Policy Agenda
Why We Advocate for Policy AND Systems Change in Philanthropy
The nonprofit sector is facing a convergence of crises that better fundraising tactics or marginal policy tweaks cannot solve. Trust in nonprofit institutions is at a historic low. Individual giving participation continues to decline. Meanwhile, unprecedented amounts of charitable capital are accumulating in tax-advantaged vehicles, removed from communities and delayed from public benefit.
This moment demands more than adaptation at the organizational level. It demands policy and systems change.
At Write On Fundraising, we believe the purpose of philanthropy is not to preserve institutions, wealth, or legacy vehicles - but to move resources into communities in ways that are timely, responsible, and equitable. To “change how funds are raised,” as you may have heard us say, means committing to public policy and systems change priorities that are rooted in that belief.
Public Policy Priorities
Immediately accelerate the movement of charitable resources to nonprofits by building a broad donor base and dismantling structures that warehouse wealth, entrench philanthropic dynasties, and delay public benefit.
Restore public trust in nonprofit work by establishing practices that prioritize collaboration with people, collective impact, and equity over the preservation of institutions.
Support the long-term health of the nonprofit sector by safeguarding fundraisers from exploitative practices, expanding recruitment pipelines, and retaining skilled talent through professional standards, fair treatment, and career development opportunities.
Our top priority is simple: get more charitable dollars into nonprofits - faster. Right now, apart from individual donors, the federal government, private foundations, and donor-advised funds control the majority of resources meant for charitable purposes. These are the levers we focus on in our policy work.
Systems Change:
Change We Can Drive Ourselves
Beyond legislative reforms aimed at creating a more equitable sector, nonprofits and funders can take immediate action to strengthen the culture in which funds are raised. Yet, the nonprofit sector is too large, too fragmented, and too deferential to weather this upheaval unchanged; systemic change is not optional, it is essential.
Systems change will not come from:
Better campaigns
More data dashboards
Another “innovation” pilot
The following table illustrates what systems change could look like in practice, highlighting strategies and behaviors that organizations and funders can adopt in response to these sector-wide challenges.
Check out Write On Fundraising’s Onramps to Philanthropic Equity for more operationally focused recommendations for moving toward community-centered fundraising.
Systems Change for Both Nonprofits + Funders
For further reading, download the full Write On Fundraising Policy and Systems Change Agenda.