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For Nonprofits + Foundations
NEW RESOURCES
Influencing Public Policy in the Digital Age
This publication was created to address the many questions nonprofit organizations have about advocacy in the new environment of dynamic digital communication. Our hope is not merely to ensure that nonprofit advocates stay within the law, but to demonstrate that robust participation in our nation’s democratic process is not just possible, but actually enhanced by new technologies.
Initiating Policy Change: Circulating Ballot Initiatives in California
The ballot initiative process in California can be an effective tool for nonprofits, including 501(c)(3) public charities, to bring about change in public policy. Both California law and federal tax law permit 501(c)(3) public charities to participate in the ballot initiative process, including gathering the sufficient number of signatures (often referred to as circulating initiative and referendum petitions) to qualify a measure for the ballot. Under California law, ballot measure activity is treated as campaign activity; organizations that spend or receive a certain amount of money to qualify a measure for the ballot may be required to file reports with the secretary of state disclosing information about the organization’s receipts and/or expenditures.
Chilling Free Speech: The Consequences of Open Records Requests
In response to recent public/open record requests for emails of public employees, AFJ has produced a fact sheet to help those who think they might be targeted next.
Make Democracy Work
Alliance for Justice (AFJ) is the leading advocacy resource for nonprofits and foundations. Advocacy is the most effective tool for organizations to achieve their missions and create sustainable change. Effective advocacy empowers nonprofits, foundations, communities and individuals to fully participate in our democracy and our public policy process. AFJ provides the advocacy knowledge and tools you need to advance your organization’s mission, help shape public policy and make democracy work.
Mapping the Future: Resources to Help Your Foundation in the Redistricting Process
Redistricting serves a critical function in our democracy -- it is the process of drawing boundaries of electoral districts. Because redistricting involves drawing political boundaries, some foundations think redistricting is somehow different from other policy issues. To help foundations understand the important role they can play in the redistricting process, Alliance for Justice created two new resources to help your foundation map the future.
» Click here to learn how private foundations can have a role in the redistricting process.
» Click here to learn how public foundations, like community foundations, women's foundations, etc. can participate in the redistricting process.
