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.