Bolder Advocacy Resource Library

Public charities play an important role in educating the public about policy issues and actions taken by their elected officials.

Candidates for public office sometimes make statements about abortion and reproductive rights that are incorrect, or with which nonprofits disagree and may wish to set the record straight.

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.

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.

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.

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

This publication, designed for LGBTQ groups, is an overview of the laws and regulations that apply to 501(c)(3) public charities when they engage in lobbying and advocacy.