Advocacy for Criminal Legal Reform
Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast
On this episode of the Rules of the Game podcast (the third in an eight-part, issue-specific podcast series), we’ll discuss recent headlines impacting criminal legal reform advocates and explain how nonprofits can take action with legislative, executive branch, and judicial branch advocacy. From responding to legislative proposals to initiating litigation, nonprofits nationwide are standing up to fight for our rights and critical reforms to our criminal legal system. This episode will highlight their work and provide information about the rules that apply when nonprofits engage in advocacy...
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Advocacy for Racial Justice, Civil Rights & Immigration
Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast
On this episode of the Rules of the Game podcast, the second installment of our eight-part series focusing on critical issues, we dive into the latest headlines shaping racial justice and immigrant rights. We’ll explore how nonprofits can play a pivotal role in advocating for change through legislative, executive, and judicial channels. From raising awareness to securing funding for advocacy efforts, nonprofits across the nation are stepping up in the fight to protect our rights. This episode not only highlights their impactful work but also provides crucial insights into the rules...
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Advocacy for LGBTQ+ Communities
Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast
On this episode of the Rules of the Game podcast (the first in an eight-part, issue-specific podcast series), we’ll discuss recent headlines impacting the LGBTQ+ community and explain how nonprofits can take action with legislative, executive branch, and judicial branch advocacy. From responding to executive orders to initiating litigation, nonprofits across the country are standing up to fight for our rights. This episode will highlight their work and provide information about the rules that apply when nonprofits engage in advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community. Attorneys for...
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Advocacy & Fiscal Sponsorship
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...
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Nonprofits Working with Undocumented Activists
Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast
Threats to find and deport undocumented immigrants in the United States have grown immensely since the start of the Trump administration. Nonprofits can continue fight for immigrant rights and include undocumented activists in their advocacy efforts. Even though we at Alliance for Justice aren’t immigration lawyers (so what comes out of our mouth will not be legal advice), we felt it was important to address how nonprofits can work with undocumented activists and continue to fight for immigrant rights. In today’s episode, we’ll first talk about what undocumented activists can and cannot...
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Robocalling and Texting Campaigns
Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast
Does your nonprofit want to build power and amplify its impact by engaging in robocalling and texting campaigns? Would it surprise you to find out that while this type of advocacy can effectively boost your reach and put you in touch with thousands (even millions) of supporters, it also comes with rules related to opt-out requirements, mandatory disclaimers, prior consent, and more? On this episode, we’ll introduce you to our new Robocalling guide and walk through several of the issues your nonprofit needs to think about before you pick up the phone or click send on a robocall or robotext...
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Ask Us Anything
Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast
Every day we answer questions from nonprofits about how they can be the most effective advocates they can be while staying legal. On this edition, we answer some of your questions as we get ready for a big year of advocacy! Attorneys for this Episode Brittany Hacker Monika Graham Tim Mooney How can a grantmaking organization effectively fund advocacy efforts while adhering to IRS regulations and maximizing impact? • Transformative Impact of Advocacy Funding:...
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Memos, EOs and Impacts on Nonprofits
Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast
On this episode of the podcast, we will talk about the deluge of executive orders and a new memo freezing funding that has come in at the start of Trump’s new administration. How will they effect the work of non-profits and what can you do to support or oppose these and future executive orders. Attorneys for this Episode Tim Mooney Brittany Hacker Federal Funding Freeze Memo and Executive Orders • Memo issued by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). • Halt on grants and loans distributed by the federal government. • Implications for Medicaid, WIC, and...
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Advocacy Check Up
Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast
For those who caught our most recent podcast on Nonprofit New Year’s Resolutions – Resolution #2 was to conduct an Advocacy Check Up. In this episode, we’re deeper into how to do that. We released new Nonprofit Self-Assessment tool, designed to help nonprofit organizations assess your overall compliance with federal and state advocacy-related tracking and reporting requirements, and to identify opportunities to build your organization’s advocacy capacity. Attorneys for this Episode Quyen Tu Sarah Efthymiou Susan Finkle Sourlis ü Governance & Administration:...
