Helps employees and board members of non-profit organizations understand the 'do-s' and 'don't-s' of advocacy.

1. Advocacy Guidelines For 501(c)3 Organizations Alan Morgan, CEONational Rural Health Association202-639-0550

2. Overview Who? Who does what? Who does what, when, where and how?

3. What is Advocacy? Advocacy is the tool citizens use in our democracy to bring about improvements. But really more than that – you advocate daily Context – legislature

4. Nonprofits have a right and a duty to be engaged in public debate on important policy issues.

5. Role of Nonprofits ALL NONPROFITS have a vital role to play in our democracy. For 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, that role can include advocacy, lobbying and election-related activities. Building relationships with elected officials is permitted -- and strongly encouraged -- for all of us.

6. NRHA Action Alerts Easy, follow instructions The more you respond, the better the staff will know you The more responses, more likely Congress will act All it is a simple call

7. Trusted Advisor Elected officials at the federal, state and local levels will be turning to trusted constituents for advice in the months ahead, but they won't ask for your advice if they don't know you and what your organization does to help their constituents.

8. Trusted Advisor Building relationships with elected officials and responding to their inquiries is not considered to be lobbying.

9. If you can’t advocate… Educate You’ll hear lobby – think advocacy or go further and think educate All you are doing is asking Members of Congress and their staff to understand your situation – they can do the rest

10. Details, Details, Details Nonprofits have every right to advocate on behalf of policies they believe in. It is only when this advocacy deals with specific legislation that limits come into play.

11. Lots of issues You will know more They want to know what they are talking about – they’ll pretend Explain acronyms & concepts

12. When in Doubt… - As an individual, you are entitled to engage in unlimited lobbying and political activity, provided you do so on your own time without using nonprofit corporate resources.

13. No, Nos Nonprofits classified 501(c)(3) cannot endorse, contribute to, coordinate with, or align in any way with candidates or political parties.

14. However… Nonprofits can participate in election-related activities which include: candidate forums surveys/questionnaires to candidates non-partisan voter registration and voter education.

15. Thou Shall Not Nonprofits may not lobby using government funds. As a condition of obtaining federal grants, nonprofits must ensure that none of those funds are used for lobbying or political activity as defined by the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB). These rules are similar to the IRS rules, but have several differences.

16. An Exception to Every Rule Nonprofits that receive government funding can lobby with their non-government funds.

17. Still Confused? http://www.wkkf.org/advocacyhandbook/index.html

18. You can change DC! Don’t underestimate what you can do. It’s easy and you can make a difference. A phone call or e-mail can do a lot.

20. Thank you!