What is a "Policy" Proposal?

Policy proposals seek to improve the effectiveness of public laws and regulations, inform the use of public funds, and address private sector employment practices that impact upon people's ability to work and live above the poverty line. Policy proposals may also seek to improve the process by which public policy is made, by making it more inclusive, more collaborative, and more responsive to ordinary citizens' interests.

Policy change activities may include:

• Constituency building to engage more people, particularly the less-advantaged people, in issue awareness and solutions-based participation
• Research and information gathering, including learning more about an issue and its effect upon people, evaluating programs or policies, and identifying best practices
• Networking and coalition building to bring groups together in a coordinated strategy to win effective solutions to policy barriers
• Providing technical information to public officials and administrators
• Media, arts, and communications strategies that raise awareness and educate the public and policy makers about low-wage workers' most common concerns, as well as viable policy solutions to those concerns
• Demonstration projects that inform policy where an experience or idea vacuum exists. Demonstration proposals must explain why a demonstration is needed to inform policy and provide specific plans for impacting policy based on the results of the demonstration.

Organizations wishing to apply for a Woods Fund Public Policy Grant should follow the Inquiry Form and Application Instructions.