Bolder Advocacy Resource Library

Foundations often give “lobbying-restricted funds,” meaning they place restrictions in grant agreements that prohibit their grantees from using those grant funds for lobbying. Such restrictions are not legally required in a grant to a public charity. But, once included in a grant agreement, the grantee is contractually obligated to adhere to the restriction. This resource sets out common advocacy activities for 501(c)(3) public charities and notes those in which your organization can safely engage using “lobbying-restricted funds.”

Candidates for public office sometimes make statements about immigrants or immigrant rights that are incorrect, or with which nonprofits disagree. Nonprofits may wish to set the record straight. While 501(c)(3) organizations may continue to engage in education and advocacy to promote their issues during the election season, they are strictly prohibited from supporting or opposing candidates for public office. So how can 501(c)(3) organizations respond to candidates or political parties’ statements and remain nonpartisan? By being very deliberate and careful with their statements.

Advocacy is defined as any action that speaks in favor of, recommends, argues for a cause, supports or defends, or pleads on behalf of others. This fact sheet offers a look at how advocacy is defined, how it is different from lobbying, and offers examples of advocacy projects from several nonprofit groups.

En esta hoja informativa exploramos cómo se define la defensa y promoción de causas, cómo diferenciar entre el cabildeo y la defensa y promoción de causas, y ejemplos de proyectos que llevan a cabo distintas organizaciones sin fines de lucro.