Advocacy for Labor and Economic Justice
Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast
Release Date: 07/09/2025
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...
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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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Ask Us Anything
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...
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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...
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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...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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...
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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...
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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...
info_outlineToday 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 national security agencies from the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. The EO revokes collective bargaining rights for over a million federal workers, hindering their ability to organize and improve working conditions.
o In January 2025, an executive order paused the planned increase of the minimum wage for federal contract workers to $17/hour, reversing wage gains for thousands of low-wage employees.
o In March 2025, another executive order directed the Department of Labor to halt enforcement of protections against misclassification for independent contractors, adopting a worker-unfriendly test that limits employee eligibility for wage and hour protections.
· Illegal ICE & DHS workplace raids: ICE, racing to fulfill the Trump Administration’s goal to increase deportations, is increasingly targeting work sites for immigration sweeps in LA and other major cities. In addition to loss of essential income for workers who are afraid to show up for work, this escalation is a chilling effect on businesses and local communities.
Non-lobbying Advocacy
Advocacy can take many forms, and lobbying is just one form. Your organization can engage in non-lobbying activities like: Organizing, educating the public, conducting research, executive branch and regulatory activities, training and litigation are just a few examples.
· Educating the Public
o Nonprofits that support immigrant workers, such as The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), are sharing "know your rights” info, so workers are better prepared if stopped by immigration officials. Other groups provide information for employers, such as the National Employment Law Project’s What to do if Immigration Comes to Your Workplace.
· Identify & advocate to supportive government officials:
o Find your allies in government and encourage them to continue to defend their communities. Many nonprofits have lauded Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ and California Governor Gavin Newsom’s public criticism of the federal government's actions in LA, describing the deployment of military forces to the city as an overreach and a violation of state sovereignty.
· Holding a Rally
o In February, federal workers organized coordinated “Save Our Services Day of Action” events in multiple cities to build a broader network of support and to put pressure on the administration and Congress to block the illegal firing of fed workers
· Litigation as Advocacy
o A multi-state coalition of nonprofits, unions, and local governments sued the Trump Administration over mass layoffs of federal workers without approval of Congress.
Lobbying
· Pro-Worker Legislation
o Nevada’s state legislature is currently considering expanding their existing Paid Family & Medical Leave program beyond state employees
· Ballot Initiatives Coming on the heels of several key wins in 2024 (Alaska, Missouri, and AZ), already seeing upcoming ballot measures
o A potential Ohio Nov 2025 ballot initiative to increase minimum wage to $15/hour; and Oklahoma qualified June 2026 ballot measure to increase the state’s minimum wage to $15/hour
Resources
· Power & Equity: The Advocacy Playbook for Labor and Economic Justice
· Practical Guidance: What your nonprofit needs to know about lobbying in your state
· Investing in Change: A Funder’s Guide to Supporting Advocacy