Advocacy for Democracy and Voting Rights
Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast
Release Date: 06/11/2025
Politically Motivated Attacks Revisited
Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast
ROTG137 Politically Motivated Attacks Revisited Nonprofit advocates face a complex environment in 2025 where political disagreements routinely escalate into targeted attacks—ranging from carefully crafted misinformation to more extreme tactics like organizational funding cuts, subpoenas, and personal targeting. This episode explores the emerging challenges advocates encounter, offering insights into recognizing, preparing for, and navigating these increasingly sophisticated forms of political pushback. Attorneys for this Episode Brittany Hacker Tim Mooney Quyen Tu ...
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Advocacy for Labor and Economic Justice
Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast
Today we're wrapping up our eight-part series by exploring how labor and economic justice nonprofits can advance their missions through advocacy. We'll cover recent developments and examine both lobbying and non-lobbying strategies that advocates are using to improve economic justice for all. Attorneys for this episode Tim Mooney Susan Finkle Sourlis Sarah Efthymiou Shownotes Current Events / Executive Orders · Trump Administration Directives Impacting Workers o In March, President Trump issued an executive order exempting...
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Advocacy for Health and Disability Rights
Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast
Today we're diving into the seventh installment of our eight-part, issue-based podcast series, and we will explore how nonprofits that operate in the health and disability rights space can boldly advance their missions through advocacy. Not only will we touch on recent developments in the news, but we’ll also discuss various lobbying and non-lobbying strategies currently being used by nonprofit advocates working to improve healthcare access and disability rights. Attorneys for this episode Natalie Ossenfort Monika Graham Victor Rivera Shownotes Current Events /...
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Advocacy for Democracy and Voting Rights
Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast
Today we're diving into the sixth of our eight-part series, exploring how nonprofits champion democracy and protect voting rights. We'll unpack the strategies these organizations use to advocate for democratic participation while operating within the law. This conversation feels especially urgent as we see acceleration to challenges to voting rights and democratic institutions in 2025. Attorneys for this episode Tim Mooney Natalie Ossenfort Susan Finkle Sourlis Shownotes Current Events / Executive Orders · Trump Administration...
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Advocacy for Gender & Reproductive Justice
Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast
On this episode, the fifth installment of our eight-part, issue-specific series, we’ll explore how nonprofits can boldly and safely advocate for gender and reproductive justice. We’ll review recent policy developments and discuss how nonprofits can respond through legislative, executive, and judicial branch advocacy. Join us as we break down the rules and share recent examples of how nonprofits are advancing gender and reproductive justice. Attorneys for this episode Quyen Tu Brittany Hacker Melissa Marichal Zayas ...
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Advocacy for Environmental Justice
Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast
In today's episode continuing our eight-part series, we examine how nonprofits are effectively advocating for environmental justice. We'll analyze practical strategies for building awareness and securing advocacy funding while navigating the regulatory frameworks that govern nonprofit activism. Join us for a clear-eyed look at how organizations are making meaningful progress in environmental protection and climate action. Attorneys for this episode Tim Mooney Quyen Tu Susan Finkle Sourlis Shownotes Current Events / Executive Orders: ...
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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...
info_outlineToday we're diving into the sixth of our eight-part series, exploring how nonprofits champion democracy and protect voting rights. We'll unpack the strategies these organizations use to advocate for democratic participation while operating within the law. This conversation feels especially urgent as we see acceleration to challenges to voting rights and democratic institutions in 2025.
Attorneys for this episode
Tim Mooney
Natalie Ossenfort
Susan Finkle Sourlis
Shownotes
Current Events / Executive Orders
· Trump Administration Directives on Voting & Civil Rights
o Disbanded the DOJ Voting Rights Section’s Election Monitoring Program.
o Rescinded Biden executive order promoting federal agency voter registration partnerships
o Halted implementation of interagency plans for voter access through social service agencies, and redirecting the Election Assistance Commission to implement draconian requirements outside the scope of its mission his authority over it.
· Impact on Vulnerable Communities
o Revoked supporting access to the ballot for voters with disabilities and non-English speakers.
o Pressured USPS to deprioritize ballot delivery during election periods and issued an EO that attempts to reject mail in ballots postmarked on Election Day but received afterward.
Nonlobbying Advocacy
Although you may consider this an off year for federal elections (but many local and state elections are happening this year) – now is the time to work to ensure the protection of voting rights for the future.
Advocacy can take many forms, lobbying is just one form. There are many ways organizations can advocate for change to ensure democracy and voting rights are secure. Organizing, educating the public, conducting research, executive branch and regulatory activities, working with your local state board of elections, trainings and litigation just to name a few way.
Here are some ways organizations have undertake
· Educate the Public
o Democracy North Carolina launched a digital explainer on redistricting and gerrymandering for community audiences, and engaged in election protection work. This included monitoring polling stations for long lines, problems with voting, voting misinformation.
· Hold a Rally or Event
o Detroit Action organized “Halloween Early Vote,” a trunk or treat in a historically underrepresented part of Detroit, promoting civic pride, early voting… and candy.
· Litigation as Advocacy
o Campaign Legal Center and Southern Poverty Law Center sued Louisiana for new proof of citizenship documentation as a violation of federal law.
o League of United Latin American Citizens, the League of Women Voters Education Fund, the Democratic National Committee and others sued to overturn Trump’s federal elections executive order, successfully enjoining some of the more egregious parts of it.
Foundation-Funded Advocacy
· Public and private foundations can fund 501(c)(3) nonpartisan voter engagement activities that do not support or oppose candidates for public office.
· Special rules for private foundations re: voter registration drives (grants must be for nonpartisan VR drives conducted in 5 or more states over multiple election cycles), but community foundations can fund VR even for small, local, grassroots organizations.
· Ford Foundation and Carnegie Corporation of New York have supported nonpartisan voter education and rights litigation to strengthen democracy and public trust in government.
Lobbying
· Legislative Wins
o New York: Enacted the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act, pushed through with support from a coalition including Legal Defense Fund and Citizen Action of NY
o New Mexico: Passed legislation mandating automatic and same-day voter registration following lobbying by ProgressNow NM and allies.
· Ballot Measures Protecting Voting Rights
o Michigan Proposal 2 (2022): Guaranteed early voting and drop boxes; supported by Voters Not Politicians and League of Women Voters of Michigan.
o Arizona: Local advocates, including Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA), defeated multiple voter suppression ballot initiatives.
o Nevada: Voters passed automatic voter registration (2018) and expanded it further in 2022 with strong nonprofit support.
Resources
· Democracy & Equity: The Advocacy Playbook for Democracy and Voting Rights
· Public Charities Can Lobby (Factsheet)
· Practical Guidance: what your nonprofit needs to know about lobbying in your state
· Investing in Change: A Funder’s Guide to Supporting Advocacy
· Seize the initiative