Webinars for Wise Nonprofits: Making the Most of Election Season: Ballot Measure Advocacy and Civic Engagement Work as a 501(c)(3) Organization

With several ballot initiatives and hotly contested races on the agenda for the November election, nonprofit organizations need to consider how they can help educate and mobilize their communities without jeopardizing their tax exempt status. Ballot measure advocacy is one example of an election-related activity that 501(c)(3) public charities are permitted to do. This webinar will cover the types of ballot measure advocacy these organizations can do without incurring NY campaign finance law obligations. It will also explain that while 501(c)(3) organizations cannot support or oppose candidates for public office, they can educate voters about the mail-in ballot process, run get out the vote campaigns, and educate voters about the issues, so long as they do so in a nonpartisan manner. Finally, this webinar will discuss how to respond when a candidate asks to use an organization's space or mailing lists, or asks to appear at an organization's event.

Learning Objective: Participants will be able to identify nonpartisan activities that a public charity is allowed to conduct during election season.

For nonprofit managers and advocates.

Presenter: Laura Abel, Senior Policy Counsel