Foundation Strategy Refresh
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Guided by the principle of listening to those who face the greatest impact of inequality, we partnered with the Tides Center to play a pivotal role in the development and implementation of an exciting new grant program funded by the James Irvine Foundation aimed to strengthen the rights, protections, and economic opportunities for low-wage workers in California as part of Irvine’s 100M Fair Work Initiative.
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On behalf of the Tides Foundation, we were responsible for the following:
• Assessed learning opportunities from the existing landscape and field engagements, and conducted additional research, to develop a comprehensive worker organization landscape analysis.
• Engaged Irvine Foundation and potential grantees to inform the grant program structure.
• Formalized a granting process that includes assessing organizational budgets, financials, and operational development needs, as well as requests for proposal, proposal review, due diligence, an advisory process, program management, and management of grant reporting.
• Launched the grant program in the fall of 2019, with more than $1.5 million going to worker organizations in California that organize and improve conditions for low-wage workers.
• Incorporated learning for the next phase of support to worker organizations in 2020 and beyond.
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1.) Designed high-impact evaluation processes that included establishing clear criteria for evaluating impact, surveying feedback, appraising long-term needs, and providing feedback where appropriate, thus deepening relationships that extend beyond transactional engagement between funder and grantee partners.
2.) In collaboration with the Tides team, we performed 38 interviews with 60 representatives from worker centers, community organizations, policymakers, unions, government officials, researchers, and academics. Additionally, our team reviewed 20+ reports with a focus in Central Valley and the Inland Empire due to the high demand and lack of resources in the region. Our findings were summarised in a California Worker Ecosystem Landscape Analysis in 2020.
3.) Proposed a new strategy for furthering Irvine Foundation’s Fair Work Initiative and strengthening the low-wage movement, which included a theory of change, specific recommendations and proposed activities for year 1-2.
Our Recommendations
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Collective Bargaining
The lack of public discourse around the dignity of wage work and the harmful consequences of indifference has played a unique role in limiting the number of funders willing to enter the worker ecosystem. However, the importance of developing an alliance of organizations and individuals who are strategic about philanthropy, passionate about economic justice, and willing to provide significant funding to multiple on-the-ground worker organizations will accelerate change and facilitate collaborative efforts.
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Organizational Capacity
All too often, these organizations are severely under-resourced and are left ineffective during times of major staff transitions and gaps in internal capacity. While California has achieved some important wins for low-wage workers, organizations value deep in-person engagement, support for political education, community-building, and models that integrate workers into the decision-making processes. All of this requires a deep investment in human capital.
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Shifting Funding Priorities
Building a framework with an intentional local and regional perspective will help reinforce the worker ecosystem throughout California. Funders should map ecosystems across the state, giving special attention to areas outside of Los Angeles County and the Bay Area with high violation industries and a high number of low-wage workers. Lastly, investing in networking building and reinforcing partnerships with public institutions will provide the additional support needed.