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From YouTube: NCSL Foundation for State Legislatures
Description
2020 report
A
In
a
pandemic,
government
doesn't
stop,
the
needs
of
americans,
do
not
go
away
and
representative
democracy
does
not
fade
into
darkness.
In
fact,
the
nzsl
foundation
for
state
legislatures
found
that
during
the
pandemic,
existing
partnerships
were
strengthened.
New
initiatives
were
forged
and
innovative
ideas
grew.
A
A
A
core
function
of
the
ncsl
foundation
for
state
legislatures
is
to
strengthen
the
legislative
institution.
Here's
just
a
sampling
of
what
the
organization
did
in
that
category
foundation.
Support
allowed
ncsl
staff
to
engage
with
more
than
5
400
legislators
and
staff
across
the
country
before
the
pandemic
hit
the
foundation
sponsored
the
third
annual
legislative
staff
week
called
you
deserve
a
hand.
More
than
387
standing
ovations
were
submitted
by
state
legislators
and
staff
recognizing
outstanding
efforts
of
individual
state
legislative
staff
from
across
the
country.
A
Additionally,
the
foundation
created
an
executive
leadership
workshop
for
senior
level
staff
and
held
meeting
opportunities
for
the
development
of
staff
directors.
Network
ncsl's
leaders
program
held
compelling
programs
for
the
nation's
legislative
leaders,
including
the
international
legislative
leaders
symposium
in
milan
leadership
experience
in
normandy
and
gettysburg,
and
a
workshop
in
new
orleans,
four
caucuses
of
color
benefited
from
205
thousand
dollars
in
foundation,
support
known
as
the
quad
caucus
the
foundation
provided
support
for
online
meetings
and
worked
with
ncsl
researchers
to
develop
projects
and
involve
caucus
members
in
organizational
meetings.
A
The
center
for
ethics
and
government
used
its
foundation,
support
to
provide
ethics
civility
and
other
trainings
directly
to
about
775
legislators,
legislative
staff
and
others.
Throughout
the
year
the
foundation
sponsored
legislator
and
staff
professional
development
resulting
in
60
trainings
in
22
states.
The
support
for
the
center
for
legislative
strengthening
provides
consulting
services
and
special
projects
to
states
as
the
pandemic
struck,
the
ncsl
training
team
quickly
pivoted
to
create
a
specialized
menu
of
virtual
trainings.
A
The
foundation
continues
to
fund
the
legislative
staff
management
institute,
considered
the
nation's
premier
program
for
developing
and
enhancing
management
and
leadership.
Skills
for
senior
legislative
staff,
44
attendees
from
22
states,
attended
last
year's
meeting
new
this
year
is
the
legislative
staff
certificate
program,
which
provides
newer
legislative
staff
with
important
perspectives
and
insights
about
their
roles
in
supporting
the
legislative
institution.
A
The
foundation's
commitment
to
civics
education
and
educating
the
public
about
representative
democracy
and
the
legislative
process
expanded
this
year
with
the
relaunch
of
ncsl's
american
democracy
game
thanks
to
support
by
the
entertainment
software
association.
The
game
provides
an
interactive
role
play
experience
in
which
the
user
plays
the
part
of
a
lawmaker
foundation.
Funding
helped
launch
a
special
podcast
series
called
building
democracy.
The
history
of
state
legislatures
episodes
cover
the
history,
characters
and
stories
of
state
from
the
beginning
of
jamestown
to
the
present
day
and
into
the
future.
A
Support
for
the
foundation's
key
strategies.
Strengthening
the
legislative
institution,
boosting
training,
research
and
data
capacities
and
creating
innovative
communication
was
made
possible
through
record-setting
contributions
to
the
foundation.
As
we
began
2020,
the
foundation
was
on
the
verge
of
having
its
best
financial
year,
even
in
light
of
unforeseen
circumstances
and
fiscal
impacts
of
the
pandemic.
It
still
raised
the
second
highest
total
contributions
in
history,
just
67
thousand
dollars
off
its
record
high
the
year
before,
backed
in
part
by
the
growth
in
the
platinum
sponsorship
level.
A
Supporting
the
foundation
were
these
generous
contributors.
Each
of
these
partners
played
an
important
role
in
helping
the
foundation
successfully
incorporate
its
three
strategies:
strengthening
the
legislative
institution,
boosting
training,
research
and
data
and
creating
innovative
communication
tools.