Tip of the Week: Understand your rights to affect policy through lobbying and advocacy
As Nayantara Mehta, Nancy Chen, Marcia Avner, and Jeannie Fox say in their introduction to “Nonprofit Lobbying and Advocacy” in Chapter 12 of Nonprofit Management 101, “Nonprofit, community-based organizations provide unique opportunities for individuals to combine their energy, talents, and values for community improvement and enrichment. But with power comes responsibility. Nonprofits are obligated to understand their role as entities that engage and inspire individuals and communities for public benefit.”
Many nonprofits think they’re prohibited entirely from political activity, but that’s absolutely not the case. So here are some simple guidelines: All 501(c)(3)s can engage in nonpartisan election-year activities, such as registering people to vote, but they are not allowed to support or oppose any individual candidate for public office.
501(c)(3) public charities (i.e. not private foundations) that make less than $500,000 can spend up to 20% of their budget on lobbying and advocacy. The most any public charity is legally permitted to spend on lobbying and advocacy (budget size allowing) is $1,000,000.
So the next time there is a ballot measure, proposition, or other law up for decision that would impact your organization, don’t be afraid to mobilize your constituency around it. Check out Alliance for Justice for tons of great information including trainings and workshops, and discover additional resources in Chapter 12 of Nonprofit Management 101.
