Bolder Advocacy Resource Library

Deciding whether—or when—to establish a 501(c)(4) organization is never an easy decision. Questions about purpose, scope, funding, perception, timing, and legal compliance all come into play. Here we present case studies that describe how three different groups, with different structures, needs, and pressures, answered the questions for themselves.

This chart offers an overview of the different types of organizations and what kinds of activities each may conduct and highlights some that they may not conduct. It is excerpted from our popular guide "The Connection: Strategies for Creating and Operating 501(c)(3)s, 501(c)(4)s, and Political Organizations."

Federal tax law allows certain lobbying communications with a 501(c))(3) public charity’s members to be treated more favorably than communications with the general public. This fact sheet provides information on how to identify such communications and explains how to track and treat them. It is important to understand the basic lobbying rules and the differences between direct and grassroots lobbying before delving into the member communication rules discussed in this fact sheet.

This fact sheet offers some guidelines for when it's appropriate for a 501(c)(3) group working on election protection issues to talk with a candidate or party -- and when it's not.

What are the strategic questions to consider whether, when, and for what purposes to create a create a 501(c)(4)? Check out our new 501(c)(4) Strategy and Discussion Guide.

You have a voice - it's time to use it. Lobbying is a key way nonprofits can advance their mission, amplify the voices of their supporters, educate policymakers, and protect the values they hold dear.

Nonprofit organizations active in state or local California ballot measure campaigns must comply both with federal tax law and California ballot measure disclosure laws. Federal tax law permits public charities to engage in a limited amount of ballot measure advocacy. Under California law, organizations engaging in certain activities to support or oppose a ballot measure may need to disclose their expenditures in support of or opposition to the ballot measure, as well as the names of donors whose contributions were used to support the organization’s ballot measure activities. However, the following activities are exempt from California’s disclosure laws and can be done by an organization without fear of triggering any special disclosure reports.