Political Issues for 501(c)(3) Nonprofits

While a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization can be a powerful tool for good in this country, there are severe restrictions on their engagement in direct political action. The most common guidance for nonprofits stepping into the political arena is: "Don't". Nevertheless, if an attorney advising a nonprofit takes the time to learn the field, there are a number of tools and tricks they can use to make their client's voice heard (without disrupting their tax-exempt status). In this course, attorney Todd Kulkin will provide a top-down view of the dead-ends and avenues for political engagement by a 501(c)(3) organization. This will help you to spot problems before they arise, and provide you with new tools to magnify your nonprofit clients' impact for good. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Review the tax structure of 501(c)(3) organizations
2. Identify the basic forms of 501(c)(3) non-profit relationships with political entities
3. Use the "friends-of" tool for tax-exempt donor aggregation
4. Manage compliance issues with international donors
5. Dissect the Johnson Amendment: understanding the amendment and advising clients in the wake of Trump's Executive Order
6. Support your organization's ideals and goals while remaining non-partisan