Update #1 to:
The View from Colorado:
Challenges Facing Progressive
State Think Tanks

Memorandum

To:  Mark Schmitt
              Director of Policy & Research, U.S. Programs
              Open Society Institute, New York, NY
              mschmitt@sorosny.org

From:  Linda Shoemaker
              President, Brett Family Foundation, Boulder, CO
              Founding Board Chair, The Bell Policy Center, Denver, CO

Date: November 15, 2004

In my August memo, I discussed four challenges facing state-level nonprofits engaged in public policy research and advocacy. This memo is an update, summarizing what I've learned and accomplished since then. Attached are brief concept papers on two new nonprofits - Southwest Action and State of Change. I welcome feedback.

1) Challenge: Stabilize Funding for Colorado's Core Policy and Advocacy Groups

We are continuing work to find long-term unrestricted general operating grants within Colorado and nationally for nonprofits doing critical progressive advocacy, such as the Bell Policy Center. A new group is forming, the Colorado Democracy Alliance, consisting of the state's leading progressive donors. This group will provide a forum to share strategies for charitable and personal giving in order to strengthen Colorado's progressive infrastructure, assure a long-term progressive future for our state, and share our vision with funders from other states.

2) Challenge: Provide Support for Progressive Groups in the Southwest

I have hired Jeff Malachowsky to explore the viability of launching a new group we're calling Southwest Action. Jeff was the first executive director of the Western States Center and is on the board of the State Strategies Fund. Southwest Action would be a southwestern states regional progressive center, similar to other regional centers, providing connection and resources to progressive activists, policy centers and legislators. I am also optimistic that the Progressive State Collaboration Project (PSCP) plan for "Winning in the States" will provide significant new support.

3) Challenge: Find Some New Way to Link State-level Policy Groups

After I wrote the View From Colorado memo, I realized that I didn't fully understand EARN, the Economic Analysis and Research Network, run by Michael Ettlinger and the Economic Policy Institute. I am now convinced that the best way to provide additional support for state think tanks is for EPI to strengthen EARN, which it could easily do if it had new funding. The proposed PSCP Roundtable will also provide critical linkage for state-level policy groups.

4) Challenge: Help Connect State Progressive Groups with Individual Donors

I received a lot of positive feedback and excellent suggestions from people who read my original memo and helped me define a specific strategy to help meet this challenge. We have started a new nonprofit, State of Change, which will provide a way for donors seeking social change to locate the best progressive advocacy groups doing work that aligns with their own values and interests. State of Change will become a critical part of the national progressive infrastructure by increasing the resources, reach and results of strategically important nonprofits in every state. See State of Change.

SW Action Concept Paper

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Update #1 to: The View from Colorado: Challenges Facing Progressive State Think Tanks

1) Challenge: Stabilize Funding for Colorado's Core Policy and Advocacy Groups

2) Challenge: Provide Support for Progressive Groups in the Southwest

3) Challenge: Find Some New Way to Link State-level Policy Groups

4) Challenge: Help Connect State Progressive Groups with Individual Donors

Update #1 to:
The View from Colorado:
Challenges Facing Progressive
State Think Tanks