Transcript lobbying basics for ywcas May 2007 overview      introduction to “advocacy” and “lobbying” other political activities IRS rules for nonprofit lobbying State rules for nonprofit lobbying Questions/ Discussion GLA.

lobbying basics for ywcas
May 2007
overview
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introduction to “advocacy” and
“lobbying”
other political activities
IRS rules for nonprofit lobbying
State rules for nonprofit lobbying
Questions/ Discussion
GLA Advocacy 5.07
“advocacy”
is the work of making social change at
the community, system, or institutional
level
GLA Advocacy 5.07
ADVOCACY
LOBBYING
ORGANIZING
ISSUE
EDUCATION
Nonprofits are legally permitted to engage in all of these activities
GLA Advocacy 5.07
“lobbying” has 4
necessary ingredients:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Contact
With an elected official
Expresses a view
On specific legislation
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question: what kind of
contact counts as lobbying?
answer:
almost any. in person visits, phone calls,
letters, emails, faxes, public media aimed at a
decision maker.
GLA Advocacy 5.07
“grassroots lobbying”
is lobbying where the public is
being asked to take the specific
action
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grassroots lobbying
has 5 necessary ingredients:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Contact
With the general public
Expresses a view
On specific legislation
Call to Action
GLA Advocacy 5.07
other political activities
ALLOWED
 work on ballot measures
 educate candidates on your issues
 create voter guides, scorecards, or
candidate questionnaires
 canvass on issues
 get-out-the-vote/ voter registration
drives
GLA Advocacy 5.07
other political activities
NOT ALLOWED
 endorse candidates for office
 make campaign contributions
 ask candidates to sign pledges on an
issue
 restrict use of facilities, mailing lists,
etc. to specific candidates.
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The penalty
for engaging in
not allowed activities is
revocation of an
organization’s 501c3 status
GLA Advocacy 5.07
IRS rules for nonprofits
2 choices:
1.
2.
File 501h and “elect” to abide by this
“lobbying limit”
Do nothing and default to the
“insubstantial part” test
GLA Advocacy 5.07
about 501h
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it only counts lobbying/ grassroots lobbying
expenditures
time spent by volunteers and board members
would not count as “activities” under 501h
electing 501h doesn’t change your 501c3
status
it doesn’t make you any more likely to be
audited by the IRS
it is filed once during the life of the
organization
GLA Advocacy 5.07
lobbying limit
“lobbying limit” is the legal amount
of your organization’s budget that
can be used for lobbying expenses
if you elect 501h
GLA Advocacy 5.07
calculating lobbying limit
formula:
20% of first $500,000
15% of next $500,000
10% of next $500,000
5% of next $500,000
(up to $1 million cap)
GLA Advocacy 5.07
example:
total budget of $2
million
$100,000
$75,000
$50,000
$25,000
$ 250,000 is
maximum possible
for annual lobbying
calculating grassroots
lobbying limit
formula:
25% of
total lobbying limit
GLA Advocacy 5.07
application for total
budget of $2 million
$ 250,000 total limit
X .25
62,500 grassroots
limit
Doing the Math
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You will notice that your YWCA’s legal
lobbying limit is many times greater
than your likely lobbying expenditures
in a year.
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Compare this to the “insubstantial part
test” where there is no clear limit on
how much lobbying you can legally
engage in.
GLA Advocacy 5.07
State Regulations
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Each State requires “lobbyists” to register
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Every state is different. As a general guide, if
you spend more than $500/year, or make
more than 3 contacts with legislators per
year, you should consider registering as a
lobbyist.
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Your Secretary of State’s office is the best
source of information regarding these
requirements
GLA Advocacy 5.07
Where to go for more
information
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Alliance for Justice www.afj.org
**Staff technical assistance attorneys are
available at no cost to answer questions.

Center for Lobbying in the Public
Interest www.clpi.org
GLA Advocacy 5.07
GLA Advocacy Contact
information
Rebecca Gurney
(614) 559-0598
[email protected]
GLA Advocacy 5.07