Celebrating Advocacy Wins

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: https://traffic.libsyn.com/rulesofthegame/ROTG147-celebrating-advocacy-wins.mp3

 

Show Notes:

 

·      Economic Justice

 

o      In May, Washington became the third state to adopt a statewide rent stabilization law. Washington Low Income Housing Alliance and its network mobilized thousands of people to support passage of this legislation.

o      Colorado enacted new renter protections for victims-survivors of gender-based violence nonprofits. The Women’s Foundation of Colorado supported this legislation through direct lobbying, grassroots lobbying, and public education.

o      Colorado also saw voters pass Proposition MM increasing taxes on the state’s highest earners to fully fund free breakfast and lunch for all K-12 public school students.

o      In Texas, Every Texan, a 501(c)(3) public charity, helped defeat the adoption of new Medicaid enrollment barriers. Every Texan also helped pass a law requiring hospitals to provide clear information to parents.

·      Gender and Reproductive Justice

 

o      Ipas US and its local partners, successfully advocated for the city and town councils of Philadelphia, PA; Baltimore, MD; Atlanta, GA; and Carrboro, NC to adopt resolutions or proclamations that recognize  reproductive rights as human rights, acknowledge the obligation of the U.S. to protect human rights under international law, and declare December 10th as Human Rights Day. They also championed similar executive proclamations issued by the mayors of Mount Rainer, MD, and Austin, TX. These victories reflect a growing movement to recognize abortion as a human right at the local, state, and federal level.

·      In Montana, transgender youth and medical providers, represented by counsel including the ACLU of Montana and Lambda Legal, won a lawsuit challenging a state law banning evidence-based care for children experiencing gender dysphoria. The Montana Supreme Court ruled the law unconstitutional, ensuring Montana’s transgender youth continue to access to medical treatment, despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling in U.S. v. Skrmetti.

 

·      Democracy and Voting Rights

 

o   Nonprofit Vote and its partners helped 300,000 voters register or update their registration on National Voter Registration Day 2025. In New York, HeadCount’s youth-led community engagement helped the state register nearly twice as many voters as were registered during 2024’s National Voter Registration Day.

o   Nonpartisan voter registration drives like the one led by Nonprofit Vote can help increase voter turnout, and it did just that in several November elections, including races in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

o   In Maine voters rejected Question One, a ballot initiative that would have imposed strict voter ID requirements and gutted the state’s popular vote-by-mail system, keeping intact one of the most inclusive voting infrastructures in the country.

·      Advocacy Reminders

 

o   Legislative resolutions and proclamations voted on by lawmaking bodies are considered legislation by the IRS, while executive proclamations and orders are issued by mayors, governors, or the President are not considered legislation by the IRS. Seeking the passage of executive proclamations and orders does not count as lobbying under federal tax law.

o   When seeking to influence legislation, track your lobbying based on the lobbying test your organization follows—either the insubstantial part test or the 501(h) expenditure test—stay within your organization’s lobbying limits. Also be sure to review the lobbying disclosure rules for the jurisdiction you’re lobbying in to confirm any additional registration and reporting requirements.

o   501(c)(3)s can support democracy by engaging in nonpartisan voter registration drives, get-out-the-vote campaigns, and other educational activities that encourage voter participation. Always check your state’s voter assistance rules before registering voters or assisting voters in other ways.

o   501(c)(3) private foundations can support nonpartisan voter engagement, but they must follow special rules when funding voter registration.

o   Ballot-measure campaigns offer communities opportunities to bypass legislatures and taking their issues directly to voters. The IRS classifies ballot-measure advocacy as direct lobbying under the 501(h) expenditure test. Remember to review the campaign finance rules for the jurisdiction where the measure will be on the ballot because they may require registration or reporting.

 

·      Conclusion

 

o   It’s not just about whether we win, but how we win. By taking the time to stop and reflect on our advocacy campaigns, we ensure that we continue to stay grounded and prepared for the fight ahead. So raise a glass and cheers, there are so many more victories to look forward to! 🥂

 

Resources:

Public Charities Can Lobby

What Nonprofits Need to Know About Lobbying in Your State

Election Checklist for 501(c)(3) Public Charities

Nonprofit Voter Assistance Series

Voter Registration Rules for Private Foundations

Election Year Activities for 501(c)(4) Social Welfare Organizations

Ballot Measure Toolkit