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Advocacy and Lobbying

Advocacy and Lobbying. Presented by Katerina Nikolova & Kate Sassoon. Basic Distinctions. Advocacy includes action taken in support of a cause or an idea Lobbying goes beyond advocacy – it is action taken to support or oppose specific legislation at the national, state, or local level

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Advocacy and Lobbying

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  1. Advocacy and Lobbying Presented by Katerina Nikolova & Kate Sassoon

  2. Basic Distinctions • Advocacy includes action taken in support of a cause or an idea • Lobbying goes beyond advocacy – it is action taken to support or oppose specific legislation at the national, state, or local level • Political campaign encompasses actions taken in support or opposition to specific political candidates Worth, M. (2009)

  3. Who is allowed to lobby? • 501 (c) (4) social welfare organizations are permitted to engage in lobbying without restriction • 501 (c) (3) organizations sometimes work with 501 (c) (4) to engage in lobbying • Charitable nonprofits’ lobbying activities are limited and they are prohibited from participating in political campaigns • Private foundations face even stricter limitations

  4. Insubstantial vs. Substantial Lobbying • Substantial Part-Test : Spending too little time or money on actual lobbying • 501 (h) Expenditure Test: How much is spent as a percentage of the organization’s total budget; If no money is spent, the lobbying is not limited

  5. Direct lobbying vs. Grassroots lobbying • Direct lobbying: any communication the organization has with legislators or government officials who participate in the formulation of the legislation in question • Grassroots lobbying: any attempt to influence legislation by affecting the opinion of the general public or exhorting individuals to take specific action

  6. Political Campaign Activity • Charitable Nonprofits – including public charities and private foundations – are prohibited from engaging in campaigns and from endorsing candidates, either implicitly or explicitly • IRS Revenue Ruling (2007-41) clarifies the criteria by which illegal or legal campaign involvement is determined • See Supreme Court Decision: Citizens United v Federal Election Commission http://www.councilofnonprofits.org/citizens-united-decision

  7. Is Advocacy appropriate for all nonprofits? • Determine the reason for lobbying and how it advances the nonprofit’s mission • Understand the legislative process • Identify the sources of funds to be used for lobbying • Undertake research to develop un understanding of the public policy issues related to the NPO’s mission • Develop an infrastructure to support the lobbying program • Inventory existing relationships and identify decision makers • Use a strategic mix of tactics • See Study shows investing in nonprofit advocacy yields results http://helenair.com/news/article_4b4618a2-cb8e-11df-9e67-001cc4c002e0.html

  8. Further Resources • Bob Smucker’sNonprofit Lobbying Guide www.independentsector.org • Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest http://www.clpi.org/nuts-a-bolts/resources • Land Trust Alliance: Nonprofit Lobbying Resources http://www.landtrustalliance.org/policy/advocacy-tips/nonprofit-lobbying-resources • Advocacy and Lobbying On-line Resources for Museums and Non-Profits http://www.midwestmuseums.org/pdfs/advocacy_links.pdf

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