Worry Free Advocacy: Understanding the Rules of Nonprofit Advocacy & Election-Related Activities

Daren Garshelis, Counsel, Alliance for Justice
Margaret Olney, Special Counsel, Oregon Office of the Attorney General

Henry Kraemer, Organizing & Political Director, The Bus Project
David Rogers, Executive Director, Partnership for Safety & Justice
Chuck Sheketoff, Executive Director, Oregon Center for Public Policy
Romeo Sosa, Executive Director, VOZ Workers’ Rights Education Project

The ability to effectively advocate on behalf of issues and constituents is a characteristic of high-impact nonprofit organizations. Nonprofits are on the frontline of today’s most pressing issues—poverty, healthcare reform, and the environment, to name a few. Nonprofits can greatly inform these public policy debates if they advocate.

Join NAO, the Oregon Center for Public Policy, and the Alliance for Justice—the national leader in providing informative and entertaining trainings on the rules of advocacy for nonprofit organizations—for this one-day workshop for nonprofit managers, staff, and volunteers. Attorney-trainers will teach you the rules so that you can answer questions such as:

• What is the definition of lobbying and how is it different from advocacy?
• How much can our 501(c)(3) lobby?
• What are the disclosure and registration requirements for lobbying in Oregon?

Lobbying Rules for Nonprofits

This session will explain the federal laws governing 501(c)(3) lobbying, including how to calculate your lobbying limits under the insubstantial part test and the 501(h) expenditure test, definitions for direct and grassroots lobbying, exemptions to the definition of lobbying, and the application of these rules to ballot measure activities.

How Advocacy Works Panel

Hear from a panel of local advocates who will share examples of successful advocacy campaigns and what kinds of results were achieved, such as better laws or empowerment of people in their communities. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear about lessons learned and strategies to avoid common pitfalls. We’ll also ask the panelists to share their experiences managing attacks from those who do not support their cause.

Oregon State Lobbying Disclosure Rules

With the assistance of state-based local attorney, Margaret Olney, we will explore:

• Campaign finance and ballot measures
• Lobbying disclosure
• Voter registration issues

Election Year Rules for Nonprofits

If you are planning election-related activities, you need this workshop! It reviews the federal tax and election laws affecting the political activities of tax exempt organizations in an election year, from voter registration activities to candidate forums.

• May a 501(c)(3) group pay for or distribute voter guides?
• May a 501(c)(3) group organize issue briefings for candidates running for public office?
• What can a 501(c)(4) do during an election year?

Additional Information

Event fee includes continental breakfast and lunch.

Scholarships are available for nonprofit organizations that provide service to Washington County. We thank the Washington County Nonprofit Network for providing these scholarships! All scholarships have been awarded at this time.