Bolder Advocacy Resource Library

In this election season, candidate campaigns, organized under federal tax law as 527 organizations, are quickly staffing up with new employees whose role is to spread their candidate’s message.

501(c)(3)s are prohibited from supporting or opposing a candidate or political party, so they must be careful when meeting with and educating candidates.

The rules that govern advocacy funding and the different kinds of advocacy that you can choose to engage in as a nonprofit.

501(c)(3)s and 501(c)(4)s—affiliated or otherwise—may work together to coordinate their advocacy activities to further their respective goals. While 501(c)(3)s may work together with 501(c)(4)s, they must structure their activities to ensure they do not jeopardize their tax-exempt status. This resource provides details on how 501(c)(3)s and 501(c)(4)s can work together.

Are you required to register as a lobbyist and report your lobbying activities? The City of Laredo Code of Ordinances requires individuals and organizations who lobby in Laredo to register with the city and file activity reports if they meet certain requirements

By pooling resources, engaging in joint policy discussions and strategizing, coalitions can stretch dollars, draw on collective expertise, and maximize efforts to create a more just society.

By pooling resources, engaging in joint policy discussions, and strategizing, funder groups can stretch dollars and maximize efforts to create a more just society.

When (c)(3)s and (c)(4)s work together, either in coalitions of advocacy groups or in groups of funders with a shared social change goal, the law does not always provide clear answers on the parameters of collaboration.

This graphic will help 501(c)(3) organizations working in coalition with non-501(c)(3) organizations to determine if their activities are permissible for a (c)(3) organization. During election years, (c)(3)s should ensure they are not engaging in activities that support or oppose any candidate for public office.

A good starting step for advocacy organizations working to create change is to create an advocacy plan that lays out the organization’s goals, the strategies it will use to accomplish that goal, and the expected outcomes for those strategies.

501(c)(3) public charities are legally allowed to influence the Senate confirmation of federal judicial and executive branch nominees, including those for Supreme Court justice.

Are you required to register as a lobbyist and report your lobbying activities? The City of Austin Ethics Review Commission requires individuals and organizations who lobby in Austin to register with the city and file activity reports if they meet certain requirements.

Effective advocacy enables nonprofits to shape the public debate on important social issues and ensure that underserved communities have a voice in the policies that impact their lives.

Esta gráfica le ayudará a determinar si una comunicación puede ser considerada cabildeo según las leyes tributarias federales aplicables a las organizaciones 501(c)(3) utilizando la prueba de gastos 501(h). Esta gráfica no cubre situaciones o comunicaciones que ocurran en el contexto de la elección de candidatos.

This fact sheet will specifically explain who qualifies as a legislator so that organizations can properly track and report their direct lobbying activities