Community foundations are uniquely positioned to bring people together around the issues that matter most to their communities. In an increasingly polarized environment, effective public policy and advocacy work often begins with a simple but powerful goal: finding common ground. Whether your foundation is just beginning to explore advocacy or has an established policy agenda, this session will provide practical tools, examples, and lessons learned from the field. Join Phil Koch of The Pittsburgh Foundation and Mariska van Aalst of the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation as they share strategies for engaging in public policy at the local, state, and federal levels while remaining grounded in a community foundation's mission, values, and relationships. Participants will learn how community foundations can move from convening conversations to influencing policy, build bipartisan support around community priorities, engage board members and donors, navigate legal considerations, and partner effectively with elected officials and community stakeholders. The session will feature real-world examples from foundations of varying sizes and capacities, demonstrating that meaningful advocacy is possible regardless of where your organization is on its journey. Through discussion and peer learning, attendees will leave with practical ideas they can apply immediately, along with a clearer understanding of how public policy and advocacy can help community foundations strengthen communities, advance their missions, and create lasting change. Whether you're taking your first steps into advocacy or looking to deepen an existing strategy, this session offers an opportunity to learn, share experiences, and discover common ground with colleagues from across Pennsylvania.