Overview
The Kellogg Foundation has long supported the efforts of grantees to realign public and private systems to benefit the quality of community life. An effective tool in achieving community goals and sustaining systems change, policy continues to facilitate the work of grantees to affirm the capacity of community-based leaders, sustain successful activities, and provide communities and change agents with important information to align institutions with community needs. It provides a platform for inclusion of a number of different voices and perspectives working together for systemic change to improve outcomes for youth, families, and their communities. Addressing the ways policies shape, hamper, or encourage social progress is integral to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's work in each program area.
Many times policy education is thought of only in terms of legislation; but as practiced at the Kellogg Foundation, it is much more multifaceted than that. "Policy" also refers to that body of information that is developed and applied in regulatory actions; public agency practices; court decisions and rules; private institutional governance; and the formal policy positions of educational, religious, civic, or professional organizations. Policy reform may focus on shaping new policy, strengthening or implementing practices, or assuring accountability through monitoring for policy effectiveness and improvement. Policy reform and policy decisions happen at every level - local to national.
The United States is currently in an era of rapid policy change. Actions to devolve responsibility for much of our domestic policy from federal to state and local governments is accompanied by debate regarding the scope and size of government at all levels, the degree of societal vs. individual responsibility for health and economic status, and the delegation of responsibility for health, education and human services to the not-for-profit sector and proprietary organizations. Equally significant policy shifts are occurring in Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa. These trends increase the importance of strategies to increase community voices and to share creative solutions in policy development processes.
While not all our grants require an intentional strategy to inform policy, we know that activities that positively affect policymakers are essential to strengthening the impact of our work and sustaining systemic reforms over the longer term. Effective policy activities reflect and support the values, standards, actions, and practices embraced by the Foundation's initiatives.
WKKF Policy Education Principles
Addressing systemic change through improving policy is an integral element of the Foundation's mission in all programming areas. While not all WKKF grant making requires a strategy to inform policy, responsive public policy is fundamental to sustain community and organizational reforms.
The Foundation is committed to the following guiding principles in achieving more responsive public policy:
• Policy work supports the achievement of our programmatic goals.
• Effective policy reforms are grounded in the experiences and knowledge of our community partners.
• Community voices should be prevalent in the policy debates, particularly those without past access to the policy process.
• Use of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's resources to influence public policy efforts must comply with federal regulations.
WKKF Statement on Policy Activities
Engagement in effective policy activities reflect the values, standards, and practices embraced by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
The Foundation supports the efforts of grantees to realign public and private systems to benefit the quality of community life and believes that addressing the ways policies shape, hamper, or encourage social progress is integral to the work of our grantees. As a part of this support we educate grantees on how to engage in public policy efforts that comply with the rules and regulations that govern these activities.
While we encourage the exchange of information and ideas, sponsorship of events is not intended as an endorsement or criticism of any legislative proposal. Any statements made by participants at Foundation sponsored events about pending or proposed legislation are the participants’ view, not those of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Links
Applying Policy Tools to Achieve Long-Term Change
http://www.wkkf.org/Pubs/Tools/Policy/ApplyingPolicy_00385_03810.pdf
Guidelines for Informing Public Policy
http://www.wkkf.org/Pubs/Tools/Policy/Pub3800.pdf