Bolder Advocacy Resource Library

Is your organization active in California legislative or administrative policy change? California has a sunshine law designed to reveal who has influence on California politics, and that sunshine law may apply to your organization. An organization is required to register and report its California lobbying activities if it exceeds specific monetary thresholds, or if an employee(s) of an organization spends enough time communicating with certain state officials. Just because an organization engages in lobbying at the state level in California does not necessarily mean it will have reporting obligations under state law. This factsheet will help you understand if your organization should report as a $5,000 Filer, a Lobbyist Employer, or neither.

This fact sheet discusses what type of reporting may be required for nonprofits supporting or opposing ballot measures 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. This fact sheet outlines the legal considerations associated with circulating petitions.