Election Year Activities - posted: Wednesday, March 26, 2008
What Every 501(c)(3) Public Charity Should Know About Election Year Activities
By Nancy Chen, Law Fellow, Alliance for Justice
(Reprinted from the Center for Nonprofit Advancement "nonprofit agenda", May/April 2008.)
This election year is a critical time for nonprofits to step in and focus much-needed attention on issues important to their missions and the voting public. By keeping aware of the legal rules, 501 (c) (3) public charities can confidently play a leading role in shaping the public agenda this election year - and for years to come.
Public charities may encourage people to exercise their right to vote and may discuss key issues, but they may not support or oppose a candidate or political party for public office. (i.e. engage in "partisan political activity" or "political campaign intervention"). This is an absolute prohibition, so even the smallest involvement in partisan activity is not allowed. (full story) |
