Community engagement and get out the vote efforts by nonprofits are critical to elections and shaping what will happen in the coming years, yet too many nonprofit leaders are under the mistaken impression that nonprofits cannot participate in voter engagement or talk to candidates about issues vital to bettering their communities.
Charitable nonprofits are uniquely positioned through their credibility and deep knowledge of their communities to inspire voter participation. Research proves that when nonprofits use their legal rights to – on a nonpartisan basis – encourage people to vote by, among other ways, registering to vote and getting out to vote, people vote at significantly higher levels than if nonprofits did nothing. Thus, encouraging nonprofits to encourage people to vote is not an empty ‘feel good” activity – it truly makes a difference.
To encourage more community engagement and voting, the National Council of Nonprofits has curated and will continue to update trusted resources for reference.
Elections and Community Engagement Resources
IRS guidance
- The Restriction of Political Campaign Intervention by Section 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organizations, Internal Revenue Service
- Political Campaigns and Charities: The Ban on Political Campaign Intervention, Internal Revenue Service
- 501(c)(3) Tax Guide for Churches & Religious Organizations, Internal Revenue Service, Publication 1828, pages 7-18
Permitted Nonprofit Nonpartisan Activities
- Protecting the Johnson Amendment and Nonprofit Nonpartisanship, National Council of Nonprofits
- Permissible Election Activities Checklist, Nonprofit Vote
- Keeping Nonpartisan During Election Season, Alliance for Justice
- Election Checklist for 501c3 Public Charities, Bolder Advocacy
Voter Registration
- Voting and elections, USA.gov
- National Voter Registration Day 2024, Nonprofit Vote – September 17, 2024
Ballot Information
- Sample Ballot Lookup Tool, Ballotpedia
- How to use the sample ballot tool (brief video), Ballotpedia
- www.vote411.org, League of Women Voters
State-by-State Information
- Voting and elections, USA.gov
- Voting in Your State, Nonprofit Vote
- State Law Resources, Bolder Advocacy
- Everything You Need to Vote, Vote.org