Over one-third of respondents cited the lack of general support as the most significant obstacle to effective policy work. Community-based nonprofits are a crucial link between marginalized communities and the public policies that affect those communities. NCRP hopes that this report will help catalyze foundation support for community-based public policy work. It's not a guarantee of success by any means, but at least it creates the possibility of success. If you don't take risks sometimes, you just don't accomplish anything.
Grassroots groups participate broadly in public policy process .
We were surprised to find the level of involvement among grassroots groups. Foundations perceived as controversy shy. Respondents cited foundations' fear of controversy as the chief reason for not funding public policy. Nonprofits and foundations often misunderstand lobbying provisions of the tax code . Although 1990 regulations established a favorable definition of lobbying, nonprofits and foundations were unnecessarily skittish about lobbying.