Elections present a great opportunity to interact with candidates for elected offices.  As a 501(c)(3) organization, you can't endorse or support candidates.  However, this does not mean you shouldn't use campaigns to get your issues in front of the candidates.  A campaign is a chance for your nonprofit to build relationships, share your policy ideas and influence future debate.

Here are six ways charities can connect to candidates during elections.  The "for more" provides links to resources to ensure the activity is nonpartisan.

Sponsor a Candidate Forum

When you sponsor a candidate forum, your nonprofit gets connected with the candidates, raising your profile with future elected officials and candidates for office. A candidate forum puts the candidates in front of voters from your neighborhood to state their positions, answer questions and respond to each other and the audience. 

Have a Candidate Attend an Event

You may invite candidates to attend one of your events.  The invitation itself gets your name in front of the candidates.  Having a candidate attend an event provides an informal opportunity for your constituents, board and staff to meet office seekers.

For more:  The nonpartisan guidelines are the same as holding a candidate forum.

Do a Candidate Questionnaire

Candidate questionnaires let candidates know about the issues you care about.  Ask the candidates to answer a set of questions.  Post their answers on your website or turn them into a nonpartisan candidate guide.  Questionnaires take time to prepare and conduct, so you may want to  consider collaborating with a partner or coalition.

For more:  NonprofitVOTE 501c3 Guide; IRS Factsheet; Alliance for Justice

Share Your Policy Ideas

Elected officials can benefit from your ideas year-round.  During elections, they need the latest research and fresh ideas to answer questions and connect to voters.  You're an expert in your field.  Make your existing research and ideas available to all candidates

For more:  NonprofitVOTE 501c3 Online Guide

Attend Candidate Events

You can ask questions at candidate events.  If you are representing your nonprofit, however, your approach must be nonpartisan (e.g., you must ask the same questions at the events of all candidates for the same office. )

For more:  What Staff Can Do Factsheet

Set up a 501(c)(4) Organization

Nonprofits who do more legislative advocacy often establish a related 501(c)(4) organization.  501(c)(4) organizations may do an unlimited amount of lobbying.  They may also do partisan election activity so long as election work is secondary to its primary purpose.  Donors to a 501(c)(4) organization do not get a tax deduction.

For more:  Alliance for Justice nonprofit advocacy resources, IRS 501c4 Guide

Elections present a great opportunity to interact with candidates for elected offices. As a 501(c)(3) organization, you can't endorse or support candidates. However, this does not mean you shouldn't use campaigns to get your issues in front of the candidates. A campaign is a chance for your nonprofit to build relationships, share your policy ideas and influence future debate.

Here are six ways charities can connect to candidates during elections. The "for more" provides links to resources to ensure the activity is nonpartisan.

Sponsor a Candidate Forum

When you sponsor a candidate forum, your nonprofit gets connected with the candidates, raising your profile with future elected officials and candidates for office. A candidate forum puts the candidates in front of voters from your neighborhood to state their positions, answer questions and respond to each other and the audience.

Have a Candidate Attend an Event

You may invite candidates to attend one of your events. The invitation itself gets your name in front of the candidates. Having a candidate attend an event provides an informal opportunity for your constituents, board and staff to meet office seekers.

For more: The nonpartisan guidelines are the same as holding a candidate forum.

Do a Candidate Questionnaire

Candidate questionnaires let candidates know about the issues you care about. Ask the candidates to answer a set of questions. Post their answers on your website or turn them into a nonpartisan candidate guide. Questionnaires take time to prepare and conduct, so you may want to consider collaborating with a partner or coalition.

For more: NonprofitVOTE 501c3 Guide; IRS Factsheet; Alliance for Justice

Share Your Policy Ideas

Elected officials can benefit from your ideas year-round. During elections, they need the latest research and fresh ideas to answer questions and connect to voters. You're an expert in your field. Make your existing research and ideas available to all candidates

For more: NonprofitVOTE 501c3 Online Guide

Attend Candidate Events

You can ask questions at candidate events. If you are representing your nonprofit, however, your approach must be nonpartisan (e.g., you must ask the same questions at the events of all candidates for the same office. )

For more: What Staff Can Do Factsheet

Set up a 501(c)(4) Organization

Nonprofits who do more legislative advocacy often establish a related 501(c)(4) organization. 501(c)(4) organizations may do an unlimited amount of lobbying. They may also do partisan election activity so long as election work is secondary to its primary purpose. Donors to a 501(c)(4) organization do not get a tax deduction.

For more: Alliance for Justice nonprofit advocacy resources, IRS 501c4 Guide