Sunday, October 28, 2007

Nonprofit Law Podcast #20: Election season series - voter registration and GOTV

Election season series - voter registration and GOTV

Download: Nonprofit Law Podcast #20 (mp3, 10:39)

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

Voter registration -registering people to vote
GOTV - getting people to the polls, or otherwise aiding them to vote

501(c)(3)s
Purely nonpartisan
One permissible goal - getting people to exercise their right to vote
Permissible to target activities if based on nonpartisan criteria like location and audience
May not target based upon the way a group votes
May target if a disadvantaged or underrepresented group or targeted group has common interest
Do discuss a broad range of issues
Don’t suggest a correct position
Vote green. Register here. - NO
You can have an impact on the decisions affecting your life. Register to vote now. - YES
Let’s get out the pro-choice vote. Register here. - NO

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

527s
Partisan "slant" ok

Resources

AFJ's Rules of the Game

Closing

Email me with questions and suggested topics
AP audio & handbook on using the Internet, podcasting and social networking for your nonprofit - 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.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Nonprofit Law Podcast #19: Election season series - ballot measures

Election season series - ballot measures

Download: Nonprofit Law Podcast #19 (mp3, 7:09)

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

Ballot Measures
Also, referenda, ballot questions, bond measures, state questions, etc.
Legislation that is considered by voters
Work for or against is considered a hybrid... lobbying by tax law, election activity by state election law

501(c)(3)s
Limited capacity to work on ballot measures
Reporting requirements and registration usually required under state laws

Other organizations?
Lobbying not an issue under tax law
Reporting requirements and registration usually required under state laws

Resources

AFJ's Rules of the Game
AFJ's Seize the Initiative

Closing

Email me with questions and suggested topics
AP audio & handbook on using the Internet, podcasting and social networking for your nonprofit - 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.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Nonprofit Law Podcast #18: Election season series - renting mailing lists

Election season series - renting mailing lists

Download: Nonprofit Law Podcast #18 (mp3, 5:35)

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

501(c)(3)s can rent their mailing lists to candidates!?
A 501(c)(3) may rent mailing lists to political candidates
Must make the list available to all candidates
IRS is likely to look less favorably on such list rentals if the 501(c)(3) does not make such lists available to the public on a regular basis on the same terms that the lists are made available to candidates
Best practices - use a list broker

Other organizations?
Less of an issue since they can support or oppose candidates
Watch out for contribution prohibitions

Resources

AFJ's Rules of the Game
IRS Fact Sheet 2006-17

Closing

Email me with questions and suggested topics
Audio guide on using the Internet, podcasting and social networking for your nonprofit coming soon- 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.

Sunday, October 7, 2007

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.