Rules of the Game Podcast

In this episode of the podcast, we explore the importance of student advocacy and voting. Additionally, we discuss how 501(c)(3) organizations can engage in advocacy efforts during election season. Joining us today is Ally, our Bolder Advocacy legal intern, to answer questions about the impact of student advocacy on campus.

We are back again with another edition of Ask Us Anything where we select some of the most popular questions we’ve received lately to answer on the pod. We are also thrilled to introduce Bolder Advocacy’s two newest attorneys Brittany Hacker and Melissa Marichal Zayasas they join us on the pod.

Political attacks on nonprofit organizations can come in many forms, including legal challenges or public smear campaigns. Given the current political climate, organizations that engage in policy reform and election season advocacy are coming under increased scrutiny. As a result, it is crucial to be proactive and develop a comprehensive strategy to safeguard your organization’s reputation and operations. On this episode, we will discuss how your organization can ready itself in advance of potential politically motivated attacks.

On this episode, we dive into the fundamentals of campaign finance reporting, exploring the essentials of what is included in these reports and uncovering valuable insights they provide. From contributions and expenditures to reporting requirements and deadlines, we break down the intricacies of campaign finance reports to empower you with the knowledge needed to navigate and comprehend campaign finance reports.

On this episode we are joined by Erin Bradrick, a principal at Neo Law Group, to delve into the complexities of tax law and its implications for nonprofit organizations during election seasons. Our discussion focuses on the distinctions between 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations, the specific rules governing their political activities, and the strategies nonprofits can employ to navigate these regulations while effectively advocating for their causes to ensure compliance without sacrificing impact.

On this episode, we’ll discuss the basics of federal election law, including what it regulates, and which tax-exempt organizations need to be aware of it. We’ll also review recent FEC opinions that allow for interesting pre- and post-election activities for non-501(c)(3) organizations involving federal candidates.

On this edition we chat with Nonprofit Vote Executive Director Brian Miller about the organization’s efforts to expand nonpartisan voter engagement, the fascinating findings in its latest Nonprofit Power Report, and the challenges and strategies for a successful nonpartisan campaign.

On this episode, we will discuss how nonprofits can respond when they are asked to share their resources with others. Whether it’s data, a mailing list, office space, or something else of value, your nonprofit needs to know what to do when asked to share its assets with other people and groups. And guess what! Your organization’s tax status will come into play. If you’re a 501(c)(3), you need to be particularly careful, especially when interacting with non-(c)(3)s. We’ll dive in deep and answer the question “Can We Rent (or Share) That?” in the minutes to come.

On this special edition from the BISC (Ballot Initiative Strategy Center) Road Ahead 2024 conference held in Las Vegas, we bring our takeaways from our sessions on ballot measure advocacy, including handling misinformation, tips on campaigning, garnering cross-ideological support and more.

Guess What! It’s 2024, which means we have a BIG election on the horizon. Not only will voters take to the polls to decide who will be our next President, but they’ll also be invited to speak their voice in relation to ballot measures and down ballot races that will impact our laws and determine who will represent us in local government, state legislatures, Congress, the courts, and more! With so much at stake, many private and public foundations may be curious whether they have a role to play. The answer is YES! And, this episode of the podcast will discuss the rules foundations need to know when funding and engaging in nonpartisan election activities.

On this edition of AUA, we answer some of those “greatest hits” questions we always talk about in the intro every week. And since we have primaries and spring elections coming up, we decided to do an all-elections episode to get you ready for your election season advocacy.

For our 100th episode, we are excited to chat with the incomparable Vu Le of Nonprofit AF. Vu brings his unique blend of insight, humor, and a pinch of provocation to the table, all wrapped up in the perspectives you’ve come to know from his writing. Vu is a treasure trove of wisdom for the nonprofit world and his takes are all his own and don’t necessarily reflect those of Alliance for Justice. A huge thank you for listening (and occasionally watching) our brand of spicy tax law for these 100 episodes, and what a better way to celebrate than with a guest who’s not afraid to shake things up all in the name of progress and passion for the cause.

On this episode, we discuss “The Connection,” Bolder Advocacy’s go-to guide on how to create and operate 501(c)(3)s, 501(c)(4)s, and political organizations. In 2024, we release our 5th edition of “The Connection” and include several important updates your nonprofit needs to know about as we move into a contentious election season. If your nonprofit has questions about how to safely operate affiliated organizations or how to boost civic engagement in coalition with organizations that have a different tax-exempt status than your own, “The Connection” has the answers.

On this episode, we will discuss the wide array of advocacy activities grassroots organizations can engage in to advance their mission and pursue positive policy change.

On this episode, we discuss best practices for 501(c)(3) public charities conducting advocacy and nonpartisan activities, like get out the vote or voter education activities during an election year. Election year is upon us and the presidential primaries and caucuses, and primaries for other elected offices are starting to take place and will continue through the November General election.

On this edition, we’re thrilled to welcome Emma Olson Sharkey from Elias Law Group, bringing her fresh perspective after successfully guiding clients to victory in the critical 2023 Ohio reproductive rights ballot measure fight. Emma will help shed light on the essential considerations for tax-exempt organizations before taking the plunge into a ballot measure campaign.

On this episode, we’re going to talk about those pesky new year’s resolutions… and no, we’re not talking about signing up for a gym membership or signing up for a marathon. We’re talking about resolutions that nonprofit organizations can apply as we enter into the year 2024.

On this episode, we discuss best practices for working in coalition and with affiliated organizations and the importance of firewalls to 501(c)(4)s that engage in independent expenditures.

On this episode we’re excited to highlight nonprofit success stories from around the country. While we talk about lobbying on this podcast, legislative wins are one type of advocacy victory. We’ll look at some legislative victories as well as other types of advocacy such as relationship building, corporate advocacy, and funding wins.