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The 2012 election is now behind us, so it is time to focus on your advocacy efforts. But, with major state and local elections this year, and the 2014 mid-terms fast approaching, your nonprofit organization has to quickly get ready to be on the political field as well. This program will help you get ready for both.
- Political Giving
-Learn how to maximize PAC receipts and make sure that you are following all of the FEC’s rules.
-Learn how to use the PAC in state elections or where you can simply make corporate contributions. - Independent Expenditures
-The story has been all about huge ad buys by Super PACs, but your nonprofit can have a large impact through much smaller independent expenditures.
-What do you have to disclose if you do independent expenditures?
-What are your members thinking about independent expenditures and will they let you use their membership dues to fund them?
-What has to be disclosed? - What your 501(c)(3) can do without intervening in an election
-Candidate questionnaires, voter guides, and candidate forums are all lawful ways to be involved.
-How can individual officers and other leaders of the organization get involved in electoral politics without jeopardizing the organization’s tax-exempt status? - Lobbying Disclosure
-What is required under the federal rules and what are the best practices to help us withstand an audit?
-What if my organization is active in more than one state? How do I register and report? How do we track time and expenses for reporting purposes? - Lobbying Tax Issues
-501(c)(3) organizations are limited in the amounts they can spend on lobbying.
-Funding from private foundations for lobbying can be tricky.
-501(c)(6) associations have to disclose to their members what percentage of membership dues are nondeductible as business expenses. How does this relate to my lobbying disclosure? - Gift Rules
-Having officials attend widely attended events, receptions and charitable events.
-Travel, fly-ins and informational materials.
Speakers
Ronald M. Jacobs, Esq., Partner, Venable LLP
Lawrence H. Norton, Esq., Partner, Venable LLP
Janice M. Ryan, Esq., Associate, Venable LLP