This year, as a Leonard Lieberman at The Fund for New Jersey, I had the opportunity to attend my first-ever FOTH conference. Overall, I would define the experience as a reminder of the importance of participation and community (especially in these times). 

Before I stepped into the world of philanthropy, I had never heard about Foundations on the Hill (FOTH). This reminds me of how siloed the sector can be, despite the amazing work it does for communities.

Foundations on the Hill is an annual advocacy conference in Washington, D.C. hosted by the United Philanthropy Forum, in partnership with the Council on Foundations and Independent Sector. The conference is a multi-day experience that brings together staff from foundation and philanthropy-serving organizations, offering them an opportunity to meet directly with federal lawmakers representing their districts. Some advice for future FOTH first-timers: this is a popular national conference, so book your accommodation early. This way you spend less on transportation; you can attend events on time and stay later to network with other professionals.   

A fascinating moment for me was meeting with Congresswoman LaMonica McIver about an hour before we were scheduled to meet with her aide. I was raised in a military family, so being on time is ingrained in me, and as such, I am sometimes the friend who shows up earlier than scheduled. Being early has its perks, and for me, I experienced it at the Canon House Office Building, where a few early birds and I were fortunate enough to meet and have a brief conversation with the Congresswoman in her office.  

Meeting Congresswoman McIver’s aide was also an eye-opening experience, as I had the opportunity to witness advocacy in real time. The meeting highlighted the importance of the “hook, line, sinker” strategy which I learned during one of the amazing breakout sessions hosted by the FOTH team a day before we were scheduled to visit the Hill. The hook is a concise introduction stating the purpose of your visit; the line combines factual and emotional storytelling to explain the effects of legislative inaction; and the sinker is an opportunity to clearly express your expectations of the lawmaker while thanking them for their time. Generally, I would describe the breakout sessions as valuable opportunities to learn more about philanthropy and political communication. Across the sessions I attended, we discussed the federal, legal, and regulatory constraints of philanthropy, as well as ways to communicate concisely and respectfully with policymakers.  

The conference is especially valuable if you are in an exploratory phase of your professional journey. As a young professional, I have a burst of energy and diverse interests in which I am happy to invest said energy. At the same time, I want to make smart choices that will help me make informed decisions about my future. Attending FOTH gave me the chance not only to observe advocates making their case but also to connect with professionals outside the philanthropy sector. Through those conversations, I learned about their career experiences and paths they took to get there. Doing so helped me eliminate some career options, but it also sparked my interest in other paths that I had not previously considered. 

Being a Gen Z, I was excited to find young professionals with whom I could connect since I don’t often see peers my age at conferences. I was also inspired to see residents travel to D.C. to speak to their congressional representatives. As a Fellow, this experience was valuable because I got to hear about emerging trends in the philanthropic sector and hear how peer foundations are navigating evolving issues. 

On paper, you might think you are just attending another conference, but FOTH is more than that, and you would not fully understand it until you attend. It showed me that even if I stepped outside of philanthropy one day, there are still ways I can participate and contribute to society.  

 I hope to see even more people there next year. 

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