Bolder Advocacy Resource Library

Las organizaciones de beneficencia pública 501(c)(3) pueden cabildear—que incluye apoyar u oponerse a propuestas electorales—dentro de los amplios límites establecidos por la ley federal. La cantidad de cabildeo que pueda hacer una organización benéfica depende de la norma que elija.

501(c)(3) public charities — including houses of worship and public foundations — can boldly weigh in on legislation.

Public charities in Texas can and should engage in lobbying to influence public policy and protect the interests of their communities.

Redistricting begins in 2021, once the 2020 Census results are delivered to the states.1 Redistricting is how the U.S. divides up communities for the purposes of establishing government representation.

Nonprofits have a wide variety of advocacy tools at their disposal to create change in their communities, including both administrative advocacy and lobbying.

We take questions from nonprofits every day on what they can say or do, including the Georgia runoff elections. When you boil it all down, the most common question we get from 501(c)(3)s is, “Can We Say That?”

Most 501(c)(3) organizations are familiar with the restrictions that prohibit 501(c)(3)s from supporting or opposing any candidate for public office. Once an election is over, however, many organizations are often unsure about which rules apply. Can they congratulate a winning candidate? Ask the winner to take action on their organization’s central issues? The answers are “Yes” and “Yes – within limits.”

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.

Election years provide great opportunities for 501(c)(3) organizations. After all, what better way to participate in our civic society than voting?