Restrictions on Nonprofit Political Activity

The following information is a basic overview of what is and is not permissible voter mobilization activity for 501 (c)(3) nonprofits.

Things you CAN do as a 501(c)(3) organization

• Conduct voter registration and nonpartisan get-out-the-vote (“GOTV”) efforts.
• Drives must be designed to educate the public about the importance of voting. 
• Activities cannot be biased for or against any candidate or party. 
• Nonprofits can target areas in nonpartisan ways. For instance, nonprofits may target low-turnout areas, low-income populations, minority populations, and students. 
• Nonprofits may target registration and turnout efforts to the areas or people they serve.

• Educate the public on issues and encourage participation in the political process. 
• Educate all candidates and political parties on your issues.
• Conduct or participate in a nonpartisan candidate forum. The forum must be open to all candidates, be run in a balanced way, and include a broad range of nonpartisan questions for the candidates. 
• Make presentations on your organization’s issue to platform committees, campaign staff, candidates, media, and the general public.
• Work on behalf of a ballot measure. 
• Continue your normal lobbying on issues.
• Rent or sell mailing lists to candidates at fair market value, if made available to all candidates.

Things you CANNOT do as a 501(c)(3) organization

These restrictions in no way prohibit officers, members, or employees from participating in a political campaign as private citizens. 

• Endorse or oppose a candidate—implicit or explicit. Contribute money, time, or facilities to a candidate.
• Coordinate activities with a candidate.
• Restrict rental of your mailing list and facilities to certain candidates.
• Set up, fund, or manage a Political Action Committee (PAC), established under section 527 of the tax code mainly for electoral activity.

More Information

Minnesota Participation Project

MPP is an exciting effort to support and expand the capacity of Minnesota nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations to effectively engage in permissible non-partisan voter engagement efforts—registration, voter education, and get-out-the-vote (GOTV) activities—in 2006 and beyond.

Alliance For Justice

The Nonprofit Advocacy Project works to strengthen the voice of the nonprofit sector in important public policy debates by giving tax-exempt organizations a better understanding of the laws that govern their participation in the policy process.

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Last Updated: Thursday, August 7, 2008
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