The recent event on nonpartisan advocacy, led by Nona Randois, General Counsel at the Alliance for Justice, offered valuable insights into how public charities (501(c)(3)s) can navigate election cycles while remaining nonpartisan. The session highlighted the various ways nonprofits can still engage in issue advocacy and voter education, even during election season, without violating legal guidelines. Randois stressed that while nonprofits can advocate on ballot measures, they must avoid endorsing or opposing specific candidates. With the right understanding of nonpartisanship, nonprofits can drive voter engagement and turnout efforts, playing a crucial role in strengthening democracy.

Topics covered:

Issue Advocacy: How nonprofits can continue advocating for their issues during election years.

Voter Education: The legal framework for conducting candidate forums and distributing questionnaires.

Objective Responses: How to respond to candidate statements without showing bias.

Voter Registration & Mobilization: Conducting nonpartisan voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts.

Ballot Measures: Guidelines on safely supporting or opposing ballot measures without being partisan.

Partisan Activities: How to separate staff and volunteers’ personal partisan activities from their organizational roles.

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The session, moderated by Rose Chan Loui, Executive Director of UCLA’s Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofits, also addressed the risks associated with advocacy close to election day. The event wrapped up with practical advice on minimizing legal risks and ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations.

This session was approved for 1.25 hours of MCLE credit by UCLA School of Law, a State Bar of California-approved MCLE provider.

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