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Nonprofits at Election Time: Legal and Effective Public Education Campaigns
Nonprofit (501c3) organizations are bound by certain legal limitations regarding political activities such as lobbying and campaigning. Here is a general list of which activities are appropriate and which activities are prohibited.
Do	Don't
Recruit drivers who will be willing to drive people to the polls on Election Day! Make phone calls to recruit voters who need rides to the polls. Get maps, schedule drivers, and be on time! Get out the vote legally! Your charity may sell, trade, or rent your membership list to candidates, as long as all candidates are made aware of the opportunity and given the same access. Host a Public Forum where you invite "all serious candidates" to discuss key issues, giving each candidate equal opportunity to respond to questions. Inform candidates of your position on particular issues and urge them to go on record in support of these. Host issues briefings for candidates, as long as these are extended to all candidates running for a particular office. Testify before a party platform committee as part of a lobbying effort, and report responses to your testimony in your regularly scheduled publication. Present and disseminate officials' voting records in a consistent manner year-round. Publish speeches or remarks made by candidates at the Public Forum as news items in your regular newsletter. Support or oppose any particular political candidate for public office. Decorate cars used for rides to the polls with candidate stickers, signs, or literature. State your views or comment on the views of the candidates as expressed at the Public Forum. Don't display signs or wear buttons or t-shirts relating to candidates' campaigns. Publish or distribute statements by candidates (unless they come from a bona fide news report or nonpartisan questionnaire). Circulate a candidate's published position paper or statement on an issue to the media, general public, or your charity's members (until after the election). Disseminate candidates' replies from questionnaires that are partisan, biased and/or cover a narrow range of issues. Wait until a campaign is underway to disseminate a recap of officials' voting records Give your membership list to a candidate - this is considered a campaign contribution, and it is illegal. Your charity must be paid fair value in return. Mention candidate or party names, or encourage/discourage a voter based on expressed candidate choice.