Nonprofit Law Podcast #17: Election season series - debates & forums

Election season series - debates and forums

Download: Nonprofit Law Podcast #17 (mp3, 10:43)

Shownotes

Intro

Tim Mooney… Welcome to the Nonprofit Law Podcast
Your guide to the laws impacting nonprofits.
Shownotes…. nplawcast.com
Email the show

Month long series on election activity

Focuses on public charities, other 501(c)s and 527s
Covering voter guides, debates & forums, renting mailing lists, ballot measures, and voter registration/GOTV
Why now? Many nonprofits are already planning 2008 and some are already engaged in it
Don't do any of these things? Still important to know in case something unexpected comes up

Debates & forums

Debate - multiple candidates on "stage" at same time
Forum - one at a time appearance

501(c)(3)s
Purely nonpartisan
Broad range of issues
Unbiased questions
Invite all viable candidates
Apply the rules fairly
Impartial moderator
Unbiased audience
Forums - no contextual favoritism
Special issue - inviting candidate for non-candidate reason (award, etc.) ok so long as it is not timed to coincide with the election

Other 501(c)s
Partisan "slant" ok, but it would then count towards secondary activity, so watch amount

527s
Forums and rallies typical

Resources

AFJ's Rules of the Game

Closing

Email me with questions and suggested topics
Audio guide on using the Internet, podcasting and social networking for your nonprofit coming later this week - go to nplawcast.com for details.
Need more than a podcast? Tim-Mooney.com
nplawcast.com

This podcast provides general information about legal topics but it is not a complete discussion of all legal issues that arise in relation to nonprofits nor is it a substitute for legal advice. This podcast does not create an attorney-client relationship. This is general legal information and the contributors make no warranties regarding the general legal information provided in this podcast , and disclaim liability for damages resulting from its use to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law.