BLOG for ADVOCATES

We created this blog to share interesting advocacy related items that cross our desks. It can be anything from new research on funding for advocacy to examples of unusual advocacy strategies. If you have an item to share please send it to npaction@npaction.org.
NPAction Staff

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

The Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network recently unveiled a new website for the 2010 midterm elections with new resources for nonprofits. Features include online versions of the NVEN nonprofit guides, a 50 State Voter Information map, and updated toolkits, fact sheets, PowerPoint presentations, online versions of publications, and more. They also have a great blog with valuable information, such as details about free webinars.

Thursday, July 01, 2010

The Johns Hopkins Listening Post Project recently released a report on a 2009 roundtable that explored how to advance nonprofit advocacy. The report provides valuable information about overcoming barriers to nonprofit advocacy and lobbying. It emphasizes, that "regulatory advocacy must be undertaken to address laws restricting the participation of nonprofits in the policy arena."

"By thinking creatively about what resources are available and how those resources might be more effectively used, organizations and the coalitions that serve them can promote their policy priorities while at the same time seeking ways to open additional funding streams."

The report found that fewer than 15% of surveyed charities spent as much as 2% of their budget on advocacy. However, charities want to be more involved in advocacy. Overall, one prominent message is that support from an organization's board is needed to foster increased nonprofit engagement in advocacy and lobbying work.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

The U.S. Supreme Court decided in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that corporations and unions may now directly and expressly advocate for the election or defeat of candidates for federal office, as long as they do not coordinate their efforts with campaigns or political parties. The impacts of the decision may be immense, both for nonprofit voter engagement and political discourse as a whole.

In response, many groups are working for effective campaign finance reform. One avenue to counter this decision would be to reduce the undue influence of special interest money in politics through implementing a system of public financing of elections. Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) introduced the Fair Elections Now Act (S. 752), which would allow congressional candidates to run a campaign on public funds and unlimited small contributions. A similar bill sponsored by Reps. John Larson (D-CT) and Walter Jones, Jr. (R-NC) was also introduced in the House (H.R. 1826).

You can take action and send a letter to Congress in support of the Fair Elections Now Act. Sign the petition from FairElectionsNow.org and tellCongress to fight back.

For more information visit FairElectionsNow.org, a national effort to raise awareness on the Fair Elections Now Act and the public financing of elections.

According to a report by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), "if more local foundations were to support advocacy and organizing, communities could achieve even greater impact." The report estimated that for every dollar invested in the work of advocacy, organizing and civic engagement, there was $91 in benefits to local residents. This is the latest in NCRP's Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities series, focused on 15 nonprofits engaged in various socials causes in Los Angeles. Read the report in full here.

In addition, a recent article in the Chronicle of Philanthropy ($$) highlights advocacy efforts amongst charities, identifying the benefits of lobbying and the difficulties when it is completely new to an organization. Many nonprofits may have previously avoided lobbying out of resource or expertise concerns. However, the article notes, "that may be changing." Budget cuts at local, state, and federal agencies may have pushed charities to seek a more active role in government decision making.

Friday, March 12, 2010

NPR reports that foundations and nonprofits are taking an active role in promoting the census and making sure there is an accurate count. One of the organizations highlighted in the article is Voto Latino, which tries to encourage civic engagement by Latinos. Voto Latino is also one of two dozen groups splitting more than $1 million as part of the Illinois "Count Me In" campaign, which is funded by ten foundations.

One of Voto Latino's strategies was to develop a new mobile phone application to be used in Los Angeles County. Users download it, learn about the census and then take a quiz on what they've learned. Then they get to download five free songs by top recording artists, such as Pitbull and Morrissey. And the more they forward the link to friends, the more likely they'll be among a thousand people invited to a free "secret" concert somewhere in the L.A. area.

Those that nonprofits often serve, have the most to benefit from the census, but are also the least likely to participate. It is very important to educate the public that the census helps determine which communities get government funding for things like education and mass transit. "Charities also say an accurate census helps them with their own work, by giving them a better idea where the greatest needs are and how they might spend their charitable dollars in the years ahead."

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

President Obama has announced a proposal to help small employers, including nonprofit groups. The plan is meant to help groups hire workers and raise wages. For example, charities could receive a $5,000 federal tax credit for every net new employee added in 2010, with a $500,000 cap on the total amount of credits that can be earned. The credits will be applied to federal payroll taxes that employers pay on behalf of their employees.

Obama remarked; "I'm proposing what I believe is the best way to cut taxes while promoting hiring by small businesses: through a tax credit for companies that add workers or increase salaries this year. Now is the perfect time for this kind of incentive because the economy is growing, but businesses are still hesitant to start hiring again. The economy is growing, but job growth is lagging. Companies are recovering but not yet taking that next step and taking on somebody full time."

The proposal does have to be first approved by Congress. Independent Sector has more information on the budget and nonprofits.

Friday, December 18, 2009

The Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest (CLPI) has recently released Strengthening Civic Impact: An Evaluation of Nonprofit Public Policy Trainings, a report considering whether advocacy trainings caused participants to explore public policy as a strategy with their organization. The trainings were conducted by CLPI Fellows between 2004 and 2008. The new report details "lessons on barriers and success stories that provide promising guidance for future efforts."

Given the social and economic crisis facing underserved Americans and civil society, effective public policy involvement by the nation's almost 1 million charities is as important as ever. To meet this need with limited resources, funders and charities seek practical ways to evaluate strategies for increasing nonprofit policy capacity and impact. We believe this report represents one practical example of nonprofit policy evaluation moving forward.

They found that the trainings increased an understanding of using lobbying as a way to help achieve organizational missions. The report also notes that many cited limited staff, funding, and time as the main reasons for not incorporating more policy involvement.

Monday, November 09, 2009

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released a 44 page compliance guide for nonprofits, excluding 501(c)(3) charities and private foundations. The publication addresses activities that could place an organization's tax exempt status at risk, for example if a group engages in political campaign activity as their primary activity. Further, it discusses general recordkeeping, reporting and disclosure responsibilities. Other topics covered include federal information returns, changes that need to be reported to the IRS, and resources for tax-exempt organizations. The compliance guide for 501(c)(3)'s is available here

Charging that this an ideal time "to get smarter about philanthropy," the Wall Street Journal has a special report on philanthropy. There are multiple articles addressing various perspectives such as those of donors and foundations. The topics speak to what each are doing during these tough economic times. The cover story is written by Pablo Eisenberg, with perspective into the troubles facing charitable giving and offers "nine changes that would go a long way toward making philanthropy do what we all claim we want it to do."

Friday, October 16, 2009

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has launched a new case study and video program to help exempt organizations better understand the newly revised Form 990. "The New Form 990: Getting Started," is a case study about a hypothetical organization (Exempt Organization for Disaster Relief), with a set of facts describing the organization and its finances. The video series goes through common reporting issues, offering seven videos explaining different sections of the Form 990 with facts from the case study. There is also an already filled-out Form 990 with two schedules that illustrate how the hypothetical organization would complete the annual return.