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Advocacy & Fiscal Sponsorship

Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast

Release Date: 03/19/2025

Candidate Appearances show art Candidate Appearances

Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast

Primaries are taking place or may have already occurred where you are. More elections will take place from now until November so we thought it’s a good time to talk about candidate appearances. We’ll explain how (c)(3)s can stay nonpartisan while helping to educate voters and candidates by hosting candidates. (c)(4)s, you can of course do everything (c)(3)s can do and much more!  Attorneys for this episode  Quyen Tu  Victor Rivera   Brittany Hacker Leonard    Shownotes  Why is this important?  C3s are a trusted source of...

info_outline Ballot Measure Advocacy show art Ballot Measure Advocacy

Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast

With direct democracy becoming more important than ever in this political climate, we thought it was a good time to revisit ballot measures. From local park bonds to important state constitutional amendments, ballot measures have become important tools for policymaking, and nonprofits often play a huge role in supporting and opposing them. On this episode we do a deep dive on the details and how you can get involved.   Attorneys for this episode Susan Finkle Sourlis Tim Mooney Natalie Ossenfort          Shownotes What Are Ballot Measures, and Why...

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Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast

  On this episode of Rules of the Game, we dive into some of the most common – and pressing – questions we hear on our free nonprofit advocacy technical assistance hotline. From whether foundation funding can support voter registration efforts, to what nonprofits should know when attending rallies and advocating around local law enforcement cooperation with ICE, we break down the rules and offer practical guidance you can use to enhance your organization’s advocacy and community participation in elections and other public policy activities. We’ll discuss real world...

info_outline Legislative Update show art Legislative Update

Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast

Legislative season is underway, and we’re seeing a wave of proposals that could significantly reshape the operating environment for nonprofits and advocacy organizations. We’re tracking over 1,000 bills across the country, and while some of them do positive things, like make improvements to our electoral system or increase voter turnout, unfortunately, most of these measures are taking aim at impactful nonprofit advocacy. These proposals collectively reflect an erosion of the civic space in the nonprofit ecosystem. We’re here to break down some of the key trends and help you stay...

info_outline Litigation Update show art Litigation Update

Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast

On this edition, we open up the docket and get an update on the variety of court cases that impact tax-exempt organizations and their ability to advocate on the issues they care about. And to help with that, we’re joined once again by friend of the pod Emma Olson Sharkey from Elias Law Group to help demystify what’s happening in the courts and how it might impact you and your work. Attorneys for this episode Brittany Hacker Leonard Tim Mooney Emma Olson Sharkey – Elias Law Group Shownotes 501(c)(4) political activity Freedom Path, Inc. v. IRS  (D.D.C.) Memorial Hermann Accountable...

info_outline College Athletics, NIL and Nonprofits show art College Athletics, NIL and Nonprofits

Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast

One of the hottest topics in college athletics turns out to be about nonprofits. This episode unpacks how nonprofit colleges and third-party NIL collectives support individual student athletes, the governance and tax questions that follow, and what the recent NCAA settlement means for oversight and compliance. We also look ahead to emerging federal regulation and how nonprofits might engage in shaping what comes next.   Attorneys for this Episode ·      Tim Mooney ·      Victor Rivera   Why NIL Is a Nonprofit Issue ...

info_outline Ask Us Anything: Voter Registration show art Ask Us Anything: Voter Registration

Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast

In this episode, we’re answering questions from organizations about voter registration, which is, of course, timely given the upcoming midterm election season. Since these activities occur within an electoral framework, it's crucial to keep various legal aspects in mind while crafting and executing your voter registration campaigns. We’ll discuss the key considerations related to nonprofit tax law, federal election law, and state law.  Attorneys for this episode Sarah Efthymiou  Susan Finkle Sourlis   Monika Graham   Voter Registration   ...

info_outline Public Charities Can Lobby! show art Public Charities Can Lobby!

Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast

On this episode, we’re going back-to-basics to discuss the rules that apply when nonprofits engage in lobbying activities. With legislative sessions ramping-up in several states, it’s important to take time to understand the lobbying limits and definitions that apply to your organization’s advocacy. But, it’s even more important to recognize that public charities can lobby and advocate for or against legislation at the local, state, and federal levels. So, rally your staff and volunteers, and speak up, because...

info_outline 2026 Resolutions show art 2026 Resolutions

Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast

Happy 2026! As policy shifts and new advocacy opportunities emerge, the Bolder Advocacy team is here to guide nonprofits so they can continue to advocate boldly while remaining compliant and effective. We’re kicking off the year with our Top 10 nonprofit New Year’s resolutions to help your organization thrive.     Attorneys for This Episode  Monika Graham  Victor Rivera Labiosa  Natalie Roetzel Ossenfort    Top 10 2026 Resolutions:   1. Deepen Mission Alignment  Clarity fuels momentum. Revisit your...

info_outline Celebrating Advocacy Wins show art Celebrating Advocacy Wins

Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast

It’s been a long year, and while progressive movements have faced real setbacks, that’s not the whole story. Across the country, nonprofits and the communities they serve pushed for justice and secured meaningful victories worth lifting up. On this episode, we celebrate several advocacy wins from 2025.   Attorneys for this episode:   Maggie Ellinger-Locke, she/her Susan Finkle Sourlis, she/her Melissa Marichal Zayas, she/her   Link:   Show Notes:   ·      Economic Justice   o      In May, Washington became...

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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 supporting projects engaging in, advocacy. And we’re very happy to be joined today by Josh Sattely from Social Impact Commons. 

 

Attorneys for this episode 

Sarah Efthymiou 

Melissa Marichal Zayas 

Victor Rivera 

Josh Sattely, Social Impact Commons 

 

Shownotes 

  • Overview of fiscal sponsorship  

  • Our focus today is on 501(c)(3)s, but fiscal sponsors come in different forms, including 501(c)(4)s 

  • There are different types of fiscal sponsorship, but the two most common are: 

  • Model A (Direct/Comprehensive): Project operates within sponsor’s organization.  

  • Model C (Grant Relationship): Sponsor collects donations and grants funds to the project. 

  • Why Advocacy Matters for Fiscal Sponsors  

  • Enhances impact, credibility, and systemic change. 

  • What type of advocacy is allowed under fiscal sponsorship?  

  • Lobbying: Direct vs. grassroots lobbying. 

  • Non-Lobbying Advocacy: Educational activities, voter engagement, rulemaking, corporate influence, litigation. 

 

  • What are some of the Key Concerns for Fiscal Sponsors Engaging in Advocacy?  

  • Differentiating advocacy, lobbying, and political activity. 

  • Compliance and reporting at state/federal levels. 

Best practices for educating projects on compliance: 

  • Use existing resources like AFJ.  

  • Discuss advocacy/lobbying expectations early. 

 

  • Case studies of advocacy in action:  

  • Network to Abolish the Death Penalty 

  • Lift Louisiana, a fiscally sponsored project of Tides Center 

 

  • Common Misconceptions About Advocacy & Fiscal Sponsorship  

  • Overly conservative approaches due to funder restrictions. 

  • Misunderstanding grant/lobbying reporting obligations. 

 

  • Options for Projects Wanting to Go Beyond 501(c)(3) Limits  

  • Form a 501(c)(4) or partner with an existing one. 

  • Consider PACs or for-profit structures. 

 

  • Key Takeaways 

  • Stay engaged in advocacy but ensure compliance.  

  • Push back on unnecessary funder lobbying restrictions.  

  • Don’t overlook state/local advocacy.  

  • Consider existing (c)(4) partnerships before starting a new one. 

 

Resources