SpurringChange IN A SPEECH SEVERAL YEARS AGOtoanationalconference ofcommunityfoundations,JamesJoseph,aformernationalCouncilon Foundationspresident,posedaquestiontoattendeesthathadthem buzzingfor therestofthesession: “Asasocialenterprisewithenormousinfluenceandpublicgoodwill, doesacommunityfoundationoweitscommunitymorethanjustthe serviceofmanaginganddistributingcharitablefundsefficiently?” Joseph,aformerambassadortoSouthAfricawhoalsohastaught atYaleandDuke,wentontoexhorthiscolleaguesto“expendyoursocial, moral,intellectualandreputationalcapitalinthesamewayyouexpend yourgrantdollars” — toimprovequalityoflifeincommunitiesbyleading effortstochangeconditionsthatdiminishit. Formuchofthepastyear,ThePittsburghFoundationexpandedits roleasaconvenerandadvocacyleaderinimprovinglifeconditionsfor themostvulnerable. Local advocacy focused on groups covered under 100 Percent Pittsburgh, the Foundation’s organizing principle for grantmaking and other actions to provide more opportunity for the 30 percent of the region’s population without access to the improved economy. KhalifAli, theFoundation’sdirector of publicpolicy, hasbeencoordinatingresearch andlobbyingofstategovernmentofficials for actiononarangeofissuesthathold peoplebackfromfulleconomicparticipation. Remediesincluderaisingtheminimumwage, requiringemployer-providedsickdaysand eliminatingdriver’slicensesuspensionasa penalty for non-drivinginfractions. InMay, theFoundationhelpedleada summitofcommunity foundationsfrom acrossthestateto setadvocacy prioritiesthat attendeeswouldpursuetogether over thenext severalyears.Thelistthatemerged: combating theopioidcrisis, preservingstatefundingfor humanservices, implementingfair fundingfor schooldistrictsandhelpingto rightfinancially strugglingmunicipalities. Ayear beforethatsummit,ThePittsburgh Foundationco-launchedastatewideadvocacy campaignto protectPennsylvaniansinneed ofessentialhumanservicesfromharminstate budgetnegotiations.TheFoundationjoined withUnitedWay ofSouthwesternPennsylvania Workers stage a protest to demand a $15-an-hour minimum wage outside the McDonald’s restaurant on Penn Circle in East Liberty in November 2016. PHOTO BY DARRELL SAPP/ POST-GAZETTE LastMay,ThePittsburgh Foundationwasamajor organizer of the CouncilonFoundations PhilanthropyandPublic Policy conference in Harrisburg.Khalif Ali,theFoundation’s director of public policy, joined Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania’s Barbara Taylor, left, and Berks County Community Foundation’s Jason Brudereck, right, to create pathways forward on crucial issues. 33 RE P ORT TO THE COM M UNI TY THE P I TTSBURGH F OUNDATI ON Copyright© Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2017, all rights reserved. Reprinted with permission. ADVOCATING FORTHE VULNERABLE