Much more than funding: policy impact through philanthropy partnerships with research and government

Session Submission Type: Roundtable

Abstract

Foundations make grants. They often are or appear to be mysterious and some do not accept direct or unsolicited funding requests. Foundations – and the philanthropy sector broadly – also do much more than provide funds. Philanthropies are often strong, committed, and impactful partners not only for non-profit grantees – which is what philanthropy is best known for – but also for researchers and government. They do this in several ways, including as incubators for policy change.

Philanthropies increasingly invest in research that has the potential to inform and scale policy decision-making and action. APPAM’s membership and conference participants are largely made up of individuals who conduct research that is relevant to policy and practice. Government decision makers and practitioners have much to learn and benefit from that research and to contribute to the research. This combination of goals and roles makes it even more important that these sectors – research, government, and philanthropy – attend to the role of philanthropy as more than funder. Moreover, the current U.S. federal policy and funding context makes philanthropy partnerships with research and government even more important.

The roundtable will address the following and other questions, which also reflect the conference theme, Forging Collaborations for Transformative and Resilient Policy Solutions.

• What are examples of structures and key characteristics of philanthropy partnerships with government and researchers?


• What challenges prevent more of these partnerships from developing – and what are strategies for addressing those challenges?  


• How can researchers learn to partner with philanthropy, not just for funding but for meaningful, sustained partnership?


• What are examples of roles and impact that philanthropy has had via partnerships with policy researchers?


• How can researchers who do policy-relevant work engage philanthropy and government jointly, as part of efforts to ensure that relevant research is actually used?

The participants in this roundtable are either “at” a philanthropy or have worked closely with or for philanthropic organizations of different sizes, geographies, structures, and with a range of focus issues for their investments and partnerships. The speakers have experience with policy and practice in local, state, and federal, government, academia, and nonprofit organizations. They all have experience with cross-sector partnerships including between and among philanthropy, research, and policy/government organizations. This roundtable will

• Highlight philanthropies’ role as partners, knowledgeable about their grantees and communities they work in and serve, and increasingly focused on evidence-based policy and practice.

• Use examples from multiple policy areas, given that APPAM membership and conference attendees represent a wide range of disciplines.

Notes:

• Given the rapidly changing government and philanthropy funding landscapes, we left open a speaker “spot” for a focus on relevant developments during the six months between submission and the conference. Fast forward to September 2025 - we're very pleased that the roundtable will include a representative of the National Science Foundation's Strategic Partnerships Hub.  

Policy Area

• Politics, Media, and the Policy Process

Moderator

• Jenni W. Owen, Duke University

Organizer

• Jenni W. Owen, Duke University

Speakers

• Phillip H. Redmond, Jr., The Duke Endowment

• Allen Walker, National Science Foundation

• Gita Gulati-Partee