Resources for Nonprofits
It is our belief that nonprofit leaders have a responsibility to bring their innovations to government and contribute to the nation's policy discussions. With an effective advocacy effort, the very best nonprofit practices can grow to scale. As the administration and Congress look for fresh ideas to help inform public problem solving, innovation in the nonprofit sector should be a major source of inspiration for programs and policies that can address the country's most intractable domestic problems.
There are a number of sources for good counsel on advocacy activities that are permissible under a 501(c)(3) status. It is important to understand and work within the legal guidelines of what is allowable, but it is also vitally important to our political process that nonprofit organizations fully capitalize on the range of activities that are permissible. There are more opportunities than many (c)(3)s realize. Some good sources for information include:
Alliance for Justice offers a wide range of services to the sector, including professionally planned and executed workshops, publications, technical assistance, and public education activities. Alliance for Justice's program provides information and training on the legal parameters of nonprofit and foundation advocacy, plain-language legal guides to refer to as advocacy campaigns are planned, and real-time technical assistance to answer questions about advocacy projects as they are implemented.
Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest (CLPI) promotes, supports, and protects 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy and lobbying in order to strengthen participation in our democratic society and advance charitable missions.