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Nonprofit New Year’s Resolutions 2025
Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast
It’s officially 2025, and nonprofits across the country are diligently preparing for upcoming legislative sessions, a presidential transition, and other critical advocacy initiatives. The Alliance for Justice Bolder Advocacy team is here to help when questions arise about nonprofits’ ability to engage with government officials and pursue policy change. In the meantime, we’ve also compiled a list of our Top 10 nonprofit New Year’s resolutions to help your organization ready itself for 2025 and beyond. Attorneys for this Episode Monika Graham Victor...
info_outlineOn this episode, we discuss The Connection, Bolder Advocacy’s go-to guide on how to create and operate 501(c)(3)s, 501(c)(4)s, and political organizations. In 2024, we release our 5th edition of The Connection and include several important updates your nonprofit needs to know about as we move into a contentious election season. If your nonprofit has questions about how to safely operate affiliated organizations or how to boost civic engagement in coalition with organizations that have a different tax-exempt status than your own, The Connection has the answers.
Attorneys for this show
Natalie Ossenfort, Sarah Efthymiou, and Susan Finkle-Sourlis
Show Notes
· The Connection is one of Bolder Advocacy’s core advocacy resources.
o It pairs well with:
§ “Being a Player” (guide to lobbying regulations for advocacy charities)
§ “The Rules of the Game” (guide to election-related activities for 501(c)(3)s)
o This is the go-to resource for organizations on how they can amplify their impact and build grassroots power by utilizing multiple types of tax-exempt entities to address social problems and pursue policy change.
o It discusses the best practices you need to know about when working with 501(c)(3)s, 501(c)(4)s, and PACs
o The Connection was first published in 1988 and is primarily authored by Holly Schadler at Trister, Ross, Schadler, and Gold (with contributions from several of her teammates and allies in the field)
o 5th Edition releasing end of February or early March 2024
· What can you find in THE CONNECTION?
o Details on several different types of tax-exempt organizations and the advocacy activities they can engage in
o The rules 501(c)(4)s need to know when lobbying and engaging in political activities
o Information on how to create and operate affiliated c3 and c4 organizations (including a step-by-step overview of c4 formation procedures)
o The rules governing PACs (including state PACs federal PACs and 527s)
o Sample cost sharing agreement, sample 501(c)(3) public charity to 501(c)(4) grant agreement, information on the Lobbying Disclosure Act, and more!
· What’s new in the 5th edition?
o Information on new FEC disclaimer requirements for “internet public communications”
o Social media guidance for affiliated 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations
o Details on a recent FEC ruling impacting the use of disclaimers for text messaging
o Requirements for Super PACs and hybrid PACs (also known as Carey Committees)
· "The Connection” also contains several concrete examples to illustrate how the rules apply in real-world scenarios (utilizing fictional tax-exempt organizations, of course).
o These examples answer questions like:
§ What happens when a 501(c)(3) wants to make a grant to its affiliated 501(c)(4) for an educational research project?
§ What happens when a 501(c)(3) conducts a nonpartisan voter registration drive and wants its affiliated 501(c)(4) to have access to the list of registered voters? You’ll find out in “The Connection” that it can’t just give the list to its affiliated 501(c)(4) at no charge, but it could in some instances (when allowed under state law) sell its list at fair market value via an arms-length transaction.
§ And, what happens when a c4 publishes a monthly magazine on mission-related issues and then, in one edition of the magazine, decides to include an article about its candidate endorsements?
· There are examples of required disclaimers for independent expenditures and electioneering communications too.
o Brand new FEC regulations, published in January of this year, clarify what types of communications fall within the definition of “internet public communications” and what types of disclaimers are required when these communications expressly advocate for the election or defeat of federal candidates.
o The latest edition of “The Connection” addresses how the law requires these disclaimers to be adapted for different communication formats. Whether it’s a communication including text and graphics, a video, or an audio-only statement, disclaimer requirements vary.
o As such, “The Connection” is not only good for frontline nonprofit advocates, but for Communications, HR, and Accounting staff too!
Resources
The Connection (Strategies for Creating and Operating 501(c)(3)s, 501(c)(4)s, and Political Organizations)
Being a Player (A Guide to the IRS Lobbying Regulations for Advocacy Charities)
The Rules of the Game (A Guide to Election-Related Activities for 501(c)(3) Organizations)