Lobbying Series Part 3 - Grassroots Lobbying
Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast
Release Date: 02/10/2021
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Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast
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Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast
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Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast
For regular listeners of the pod, you may recall that we’ve discussed fiscal sponsorship in past episodes. Fiscal sponsorship is a great way for a new charitable organization to work with an existing 501(c)(3) to get up and running (including engaging in important advocacy) whether waiting to receive its own IRS tax-exempt status or not. Today, we’re going to look at this topic form a different point of view – that is, from the fiscal sponsor’s perspective. On this episode, we’ll chat about considerations fiscal sponsors should keep in mind when engaging in, and when...
info_outlineOn this episode, our third in our ongoing lobbying series, we’ll focus on grassroots lobbying for public charities that have made the 501(h) election.
Attorney Co-hosts
Natalie Ossenfort
Jen Powis
Quyen Tu
Recap of the 501(h) election
Recap of the 501(c)(3) lobbying limits
501(h) election allows you to calculate your lobbying limits
Grassroots limit is 25% of overall lobbying limits
Defining Grassroots Lobbying
1. Communication
2. with the General Public (not a legislator or member of the organization)
3. that Expresses a View about Specific Legislation
4. and contains a Call to Action
There are 4 specific types of calls to action. A call to action must comprise one of the following actions:
- tell the recipient to contact a legislator;
- provide information on how the recipient can contact her legislator, such as providing the phone number or address;
- provide a mechanism for enabling the recipient to contact her legislator, such as a postcard, petition, or email form; or
- identify a legislator who will vote on the legislation as being opposed to or undecided about the organization’s view on the legislation, a member of a legislative committee who will vote on the legislation, or the recipient’s legislator.
Examples of Grassroots Lobbying:
Examples of Non-Grassroots Lobbying:
Resources
When Does Your Activity Become Lobbying? (Factsheet)
Communicating With Your Members (Factsheet)