Ballot Measure Advocacy Webinar Materials

Yesterday's webinar, Laws on the Ballot: Ballot Measure Advocacy for Nonprofits, is now available. Many thanks to Nayantara Mehta of the Alliance for Justice for joining us to share her expertise.

Watch the presentation on YouTube. If you subscribe to our channel, you'll be notified whenever new content is posted. You can also download the PowerPoint presentation and the audio portion of the presentation, or browse all of our nonpartisan resources on ballot measure education and advocacy.

Register now for next Thursday's webinar to learn how your nonprofit can participate in National Voter Registration Day on September 24th!

Thursday's Webinar: Ballot Measure Advocacy

There's still time to register for Thursday's webinar. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how your nonprofit can work for or against a ballot measure:
 
Laws on the Ballot: Ballot Measure Advocacy for Nonprofits
Thursday July 25th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

Although nonprofits cannot support or oppose candidates, they can take a stand on ballot measures. Ballot measure advocacy is an effective way to engage and advocate for your community and its interests. Join us for details on how ballot measures--as well as amendments and referendums--provide yet another nonpartisan opportunity to connect with your audience, collaborate with partners, and build relationships--all while advancing your mission and goals.

Featured Presenter: Nayantara Mehta is Senior Counsel with Alliance for Justice in Oakland, CA. She works through the Bolder Advocacy Initiative to support nonprofit advocacy and voter engagement, to help strengthen the capacity of the public interest community to influence public policy. She provides training and technical assistance to nonprofit and foundation staff and board members around the country on the rules governing advocacy, lobbying and election activities.

July 25th: Ballot Measure Advocacy for Nonprofits

Did you know that working for or against a ballot measure is considered lobbying (not electioneering) and is therefore a permissible activity for 501(c)(3) organizations? Learn more during our next webinar:
 
Laws on the Ballot: Ballot Measure Advocacy for Nonprofits
Thursday July 25th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

Although nonprofits cannot support or oppose candidates, they can take a stand on ballot measures. Ballot measure advocacy is an effective way to engage and advocate for your community and its interests. Join us for details on how ballot measures--as well as amendments and referendums--provide yet another nonpartisan opportunity to connect with your audience, collaborate with partners, and build relationships--all while advancing your mission and goals.

Featured Presenter: Nayantara Mehta is Senior Counsel with Alliance for Justice in Oakland, CA. She works through the Bolder Advocacy Initiative to support nonprofit advocacy and voter engagement, to help strengthen the capacity of the public interest community to influence public policy. She provides training and technical assistance to nonprofit and foundation staff and board members around the country on the rules governing advocacy, lobbying and election activities.

Ballot Measures: What Nonprofits Can Do

On November 6th voters will decide the fate of 176 ballot measures in 38 states. They cover a range of issues including taxes and revenue, immigrant rights, public services, criminal justice, voter ID requirements, and same-sex marriage.

While nonprofits cannot endorse or oppose candidates for office, they can engage their communities around ballot measures. Remember, ballot measures are laws, not candidates and activity for or against a ballot measure is considered lobbying not electioneering. Therefore, you can:

1. Take a stand on a ballot measure and encourage a "yes" or "no" vote.
2. Provide neutral information on a ballot measure explaining what a "yes" or "no" vote means as a nonpartisan education activity.

Browse our ballot measure resources--like our Nonprofits and Ballot Measures factsheet and training video featuring the Alliance for Justice--to learn more about working on ballot measures.

Check out Bolder Advocacy's Ballot Measure Toolkit for nonprofits and foundations and see a complete list of 2012 ballot questions provided by Ballotpedia.

Voters need a reason to go to the polls, and you can give them one by talking about the ballot measures under consideration. Encourage voters to turnout by reminding them that they can have a direct impact on these issues simply by voting. Find out what's on your ballot by contacting your local elections office for a sample ballot.

Need other ideas? Download 10 Things to Do Between Now and Election Day.

Keeping Track of Your Nonprofit's Advocacy

Bolder Advocacy (Alliance for Justice) recently released Keeping Track: A Guide to Recordkeeping for Advocacy Charities. The guide is designed to help nonprofit staff and board members track the lobbying activities of their organization and accurately report those activities to the IRS. The guide contains sample forms and multiple options for tracking staff time, overhead expenses, and direct costs.

Remember that if your nonprofit takes a stand on a ballot measure, you are in fact lobbying and your efforts are subject to normal lobbying limits. This guide can help you better understand and comply with federal tax laws by tracking your lobbying activities.

Learn more about nonprofit ballot measure advocacy and download "Keeping Track".

Access Yesterday's Ballot Measure Webinar Materials

Yesterday's webinar, Taking a Stand: Ballot Measure Advocacy for Nonprofits, is now available! Thank you to our wonderful presenters, Nayantara Mehta, Senior Counsel at the Alliance for Justice, West Coast and Cathy Johnston, Advocacy Director at the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, for joining us!

You can watch the presentation on YouTube, and if you subscribe to our channel, you'll be notified whenever new content is posted. You can also download the PowerPoint presentation and the audio portion of the presentation, or browse all of our resources on nonprofits and ballot measures.

If you're interested in dipping your toes into candidate engagement, register for our upcoming webinar on May 24th, Engage Candidates and Build Clout: How to Host a Candidate Forum. RSVP today!

Thursday: Ballot Measure Webinar

There's still time to register for this week's webinar! If you've already registered, consider inviting a friend or spreading the word among your networks--we want every nonprofit to feel comfortable engaging in ballot measure activities this year!

Taking a Stand: Ballot Measure Advocacy for Nonprofits
Thursday May 10th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

Many states put laws, constitutional amendments, and referendums on the ballot, asking voters to make critical public policy decisions at the polls. Often, the outcome directly affects our organizations and communities, so we have a vested interest in the results. Although nonprofits cannot endorse or oppose a candidate, they can take a stand on ballot measures. Learn how your nonprofit can benefit from engaging the public around ballot measures, as well as how to advance your advocacy efforts through ballot measure activity.

Featured Presenter: Nayantara Mehta is Senior Counsel with the Alliance for Justice,  working to help strengthen the capacity of the public interest community to influence public policy and engage around elections. She conducts trainings throughout the country on the rules governing advocacy and lobbying by public charities and private foundations.

Don't Be Shy, Engage the Candidates!

This month we're hosting two webinars! The first is the perfect opportunity to brainstorm ways to use ballot measures to educate your clients and further your public policy goals.

Taking a Stand: Ballot Measure Advocacy for Nonprofits
Thursday May 10th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

Many states put laws, constitutional amendments, and referendums on the ballot, asking voters to make critical public policy decisions at the polls. Often, the outcome directly affects our organizations and communities, so we have a vested interest in the results. Although nonprofits cannot endorse or oppose a candidate, they can take a stand on ballot measures. Learn how your nonprofit can benefit from engaging the public around ballot measures, as well as how to advance your advocacy efforts through ballot measure activity.

Featured Presenter: Nayantara Mehta is Senior Counsel with the Alliance for Justice in Oakland, California, and works to help strengthen the capacity of the public interest community to influence public policy and engage around elections. She conducts trainings throughout the country on the rules governing advocacy and lobbying by public charities and private foundations. She holds a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall), an M.A. from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. from the College of William and Mary in Virginia.