NPAction Update
Vol 1, Issue 5
12/23/2003

Welcome to the NPAction Update. This week we come down your chimney with a shortened holiday edition.

You are receiving this newsletter as requested during your registration with NPAction.org. If you do not wish to receive future editions of this notice, please e-mail: npaction@npaction.org with the subject: UNSUBSCRIBE NPACTION UPDATE.

In this issue:
*What's New*
*Current Poll*
*Featured Article*
*Featured Forum*
*Featured Resource Link*


*What's New*

The IRS released two brochures in November, aimed at helping nonprofits understand the process for applying for 501(c)(3) status and providing guidance on financial record keeping. In addition to answering common questions, the brochures also provide a good amount of information on how to reach the IRS when there are questions that aren't answered by the brochures. Both brochures are available for download in PDF format from the NPAction File Library:

Applying for 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status
(IRS Publication 4220)
http://www.npaction.org/filemanager/fileview/24/

Compliance Guide for 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organizations
(IRS Publication 4221)
http://www.npaction.org/filemanager/fileview/25/

Have an example of useful planning or reference documents used in policy or advocacy work your organization can share with other groups? Submit a sample copy of your work to the NPAction File Library with a short summary, contact information, and preferred citation to our staff for review.

E-mail: npaction@npaction.org

*Current Poll*

Frequent users will notice that the NPAction Poll, changed every two weeks, is continuously displayed on the right side of the NPAction home page. The current poll is about government secrecy and its impact on organizations' work, so stop by and vote today (but don't try to vote twice!).

Have a question that you've always wanted to ask a bunch of people in the nonprofit community, but couldn't figure out how? Here's your chance. Send your idea for a poll to npaction@npaction.org, and you just might find it posted on the front page. Make sure to check the home page regularly for new polls.

Past Poll Results
http://www.npaction.org/article/archive/207


*Featured Article*

Our featured article is a brief overview of the most effective ways to write a press release. Although they can seem daunting to a group that's never written one before, press releases can be a quick and easy way to get your message to the public through the news media.

"Tips for Writing an Effective Press Release"
http://www.npaction.org/article/articleview/192/1/114/


Also, remember that most articles on NPAction can be rated and commented on by users. Articles that can be commented on will have "Comment List" as a heading at the end of the article. Just click the "New Comment" button to add your two cents (or even three, if you're feeling inspired).


*Featured Forum*

This issue, we feature *you*. Come to the NPAction forums and start up a topic. Ask a question, seek the opinions of others, or just get something off your chest. Start a new thread in any of the existing forums and see where it takes you. Just go to the "User Forum" and post away.

User Forum
http://www.npaction.org/forum/messagelist/230/

NPAction Forums
http://www.npaction.org/forum/categorylist


*Featured Resource Link*

The NPAction Resource Links Directory is a human-edited compendium of tools and references, contributed by nonprofits for nonprofits.

This issue's featured resource link comes from Vermont, a place that knows a thing or two about winter wonderlands. The Snelling Center for Government at the University of Vermont has put together an excellent guide for nonprofits on influencing the Vermont state government. While the guide is specific to Vermont, most state governments are similar creatures, so everyone can learn something.

"Getting Stated at the State House"
http://www.snellingcenter.org/npadvocacy.html

More Advocacy Training Links
http://www.npaction.org/link/category/239/

Suggest a Resource Link
http://www.npaction.org/link/suggestlink


*"Steal This Code": Put NPAction on Your Site*

NPAction invites organizations to share our tools on their websites. Choose a logo that best meets your needs, whether you want to link to our site, incorporate our search engine with results from a range of nonprofit sources, add the ability to connect to federal lawmakers and national media, or state-level policymakers and media. Just copy the HTML code from our site, and you're ready to go (but when you steal the code, just let us know!):

"Steal the Code" today
http://www.npaction.org/article/archive/208


Finally, the staff of NPAction and all of its affiliates would like to wish you a happy and peaceful holiday season, and great year ahead. See you in 2004!


NPAction Update is a service for NPAction subscribers. If you received this message from another party, and wish to subscribe, go to www.npaction.org and hit "Login" then "register new user." Registration not only allows you to receive the NPAction Update, but also to participate in all of the forums, vote in polls, and be a full member of the NPAction community.

If you do not wish to receive this notice, please e-mail: npaction@npaction.org with the subject: UNSUBSCRIBE NPACTION UPDATE.

NPAction, an online resource hosted by OMB Watch, provides access to tools and information for nonprofit advocacy from a wide range of organizational partners and sources in order to encourage greater participation by nonprofits in the policy arena. Funding for this project was provided by Atlantic Philanthropies, the Ford Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and the Surdna Foundation.

For more information, contact:

NPAction
1742 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.,
Washington DC 20009
(202) 234-8494
E-mail: npaction@npaciton.org Web: www.npaction.org

(c) 2003 NPAction