According to a press release from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), "foundations should turn to the underutilized strategy of supporting advocacy, organizing and civic engagement to be more effective at addressing social issues, recession or no recession." A new report from NCRP "Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities," found that "for every dollar invested in the 14 advocacy and organizing groups studied, New Mexico's residents reaped more than $157 in benefits." "By providing financial support to those advocacy nonprofits involved in the effort to increase our state's minimum wage, foundations went beyond using a Band Aid to address poverty in New Mexico," said Terry Odendahl, president of the New Mexico Association of Grantmakers (NMAG), a partner in the study. "They realize how policy change is critical in addressing social problems." The report details how New Mexico's economy has benefited from policy changes advocated for by local nonprofits and some successful efforts by the fourteen New Mexico nonprofits on various issues. It also describes the benefits of community building and enhanced civic participation. You can read the report, "Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities" here.