First Session: Advocacy and Lobbying Rights for 501(c)(3): You Can (AND SHOULD) Lobby!

Tuesday, August 25 at 10:00 am

Now more than ever, your community is relying on you to stand up for them. Your 501(c)(3) public charity status lets you advocate for new laws and policies, but is your organization making the most of your rights to advocate and lobbying? Whether protecting renters’ rights, working to shift more funds to human services, changing government agency protocols to increase racial equity, or supporting (or opposing) ballot measures, you can legally advocate for public policy and community change at every level of government. After this workshop, you’ll have a clear understanding of: 

• Your 501(c)(3) organization’s right to advocate and lobby;

• What does and doesn’t count as lobbying; and

• How to make the most of your organization’s lobbying power.

Second Session: Ballot Measure Advocacy: Your Nonprofit Rights and Responsibilities.

Tuesday, September 1 at 10 am

Is your organization already active in a ballot measure campaign? Or are you thinking of jumping in? Your nonprofit has a right to support or oppose ballot measures, and knowing the special rules for ballot measure work in California is an important step. It’s easy to qualify as a “committee” without even meaning to, so this workshop will help you decide which level of ballot measure activism (and what level of reporting) best fits your organization and resources. After this workshop you’ll know:

• How your organization can support or oppose a ballot measure committee and never have to register or report with the California’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC);

• What kinds of activities turn your organization into a California ballot measure committee;

• Which activities, communications, and resource-sharing to track and/or report before and during a campaign; and

• How to avoid pitfalls and take advantage of different options for raising money for California ballot measure work.