Advocacy and Lobbying for Nonprofits 101

Join Bolder Advocacy, MNA and Headwaters for a special session, followed by two optional opportunities to connect with your peers. Brought to you by Headwaters, who has generously covered the registration fee for all attendees. 

Thursday, October 28
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
FREE

Follow up sessions. Optional, select one or both. Join MNA and your peers to talk through how to put your learning into action, discuss questions, barriers, and opportunities for you in implementing advocacy and lobbying

• Tuesday, November 2nd 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

• Thursday, November 4th 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Advocacy can be an important part of every nonprofit’s strategy. Advocacy can help you get your organization’s issues heard and can make policymakers aware about the issues your organization and your community care about. Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status play an important role in educating the public about policy issues and actions taken by elected officials, from local governments to statewide representatives to the White House. Elected officials vote on bills, make public statements and executive decisions, and set the course for public policy on a wide range of issues. The public and non-profits have an important role to play at every step of the policy process. After this workshop you will have a clear understanding of how to maximize your advocacy, the kinds of advocacy activities 501(c)(3)s can engage in, and when a communication or action is considered lobbying.

Participants will learn:

1. How federal tax law permits lobbying for charities and how lobbying is defined;

2. One easy step most charities can take to maximize the amount they’re allowed to spend on lobbying;

3. Yearly lobbying limits for charities;

4. Tips for taking advantage of the narrow definitions of lobbying – which will help charities make the most of their lobbying limit; and

5. The application of these rules to ballot measure activities.