Nonprofits and Elections
A priority of the nonprofit sector is to advocate for the sector at large and engage our constituents to solve problems at the grassroots level.
Nonprofits have the constitutional right and responsibility to engage in the electoral and policy-making processes. Though federal regulations require that nonprofits remain strictly nonpartisan (neither supporting nor opposing candidates for elected office), there is still so much that can be done! Read about federal legislative voting rights initiatives in the February Policy News. View the links and resources below for more information about nonprofits and the electoral process.
On this page:
-
Federal Election Laws, Court Cases, and Developments (Updated 07/31/09)
Federal Election Commission
IRS
- Form 990 Changes and Oniline Mini Courses
- Advanced Ruling Process
- IRS Examples and Analysis of Voting and Election Activities by Charitable Organizations
- IRS Memorandum on Nonprofit Websites and Political Activity
- See August 2008 Nonprofit Policy News IRS Update for more informatio
- IRS Bars Sharing of Webspace Between Charities and Related Advocacy Groups
- Suits Filed Against IRS over Electioneering Rules
Federal Election Laws, Court Cases, and Developments
- Federal Court Blocks Enforcement of Ohio Restrictions on Voter Registration Drives, February 2008 Policy News
- National Popular Vote Bill over 20% of the Way There
- Advocacy Groups File Suit over Violations of Voter Registration Law New!
State Election Laws, Court Cases, and Developments
- Nevada Indicts Nonprofit Group on Voter-Registration Irregularities
- Court Rules in Favor of Tougher Election Advocacy Rules
Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network Links
- Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network: Census Campaign Kick-Off
- Nonprofit's Guide to Voter Registration
- America Goes to the Polls 2008
- America Goes to the Polls: A Report on Voter Turnout in the 2006 Elections
- Voter Engagement Resources
Additional Resources
- Public charities CAN influence the confirmation of Supreme Court nominees New!
- How Nonprofits Helped America Vote: 2008
- America Goes to the Polls 2008
- Rules and Tips: Nonprofits Can Help America Vote
- V3 Campaign
- Election Activities Took Kit
- Other election resources on our Policy Resources page
OMB Watch: How Nonprofits Helped America Vote: 2008 
On March 25, OMB released a new report, How Nonprofits Helped America Vote: 2008, illustrating the importance of nonprofit voter engagement activities. The report describes the issues surrounding voting rights, tracks how nonprofits worked to protect the integrity of the 2008 elections, describes the stragtegies that nonprofits used to get out the vote, and makes recommendations and provides electoral resources for nonprofits to continue voter engagment campaigns
Find your local state association of nonprofits