Nonprofit Advocacy Training

Date

Saturday, September 24, 2022
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Event Description

Title
Nonprofit Advocacy Training

Facilitator
Quyen Tu, Bolder Advocacy at Alliance For Justice

This six-hour intensive in-person training is perfect for nonprofits interested in developing and elevating their advocacy program. The training is two workshops rolled into one that’s designed for both nonprofit board members and staff to participate together! You’ll learn about the lobbying and election year activities that nonprofits can engage in just in time for the 2022 General Election, 2023 state and federal legislative sessions.

We encourage board and senior staff of nonprofits to register as a cohort to maximize the full benefits of the training. This training is available to NAO members only. Not a member? Join today!

Part One: Advocacy and Lobbying 101: Legal Tips for 501(c)(3)

Nonprofit Advocates 501(c)(3)s play an important role in educating the public about policy issues and actions taken by elected officials. Elected officials vote on bills, make public statements and executive decisions, and set the course for public policy on a wide range of issues. These actions may be consistent with or conflict with a nonprofit’s mission or position on an issue. After this workshop you will have a clear understanding of how to maximize your advocacy, the kinds of advocacy activities 501(c)(3)s can engage in, and when a communication is considered lobbying.

Participants will learn:

How federal tax law permits lobbying for charities and how lobbying is defined;
One easy step most charities can take to maximize the amount they’re allowed to spend on lobbying;
Yearly lobbying limits for charities;
Tips for taking advantage of the narrow definitions of lobbying – which will help charities make the most of their lobbying limit; and
Any differences in tracking lobbying efforts of paid staff v. volunteer board members; and
The application of these rules to ballot measure activities.

Part Two: Nonpartisan Advocacy in Partisan Times

Election years provide a great opportunity for public charities to highlight issues and interact with candidates and the voting public. However, public charities cannot support or oppose candidates, and must avoid the appearance or reality of electioneering and other partisan activity, particularly in public and social media communications. This workshop will highlight some common pitfalls and provide suggestions and tips for avoiding them.

Participants will learn:

How you can continue to advocate for your issues during election years;
How you can educate the public through candidate forums and questionnaires;
How you can respond to candidate statements;
How you can conduct nonpartisan voter registration and ensure get-out-the-vote efforts are conducted legally;
How you can safely support or oppose ballot measures without being partisan; and
How staff and volunteers’ partisan activities in their personal time can be kept separate from their activities on behalf of the organization.

For questions about this event contact, Phillip Kennedy-Wong, NAO's Director of Public Policy at: pkennedy-wong@nonprofitoregon.org.

For accommodation requests, please contact us at training@nonprofitoregon.org. Advanced notice of at least 10 days is appreciated.

About the Facilitator

Facilitator
Quyen Tu, Senior Counsel at Alliance for Justice, Bolder Advocacy Program

Quyen is the Southern California Counsel for the Bolder Advocacy program at Alliance for Justice and is based in AFJ’s Southern California office. Through trainings and technical assistance, she supports nonprofit organizations in pursuing legal and effective advocacy to create systems change.

She is a long-time active member of the American Bar Association, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and the Orange County Asian American Bar Association. Quyen’s work in these associations has focused on diversity in the bench and bar, and access to justice.

Quyen earned her B.A. at the University of California, San Diego and her J.D. at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. Prior to joining AFJ, Quyen had her own law practice, focusing on consumer protection litigation and advising social enterprises including benefit corporations, certified B Corps, and social purpose corporations.

Outside of work, Quyen volunteers at local and global Habitat for Humanity build sites (Los Angeles, Orange County, Nepal, Jordan, Chile, and counting). When she is not hammering or mixing mortar, Quyen runs, bikes, and learns new yoga poses to maintain her sanity, and more importantly, to compensate for her love of ice cream.