Challenges for Politically Engaged 501(c)(3)s: What is Permitted/Prohibited?

BUILDING POWER SERIES: WORKSHOP #1

Our March 2015 Workshop: Challenges for Politically Engaged 501(c)(3)s: What is Permitted/Prohibited?

Monday, March 23, 2015
11:00 to 1:00 PM

California Community Foundation
Joan Palevsky Center, 281 S. Figueroa Street
Downtown Los Angeles, California (map)

While nonprofit organizations are usually aware of IRS-imposed limitations on their political advocacy and lobbying activities, they are often less aware that when engaging in lobbying, they must also comply with federal, state, and local election or lobbying laws. These laws govern efforts to influence pending legislative and administrative matters.
 
Essentially, lobbying and election laws regulate all persons and organizations that spend a threshold amount of time or money attempting to influence governmental decisions by making direct contacts with policy makers. While federal, state, and local jurisdictions often have unique registration obligations, oversight agencies, disclosure requirements, and penalties for noncompliance, the underlying regulatory frameworks of the laws are substantially the same.
 
This presentation will compare and contrast the application of such laws on the advocacy activities of a hypothetical nonprofit housing developer located in Los Angeles, and follow it as it successfully navigates election and lobbying laws in its effort to advocate for increases to funding for affordable housing.

This event includes a lunch.

There is a small $10 registration fee to cover the costs of this workshop for SCANPH members ($25 for non-SCANPH members). There is also a special reduced rate of $10 for special guests (code required). Reduced parking rate of $13/daily in the parking structure is also available with validation at the workshop.