"The Nonprofit and Foundation Advocacy Blog is a forum hosted by Alliance for Justice
to strengthen the voices of nonprofits and foundations and to provide a
better understanding of the laws that govern their participation in the
policy process."
IANAL. Those of us who have participated in usenet newsgroups, where advice is freely and even gratuitously offered, are familiar with the disclaimer, "I am not a lawyer."
And, indeed, I am not a lawyer. However, as nonprofit and philanthropic organizations become more comfortable with online tools for outreach to the world, they find the possibility of electronic advocacy appealing, and sometimes they ask me about possible effects of online lobbying or organizing on their tax-exempt status.
The answers to their questions are complicated and subject to change - regardless of whether the advocacy is done online or offline - and I am far from being the right expert to ask. However, a blog that covered these issues would be an resource for those of us who would like to be introduced (or kept informed of) the rapidly developing ramifications of advocacy for nonprofit and philanthropic organizations.
Fortunately, the folks at the Alliance For Justice have just launched a blog to fill this need. They actually understand - and are willing to explain - the legal ramifications for organizations in our sector that seek to influence laws and policies. I personally find admonitions such as "You may be a 527 and not even know it" quite scary, but I think that we had better hunker down and start to know these things. And praise is due to the Alliance For Justice, for being willing to teach us.
