Civic Health

Health stems from all aspects of our lives: education, economic opportunity, a sound environment, a connected community and loving family and friends. It is largely public policy that determines how we advance and protect many of these aspects of health. The ability for community members to take part in policymaking from the ballot box to the legislative chamber is fundamental to the health of every person, but too few of us have the resources or know-how to participate. We need the tools to support strong, enduring civic engagement in all our communities so we can participate in elections and shape policies for a quality life and good health. Northwest Health Foundation is calling our five-year initiative to do this work Civic Health. The Civic Health initiative includes two programs: the Civic Health Cohort and Civic Health Culture Shifting.

Civic Health’s Strategy:

• Boldly resource and support 501(c)(4) organizations and, if applicable, their affiliated 501(c)(3) organizations led by Black people, Indigenous people and other people of color (BIPOC)

• Build independent political power and infrastructure using Integrated Voter Engagement (IVE)

• Develop a common understanding and approaches to building power

• Connect urban and rural communities across Oregon and Southwest Washington

• Appoint leaders, elect candidates and move important policies

Civic Health’s Goals:

• BIPOC communities with the skills, infrastructure and mindset to elect bold leaders and pass transformative policies

• Leaders and talent rooted in, and supportive of, BIPOC communities

• A vibrant democratic culture that values, centers and supports BIPOC people

Civic Health C4 Power Program

The Civic Health C4 Power Program builds long-term infrastructure in Oregon and Southwest Washington to ensure that political power stays with BIPOC communities for years to come, rather than coming and going with elections. We envision Civic Health Cohort organizations using public education, lobbying, litigation, voter mobilization and other strategies to participate in elections and pass policies between 2021 and 2025. Research and evaluation will allow organizations to experiment and refine their work. If our fundraising efforts are successful, the Civic Health Cohort will help manage a discretionary fund for a joint statewide ballot measure campaign in 2024.

By the end of Civic Health, organizations will have contributed to a more reflective democracy through an increase in the number of elected leaders of color and greater participation of BIPOC communities in elections as voters and volunteers.

The Cohort program consists of the following elements:

• General operating support

• Infrastructure development grants

• Field supplement grants

• Annual goal setting and work planning

• Coaching and technical assistance

• Movement building

• Bi-annual convenings and trainings

• Peer-to-peer exchanges

• Data access and support

• Experimentation, research and evaluation

Civic Health Culture Shifting

We know that the Civic Health Cohort alone cannot achieve the goals of Civic Health. Foundations, institutions, donors and governments must shift resources, practices and policies, too. NWHF is working alongside funders, Cohort members and civic organizations to support and align efforts to help achieve the goals of Civic Health, particularly building a democratic culture that values, centers and supports BIPOC. This program is called Culture Shifting.

Exploring a Nonprofit Modernization Act

Alongside partner Nonprofit Association of Oregon, we are lobbying to pass the Oregon Nonprofit Modernization Act—a legislative path to systemically fix underpayment, reduce administrative burden and raise wages in community-based nonprofits.