NPAction Update
Vol 2, Issue 14
7/6/2004

Welcome to this week's edition of the NPAction Update. We hope you had a relaxing and safe 4th, and devoted at least a little time to the contemplation of the founding principles of the oldest surviving democracy in the world. If not, you've still got time, because August 2nd is the anniversary of the actual signing of the Declaration of Independence.

You are receiving this newsletter as requested during your registration with NPAction.org. To unsubscribe, send an email to npaction@npaction.org.


In this issue:
*What's New- NPAction User Survey*
*Current Poll- Advocacy Staffing*
*Featured Article- Nonprofits and Election Administration*
*Featured Download- Election Resource Kit*
*New Quiz- Nonpartisan Calls to Action*
*Featured Resource Links- Getting Your Message Out*


*What's New*

NPAction User Survey

We want to know your opinion on NPAction, in order to make the site more useful to you, the nonprofit community. Take our short user survey, and help is make the site better for you. As a bonus, you can enter to win a t-shirt, just for letting us know what you think!.

A link to the survey is prominently displayed on the NPAction homepage (www.npaction.org), or go directly to the survey at:
http://www.ombwatch.org/php/phpESP/public/survey.php?name=npasurvey1



*Current Poll*

The results of the poll on federal funding and lobbying are in. 23% of you said that you get federal funds and lobby, 14% get federal funds and do not lobby, while 64% don't receive any federal funds.

This week, we ask if your organization has anyone specifically charged with advocacy work. If you're reading this newsletter, it might even be you! Vote in this month's poll, continuously displayed on the right hand side of the site (just don't try to vote twice!!)

Here's your chance to ask a question you've wanted to ask other nonprofits, but couldn't figure out how. Send your idea for a poll to npaction@npaction.org.

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



*Featured Article*

When the Founding Fathers laid out their vision for this country 228 years ago, they knew that active citizen participation would be crucial for the preservation of democracy, most importantly in elections. As our lives have gotten more complicated, the nonprofit sector has become a huge factor in citizen participation. While charities are not allowed to take sides in electoral politics, they can be an important partner in the fair administration of elections. See how your organization can help with election administration, and what new challenges and opportunities were created by the Help America Vote Act.

"How Your Organization Can Help With The Administration of Elections"
http://www.npaction.org/article/articleview/443/1/219/

Remember that you can rate and comment on most NPAction articles by clicking the "New Comment" button at the end of an article.



*Featured Download*

Many charities are unsure of exactly what they can and can't do in an election season, especially with new campaign finance laws. The National Council for Nonprofit Associations has released a new toolkit detailing the ins and outs of charity advocacy in an election season. Topics covered include why nonprofits should care about elections, what nonprofits can and can't do in election season, how to overcome obstacles to election-related activities and even an activity checklist.

Download the toolkit:
http://www.npaction.org/resources/Election_tool_kit2.pdf



*New Quiz*

Everybody knows that charities can't sponsor get out the vote messages that are partisan, but could you spot a partisan get-out-the-vote message if you saw one? Take this quiz and see how well you know the difference between allowable get-out-the-vote messages, and forbidden partisan electioneering messages.

"Is This Get-Out-the-Vote Message Nonpartisan?"
http://www.npaction.org/quiz/game/play/5

If you'd like to see a quiz on a specific advocacy topic, email us at npaction@npaction.org.



*Featured Resource Links*

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

Back in 1776, if you wanted to get your idea across to the public, all you needed was a printing press to be part of a tradition of political pamphleteering with a public hungry for new ideas. Today, things are a little more complicated. Many advocacy groups are unsure of how to navigate a daunting media environment to draw attention to their issue. NPAction has provided a service that allows users to connect with local media to get their message out.

State Media Guide:
capwiz.com/ombwatch/dbq/media/


Once you've decided to get your message out, your next step should be to decide how you're going to do it. This online toolkit, provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation takes a survey of your organization's internal (keeping members, funders, and supporters informed) and external (public relations to targeted groups) communications, which can be used in creating a communications plan.

"Communications Toolkit"
http://www.wkkfweb.org/toolkit/assess/index.htm

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


*NPAction Update Archives*
http://www.npaction.org/article/archive/210/


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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.

To change your user options, log in at:
http://www.npaction.org/user/login

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@npaction.org
Web: www.npaction.org

(c) 2004 NPAction