Grantmaking that Gets Things Done
State Policy Network
Today marks the official kick-off of the State Policy Network’s 29th Annual Meeting. At its heart, SPN is an umbrella organization of exceptional leaders who advocate innovative and freedom friendly policies to solve state and local problems. By sharing policy innovations and best practices with their state-based colleagues, SPN members multiply the impact of their work.
Hence, SPN’s tagline: State solutions. National impact.
For example, a policy group in Arizona was the brains behind the Right-to-Try movement, an effort to allow terminally ill patients access to potentially life-saving drugs not yet approved by the FDA. While the idea had roots in Arizona, Right-to-Try laws eventually passed in dozens of states and, ultimately, Congress. Similarly, a Texas-based policy group conceived the Right on Crime initiative, a strategy to reform the criminal justice system in a way that protects the public while shrinking government. Since its birth in Texas in 2007, criminal justice reforms have been implemented in 38 states and in Congress.
State solutions. National impact.
In addition to advancing common sense policies, SPN doubles as a vehicle by which future leaders hone their policy skills before going on to hold some of the highest offices in the land. Consider Mike Pence, who, as the head of the Indiana Policy Review Foundation for a time, later became a congressman, governor, and ultimately Vice President of the United States.
Under its astute leader, Tracie Sharp, SPN has witnessed quantum growth. Since 1999, the group has nearly doubled, growing from about 35 state think-tanks to 68 today, all bustling with activity, big ideas, young leaders, and policy wins.
This week, in Orlando, Sharp is gathering almost 1,300 think-tank leaders, public policy experts, practitioners, funders, and others to learn, celebrate, and share ideas on the best approaches to solving today’s pressing needs (back when she started as CEO, attendance at that annual meeting in Dallas was just 67!). Attendees will be discussing occupational licensure issues, taxation, regulatory burdens, government transparency, and more. They will network to discuss innovations in education, reforming criminal justice, and fighting big tech censorship.
SPN will conclude its deliberations by celebrating and honoring think-tanks and their leadership with prestigious awards for their work in the states. For example, the Bob Williams Award highlights outstanding policy achievement and research. Candidates for the award include West Virginia’s Cardinal Institute, the mastermind behind that state’s first Education Savings Account Program—which may be the nation’s most expansive effort of its kind. Utah’s Libertas Institute was the brain behind “Opportunity Sandbox” which temporarily removes the regulatory red tape that stymies new business start-ups. And, finally, New York’s Empire Center is a candidate for the award for its lawsuit to force disclosure of previously unknown data regarding New York’s COVID-19 nursing home crisis. Stiff competition!
Meet-ups, plenary sessions, and other small-group discussions focus on a variety of topics:
*The ABCs of Board Development
*The Future of Education
*Empowering the American Worker
*Market-Based Solutions for Broadband
*Qualified Immunity and How Your State Can Solve It
*Engage Your Best Donors
*Retaining Top Talent
*Unity Through Federalism
*How States Are Driving Pandemic Recovery
…..and literally hundreds more.
SPN’s Generation Liberty Fellows program is building top talent from among young professionals with a separate track at the annual meeting to train, mentor, and coach these fresh voices in the policy space. In its 13 years, more than 500 Fellows have come up through the ranks of this highly specialized program.
To learn more about the State Policy Network and its affiliated state think-tanks, visit www.spn.org.