On this episode, we’re diving into a topic that’s especially important in today’s high-stakes advocacy environment — threats to your tax-exempt status. Yes, we’re talking about that precious 501(c)(3) status, the one that lets your organization do good in the world without paying taxes, and with the constant challenge of figuring out how to advocate, influence policy, and make change without accidentally stepping into ‘oops, we might lose our status’ territory.

Attorneys for this Episode

Monika Graham

Victor Rivera

Special guests, interns Ariana and Cecilia

Shownotes

• Lobbying 101 for 501(c)(3) Public Charities
• Direct vs. grassroots lobbying
• The 501(h) election and why it matters
• Tracking expenditures and staying under federal limits
• Election Season Advocacy Without the Partisanship Pitfalls
• What nonpartisan really means (and the surprisingly small actions that can cross the line)
• Safe activities: voter education, GOTV efforts, and issue-focused advocacy
• Timing, audience, content, and motive — the four factors the IRS cares about
• Common Allegations and How to Defend Against Them
• Exceeding lobbying limits
• Misuse of restricted or federal funds
• Partisanship accusations in disguise
• Best Practices to Protect Your Organization
• Documentation systems that actually work (and don’t make your staff revolt)
• Internal policies and staff training that stick
• Tools and software for tracking lobbying (and why cross-departmental collaboration matters)
• Real-World Case Examples
• Increased government scrutiny and oversight
• How nonprofits are adapting their compliance tracking in 2025

Resources

• Being a Player
• Rules of the Game
• Influencing Policy in the Digital Age
• Preparing for Politically Motivated Attacks