Introductions and Welcome. Why Get Engaged. What 501c3s can do during election season. What FRAC, VTEH, and CLC are up to. Q and A throughout.

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2 Introductions and Welcome Why Get Engaged What 501c3s can do during election season What FRAC, VTEH, and CLC are up to Q and A throughout Agenda

3 Many elected officials will be voted into office this There s a lot at Stake on President and Vice President 435 Seats in the House of Representatives 34 seats in the United States Senate 12 Governorships 6,000 Seats in State Legislatures Municipal elections-mayors and City council positions Why Get Engaged

4 Elected of Elected Officials Have Power on of children. Examples: SNAP learning and nutrition of children. Examples: SNAP cials directly impact our lives in many ways. They create legislative agendas and in doing so they help determine what does or does not make it on the agenda. They create and shape laws that can improve, or harm, the current and future economic security, safety, health, learning and nutrition of children. Examples: SNAP, Child Care Development Block Grant, Children s Health Insurance Program, Earned Income Tax Credit. They support and oppose legislation that impacts every aspect of the lives of families from immigration reform to raising the minimum wage and extending unemployment insurance. They decide what important programs are, and are not, adequately funded- or even funded at all, including programs that assist families struggling with hunger. They decide if and how to respond to natural, man-made, and humanitarian disasters that impact children and families. They decide if and how to respond to local, state, national and international issues that impact families struggling with hunger, including the lack of affordable housing for families and the high cost of both childcare and college. Why Get Engaged

5 RULES OF THE GAME: ELECTION-RELATED ACTIVITY FOR 501(c)(3s) ISAIAH CASTILLA / FEBRUARY 17, 2016

6 501(c)(3)s 501(c)(4)s 501(c)(5)s 501(c)(6)s Political Organizations Examples Sierra Club PAC tax-exempt Tax Treatment contributions tax-deductible tax-exempt tax-exempt private foundation grants Lobbying Activities LIMITED UNLIMITED RARE AND USUALLY TAXABLE Electoral Activities CANNOT SUPPORT OR OPPOSE A CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE SECONDARY ACTIVITY USUALLY SOLE ACTIVITY

7 WHAT IS ADVOCACY?

8 Organize Communities Educate Legislators Encourage Voting Educate Public PARTISAN POLITICAL Educational Conferences Nonpartisan Voter Ed. Lobbying Exceptions LOBBYING Change Corporate Behavior Regulatory Efforts Litigation Research Skills Training AVENUES FOR ADVOCACY

9 What can I do? What should I do?

10 NONPARTISAN ELECTORAL ACTIVITIES

11 Election-related Activity KEY POINTS: Nonprofits can and should engage their communities around elections Keep activities nonpartisan: no supporting or opposing candidates Can educate voters and encourage voting, but should not say who to vote for. See special rules for private foundations on voter reg. Public foundations can support or oppose ballot measures within lobbying limits; Private foundations create taxable expenditure when funding ballot measure work

12 No 501(c)(3) support for or opposition to CANDIDATES running for PUBLIC OFFICE

13 ? Who is a CANDIDATE for PUBLIC OFFICE?

14 CHARACTERISTICS Office created by statute On-going position For any public office Fixed term Requires oath of office Includes School Boards

15 Rules that apply to print and verbal communications also apply to ONLINE COMMUNICATIONS

16 INDIVIDUAL PARTISAN ELECTORAL ACTIVITIES Personal Capacity Only Not on Company Time Organization Cannot Ratify Acts Have a Policy

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18 What is NON-PARTISAN?

19 FACTS and CIRCUMSTANCES

20 Issue Advocacy Advocating for organization s issues during election year Candidate Education Helping candidates understand the importance of your issues Voter Education Educating voters in a nonpartisan way about candidates Voter Outreach Registering voters, getting out the vote Ballot Measures Support or oppose state or local ballot measures Election Year Activities

21 ISSUE ADVOCACY Lobbying/ Advocacy Campaigns Criticizing Incumbents Candidate Education LOBBYING or advocacy campaigns

22 SUPPORTING OR CRITICIZING INCUMBENTS Focus on Legislative Issues Continue Ongoing Support/Criticism Don t Support/Criticize Personal Characteristics CRITICIZING OR SUPPORTING INCUMBENTS

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24 SUPPORTING OR CRITICIZING INCUMBENTS Focus on Legislative Issues Continue Ongoing Support/Criticism Don t Support/Criticize Personal Characteristics CRITICIZING OR SUPPORTING INCUMBENTS

25 SUPPORTING OR CRITICIZING INCUMBENTS Focus on Legislative Issues Continue Ongoing Support/Criticism Don t Support/Criticize Personal Characteristics CRITICIZING OR SUPPORTING INCUMBENTS

26 ISSUE ADVOCACY Lobbying/ Advocacy Campaigns Criticizing Incumbents Legislative Scorecards Candidate Education LEGISLATIVE SCORECARDS

27 Sent to PUBLIC Published REGULARLY Includes ALL LEGISLATORS BROAD Range of Issues AVOIDS Commentary Sent to MEMBERS Published REGULARLY Includes ALL LEGISLATORS NARROW Range of Issues Commentary ALLOWED

