communities and the independence of the nonprofit sector. Our partners encourage our sector to contact their representatives to oppose these provisions. As a reminder, private foundations are legally permitted to engage in advocacy under the "self-defense" exception, as these provisions directly affect a foundation's ability to fulfill their charitable purposes. We do advise that you follow your organization's policies regarding lobbying. There are five California Democratic Representatives who currently serve on this committee:

Find Your Representative

Rep. Judy Chu, CA – 28: Including Pasadena and the west San Gabriel Valley of southern California.

Message Rep. Chu: https://chu.house.gov/address_authentication?form=/contact/email-me
Call her Capitol office: (202) 225 – 5464
Ask to speak with her Chief of Staff Ellen Hamilton or Legislative Director David Silberberg

Rep. Jimmy Gomez, CA – 34: Communities in Los Angeles including Boyle Heights, Chinatown, City Terrace, Cypress Park, Downtown Los Angeles, Eagle Rock, El Sereno, Glassell Park, Highland Park, Koreatown, Little Tokyo, Lincoln Heights, Pico Union, and Westlake.

Message Rep. Gomez: https://gomez.house.gov/contact/
Call his Capitol office: (202) 225 - 6235
Ask to speak with his Chief of Staff Carlos Paz or Legislative Director Ben Kane

Rep. Jimmy Panetta, CA – 19: Stretching from south San Jose in Santa Clara County, into the hills of Santa Cruz, down the coastline of Monterey County, and into northern San Luis Obispo County.

Message Rep. Panetta: https://panetta.house.gov/address_authentication?form=/contact
Call his Capitol office: (202) 225 – 2861
Ask to speak with Chief of Staff Mark Dennin or Legislative Director Krista Wunsche

Rep. Linda Sanchez, CA – 38: Including cities and unincorporated communities in Los Angeles and Orange Counties; Diamond Bar, La Habra, La Habra Heights, Hacienda Heights, La Mirada, Los Nietos, Norwalk, Montebello, Pico Rivera, Rowland Heights, Santa Fe Springs, South Whittier, Walnut, Whittier, and parts of Downey and Industry.

Message Rep. Sanchez: https://lindasanchez.house.gov/address_authentication?form=/contact/email-me
Call her Capitol office: (202) 225 – 6676
Ask to speak with her Chief of Staff Ricky Le or Legislative Director Marti Thomas

Rep. Mike Thompson, CA – 4: Including all of Napa and Lake Counties and parts of Solano, Sonoma, and Yolo Counties.

Message Rep. Thompson: https://mikethompsonforms.house.gov/contact/
Call his Capitol office: (202) 225 – 3311
Ask to speak with his Chief of Staff Melanie Rhinehart or Legislative Director Adam Durand

If you're based or serve communities outside of these five districts, you can find your representative here.

Upcoming Events

NCG's Annual Conference: Becoming Our Vision | May 2, 2025
Preserving California as an Immigrant Inclusive State | May 8, 2025

NCG's Policy and Movement Committee: For more info on NCG’s policy and movement committee, reach out to Liana Molina.

Rapid Response: To view and submit information on rapid response and long-term funds focused on sustaining and strengthening the vital work of our nonprofit partners, visit Philanthropy California’s Nonprofit and Community Resilience website.

NCG Commitments

In this moment, it's clear that the sector can't be sitting on the sidelines. To ground ourselves in that, we've taken steps in support of our vision for philanthropy. We've made the three commitments below to ourselves, to our members, and to this community. We encourage our members and peers to find steps of your own to take.

Meet the Moment: A Call to Action for Philanthropy

NCG is proud to stand with the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, the National Center for Family Philanthropy, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations and many others to meet the moment and commit to courageous, trust-based action in support of our nonprofit partners at this critically important time. Please reach out if you need support in implementing these practices into your grantmaking.

NCG has committed to this call to action and we support the principles and practices outlined in the call to action. We urge our members and peers to join the to commitment to:

Move in Solidarity with Nonprofits
Mobilize Money in a Trust-Based Way
Nurture Innovation and Possibility

View the Call to Action

Protect Philanthropy's Freedom to Give

NCG is proud to stand with the Council on Foundations in support of protecting our freedom to express ourselves, to give, and to invest in our communities.

Philanthropy California has signed on in support of this statement. COF invites all charitable giving organizations to join us in this effort to protect the freedom to express ourselves, to give, and to invest in the communities that need it most.

View the STATEMENT

Funder Pledges