Posts Tagged ‘advocacy’

Strategies for Change, Part 2: Advocacy

Monday, April 4th, 2011

Welcome to our new series, showing you how the changes you want to see in the world actually happen!

Check out our other SfC shorts:

Strategies for Change: Introduction
Strategies for Change, Part 1: Activism
Strategies for Change, Part 3: Direct Service
Strategies for Change, Part 4: Education

Can non-profits legally influence lawmaking?

Friday, June 18th, 2010

When it comes to advocacy, nonprofits are governed by the IRS (Internal Revenue Service), specifically under Code Section 501 (c)(3). This code effects charities in two ways regarding advocacy activities:

(1) it stipulates that charities may neither publicly support nor oppose candidates running for public office, and
(2) it limits a charity’s ability to lobby for certain legislative efforts. The amount of time they’re allowed to lobby depends on the IRS designation the organization selected, but the amount allowable usually ranges from 3% to 20%. Charities can often do a fair amount within these restrictions.