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29 Issue Advocacy Advocating for organization s issues during election year Candidate Education Helping candidates understand the importance of your issues Voter Education Educating voters in a nonpartisan way about candidates Voter Outreach Registering voters, getting out the vote Ballot Measures Support or oppose state or local ballot measures Election Year Activities

30 ISSUE ADVOCACY Lobbying/ Advocacy Campaigns Supporting or Criticizing Incumbents Legislative Scorecards Candidate Education CANDIDATE EDUCATION

31 CANDIDATE EDUCATION Offer to all Use only what is already gathered Only create new information if organization has reason to do so

32 Issue Advocacy Advocating for organization s issues during election year Candidate Education Helping candidates understand the importance of your issues Voter Education Educating voters in a nonpartisan way about candidates Voter Outreach Registering voters, getting out the vote Ballot Measures Support or oppose state or local ballot measures Election Year Activities

33 VOTER EDUCATION candidate questionnaires candidate debates and forums candidate appearances CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRES appearances unrelated to candidacy

34 QUESTIONS Unbiased questions Open-Ended Questions Distribute to all candidates Broad range of issues No Pledges FORMATTING No editing Present responses equally Disclaimers CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRES

35 QUESTIONS Unbiased Questions Open-Ended Questions Distribute to all Candidates Broad Range of Issues No Pledges FORMATTING No Editing Present Responses Equally Disclaimers

36 QUESTIONS unbiased questions open-ended questions distribute to all candidates broad range of issues no pledges FORMATTING no editing present responses equally Neither the League of Women Voters Education Fund nor any of its partners takes any position on or expresses any preference about the issues or candidates displayed on this site. The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose candidates or political parties. disclaimers

37 VOTER EDUCATION candidate questionnaires candidate debates and forums candidate appearances DEBATES & FORUMS appearances unrelated to candidacy

38 QUESTIONS Unbiased Questions Broad Range of Issues FORMAT Invite all Viable Candidates Fair Rules Impartial Moderator Unbiased Audience Equal Opportunity No Contextual Favoritism

39 VOTER EDUCATION candidate questionnaires candidate debates & forums candidate appearances CANDIDATE APPEARANCES appearances unrelated to candidacy

40 CANDIDATE APPEARANCES Equal opportunity required No contextual favoritism Invite all viable candidates

41 VOTER EDUCATION candidate questionnaires candidate debates and forums candidate appearances APPEARANCE UNRELATED TO CANDIDACY appearances unrelated to candidacy

42 APPEARANCE UNRELATED TO CANDIDACY Awards & Policy Updates No Equal Opportunity Required Avoid Mentioning Candidacy Don t Time to Coincide with Election Disclaimers and Letters

43 Issue Advocacy Advocating for organization s issues during election year Candidate Education Helping candidates understand the importance of your issues Voter Education Educating voters in a nonpartisan way about candidates Voter Outreach Registering voters, getting out the vote Ballot Measures Support or oppose state or local ballot measures Election Year Activities

44 VOTER REGISTRATION No Reference to Party/Candidate No Suggestion of Who to Vote For Make Service Available to EVERYONE Targeting for NONPARTISAN Reason

45 VOTER REGISTRATION No Reference to Party/Candidate No Suggestion of Who to Vote For Make Service Available to EVERYONE Targeting for NONPARTISAN Reason

46 VOTER REGISTRATION No Reference to Party/Candidate No Suggestion of Who to Vote For Make Service Available to EVERYONE Targeting for NONPARTISAN Reason

47 VOTER REGISTRATION No Reference to Party/Candidate No Suggestion of Who to Vote For Make Service Available to EVERYONE Targeting for NONPARTISAN Reason

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50 Issue Advocacy Advocating for organization s issues during election year Candidate Education Helping candidates understand the importance of your issues Voter Education Educating voters in a nonpartisan way about candidates Voter Outreach Registering voters, getting out the vote Ballot Measures Support or oppose state or local ballot measures Election Year Activities

51 Advocating for or against a ballot measure is lobbying, not political.

52 Limits lobbying at all levels of government, must stay nonpartisan Requires disclosure of state ballot measure advocacy YOU CAN DO IT!

53 State Law Resources

54 FOR MORE INFORMATION:

55 WEST COAST Oakland, CA EAST COAST Washington, DC Los Angeles, CA TEXAS Dallas, TX

56 CLC website Register to Vote Find Candidate Information Browse Races by State Key Dates in each State Links to Voter Registration Information for each state including eligibility information, checking registration, ID requirements, etc. Information on Absentee Voting in Each State Help Finding Polling Places

57 Electoral Advocacy Materials Every Child Matters- Many Issues and materials. Digital Dialogue Securing America s Future: Children and the 2016 Election Report Electoral Advocacy Technical Assistance Alliance for Justice Information on Elections and Candidates CLC Website State Board of Elections websites National and State statistics on children Information on Ballot Measures Nonprofit Vote Children s Defense Fund Annie E. Casey Foundation Resources and Additional Information

58 National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference, Feb 28- Mar 1 in Washington, DC Visit Election-related Affinity Group Webinars on candidate and voter education and voter registration

59 Join Vote to End Hunger today at Facebook:

60 Thank You! Alex Ashbrook Randi Schmidt Bolder Advocacy