Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast: Lobbying Series Part 3

Lobbying Series Part 3 - Grassroots Lobbying

Feb 10, 2021

On this episode, our third in our ongoing lobbying series, we’ll focus on grassroots lobbying for public charities that have made the 501(h) election.

Attorney Co-hosts

Natalie Ossenfort
Jen Powis
Quyen Tu

Recap of the 501(h) election

Recap of the 501(c)(3) lobbying limits

501(h) election allows you to calculate your lobbying limits

Grassroots limit is 25% of overall lobbying limits

Defining Grassroots Lobbying

1. Communication

2. with the General Public (not a legislator or member of the organization)

3. that Expresses a View about Specific Legislation

4. and contains a Call to Action

There are 4 specific types of calls to action. A call to action must comprise one of the following actions:

tell the recipient to contact a legislator;
provide information on how the recipient can contact her legislator, such as providing the phone number or address;
provide a mechanism for enabling the recipient to contact her legislator, such as a postcard, petition, or email form; or
identify a legislator who will vote on the legislation as being opposed to or undecided about the organization’s view on the legislation, a member of a legislative committee who will vote on the legislation, or the recipient’s legislator.