In a February 27, 2014 Huffington Post article, Venable partner Ron Jacobs was quoted on the issue of nonprofits spending non-political grant money on political activities. Concern has risen over nonprofits sponsoring political campaigns – even when their donors order them not to – without having to reveal their funding sources.
Jacobs said that most nonprofits err on the side of caution when it comes to how they spend grants designated for non-political purposes. He said he works with trade associations that are careful to use grant money from similar groups on appropriate non-political activity such as promoting “common business interests.”
Jacobs noted that “There’s not a lot [of regulation] on how grants are counted right now” adding that “there’s nothing that requires the [grantor] to look at how [the money] was actually spent.”
Jacobs said that most nonprofits err on the side of caution when it comes to how they spend grants designated for non-political purposes. He said he works with trade associations that are careful to use grant money from similar groups on appropriate non-political activity such as promoting “common business interests.”
Jacobs noted that “There’s not a lot [of regulation] on how grants are counted right now” adding that “there’s nothing that requires the [grantor] to look at how [the money] was actually spent.”