Imagine. That’s the theme of the 2014 Independent Sector National Conference currently being held in Seattle. And it’s a reminder for nonprofit board members and managers of the importance of thinking beyond our very important day-to-day matters and mere compliance. One of the Conference’s two important pre-conferences was the Public Policy...
ADVOCACY & LOBBYING
Charities and Issue Advocacy: Doing it Right – Part Two
This post is a continuation of last week’s post on issue advocacy: Charities and Issue Advocacy: Doing it Right – Part One. A communication is particularly at risk of political campaign intervention when it makes references to candidates or voting in a specific upcoming election; however, the IRS has...
Charities and Issue Advocacy: Doing it Right – Part One
Advocacy is a broad term that covers a range of activities that seek to bring about change. One form of advocacy is lobbying, defined as activities that attempt to influence specific legislation. Charities are permitted to engage in lobbying activities, so long as those activities represent an “insubstantial” part...
Nonprofit Radio: Advocacy, Net Neutrality, & The Bright Lines Project
I’ll be on Nonprofit Radio on Friday, June 6, discussing with host Tony Martignetti advocacy and lobbying with respect to the Net Neutrality issue and what we might expect in the future with regard to laws that govern charities and other tax-exempt organizations. Catch John Oliver‘s brilliant discussion...
Nonprofit Advocacy is More Than Lobbying
Advocacy is a powerful tool underutilized by public charities to advance their mission. And although the terms advocacy and lobbying are often used interchangeably, as lobbying is a form of advocacy, there are federal law limitations related to lobbying activities that do not extend to non-lobbying advocacy activities. Lobbying...
5 Things Nonprofits Should Know About Ballot Measure Advocacy in California
Ballot measure advocacy can be an important and powerful way to advance an organization’s mission and purpose. Last week, the Alliance for Justice hosted a Webinar to discuss the ways in which a 501(c)(3) organization may engage in ballot measure advocacy. Here is a list of 5 things...
Popular Posts from 2013
To close the year, here are links to some of the most popular posts from 2013 (in chronological order): CalNonprofits: Step by Step Guide for Starting a Nonprofit 10 Issues to Address in Your Nonprofit's Social Media Policy Starting a Nonprofit: 10 Considerations in Electing the Initial...
Independent Sector Public Policy Action Institute 2013: Key Issues in Tax Reform
Day Two of the Independent Sector Public Policy Action Institute kicked off with a session on tax reform moderated by Kyle Caldwell, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and divided into five hot topics. Charitable Deduction. Richard Schmalbeck, Duke University School of Law, discussed the availability of a charitable contribution deduction...
Starting a Nonprofit: The Value of Making the 501(h) Lobbying Election
Lobbying is one of the most underutilized tools available to a charity to advance its mission. Making the very simple 501(h) election is a painless way for most charities to increase their lobbying activities for stronger environmental protections, education reforms, access to health care, and a variety of other...
Alliance for Community Media National Conference (Part Three)
Our final post of resources referenced in our session at the 2013 Alliance for Community Media National Conference, Nuts and Bolts of Nonprofits and Their People, with Syvia Strobel (ACM) and Deborah Vinsel(Thurston Community Television). Timely Nonprofit Issues Unrelated Business Activities: IRS Examination Area The underreporting of unrelated business taxable income...
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