Advocacy is generally defined as arguing in favor of a cause or idea, whether it’s environmental protection, minority rights, or the myriad other issues that affect people every day. There is no limit to the amount of advocacy a person or organization (such as a nonprofit) can do.
Lobbying can generally be defined as any attempt to influence a politician or public official on an issue. Lobbying is further broken down into:
- Direct lobbying: Any attempt to influence new or existing legislation via communication with a member of the legislative body or other government representative who has a say in the legislation.
- Grassroots lobbying: Asking the general public to contact their legislator and/or mobilizing the public around a legislative issue. Organizations, such as nonprofits, cannot ask their members to contact their legislators or government agencies regarding the legislation, though, as this is considered direct lobbying. Examples of grassroots lobbying include creating an online petition to generate public support for a cause, distributing flyers, and organizing a public demonstration or rally.
Nonprofit organizations can engage in some lobbying without having to register; however, the IRS has strict rules about what portion of an organization’s budget can go toward lobbying activities, and federal funds cannot be used for lobbying.