Conservation Advocate

Just another WordPress site

Donate | Updates | Contact   
You are here: Home / Get Out the Vote

Get Out the Vote

501(c)(3) non-profit organizations may not endorse or oppose candidates; however, nonprofits may engage in nonpartisan outreach efforts that encourage constituents to participate in the election process. Nonpartisan simply means no partiality to any one candidate or political group.

Nonprofit VOTE, an organization dedicated to providing resources to nonprofits on election activity, identifies the following activities as permissible for 501(c)(3) organizations to participate in:

  • Conduct or Promote Voter Registration
  • Host or Co-Sponsor a Candidate Forum
  • Distribute Nonpartisan Sample Ballots, Candidate Questionnaires, or Voter Guides
  • Continue Issue Advocacy During an Election
  • Educate Voters on the Voting Process
  • Encourage Staff to Serve as Poll Workers or Translators
  • Educate the Candidates on Your Issues
  • Support or Oppose a Ballot Measure
  • Organize Get-Out-the-Vote Activities
  • Encourage and Remind People to Vote

Learn more by downloading Nonprofit VOTE’s 501(c)(3) Permissible Activities Checklist

VOTER ENGAGEMENT RESOURCES

  • A Voter Participation Starter Kit (Nonprofit VOTE)
  • Seven Principles for Getting Out the Vote (Nonprofit VOTE)
  • Nonprofit Get Out the Vote PPT (Nonprofit VOTE)
  • Getting Started with Voter Engagement (Nonprofit VOTE)
  • Nonprofits, Voting, Elections: A 501(c)(3) Guide to Nonpartisan Voter Registration (Nonprofit VOTE)
  • Get Out the Vote (The United States Junior Chamber)

VOTER EDUCATION RESOURCES

  • Voter Education (Nonprofit VOTE)
  • Find Your Polling Place (PA Department of State)
  • Vote411.org (League of Women Voters

VOTER REGISTRATION RESOURCES

  • A Nonprofit’s Guide to Voter Registration (Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network)
  • National Voter Registration Act Fact Sheet (NonProfit VOTE)
  • PA Online Voter Registration
  • Pennsylvania Voting Guide  (Fair Elections Legal Network)
  • A Voter Registration Toolkit (NonProfit VOTE)

IRS GUIDANCE

  • Election Year Activities and the Prohibition on Political Campaign Intervention for Section(c)(3) Organizations
  • Restriction of Political Campaign Intervention by Section 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organizations
  • How to Lose your 501©(3) Tax-Exempt Status (Without Even Trying)
  • IRS Compliance Guide for 501(c)(3) Public Charities

Land Trusts, Trail Groups, Local Governments, and Other Landowners Get New Liability Protection

October 25, 2018

On October 24, 2018, Governor Wolf signed Act 98 into law. Act 98 amends the Pennsylvania Recreation Use of Land and Water Act (RULWA) to better protect from liability those who open their properties to the public for recreation without charge. Improvements to the law include: Explicitly listing paths, paved and unpaved trails, fishing and […]

Governor Signs HB 2468

June 25, 2018

Governor Wolf quietly signed HB 2468 (and several other bills) into law on Sunday, June 24. The bill is now Act 45 of 2018. A correction to the previous PALTA communication: Act 45 should apply retroactively to McCormick Farm, so, hopefully, the Cumberland Valley School District will cease its pursuit of the farm. The district […]

HB 2468 Is on Governor’s Desk

June 25, 2018

Friday evening, after the Senate passed HB 2468 (37-12), the House voted to concur (177-15) with the Senate’s changes to the bill. The governor is expected to sign the bill. This is a thrilling victory for conservation! This landmark, bipartisan legislation provides a crucial safeguard for conservation easements from the unnecessary exercise of eminent domain […]

Issues

  • Public Investments in Conservation
  • Protection of Public Parks & Open Space
  • Conservation Incentives
  • State Budget
  • PA Constitution and the Environment
  • PA Conservation-Related Laws

Advocacy Resources

  • Find Your Legislator
  • Get Out the Vote
  • Become a Conservation Advocate
  • Legislative Outreach Tutorial
  • Rules for Nonprofits
  • Advocacy Links
About Us | Archive
ConservationAdvocate.org is administered by the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association.