Although many people think otherwise, 501(c)(3) public charities are in fact permitted to engage to lobbying activities, provided such activities are an insubstantial amount of their overall activities. They are also generally permitted to fund any work of other entities, including non-public charities, that they could engage in themselves,...
ADVOCACY & LOBBYING
Highlights from CalNonprofits Annual Policy Convention 2015
Our team had the pleasure of attending the CalNonprofits Annual Policy Convention in Oakland yesterday. It was a nonprofit conference full of practical substance with a strong emphasis on attendees actively engaging their stakeholders and getting them to vote. Keynote The morning keynote address by Dr. Raphael Sonenshein was outstanding....
Embark: 2015 Independent Sector Annual Conference
Miami is the site for Embark, the 2015 Independent Sector Annual Conference and Public Policy Action Institute. The Conference is a critical one for Independent Sector coming shortly after its former and long-time President and CEO Diana Aviv departed to head Feeding America and during a time when Independent Sector is...
CalNonprofits Annual Policy Convention 2015
CalNonprofits’ 2015 Annual Policy Convention takes place in Oakland on November 4-5. You can register here and get 10% off using the promo code THNKS. An Economic and Political Forecast for the Nonprofit Sector Will 2016 usher in major changes for the nonprofit community? Will the changes help the...
Best of the Nonprofit Law Blog 2014
Here are some selected highlights from NEO Law Group over the past year that we hope you’ll find helpful. 2014 was also highlighted by an addition to Erin’s family and Michele’s graduation and passage of the bar exam! Amazing year for all of us. Blog Posts Governance What Issues Should a...
Independent Sector National Conference 2014: Imagine – Public Policy Action Institute
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...
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...