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Public Charities Can Advocate—What You Need to Know

January 9, 2026 by Jordan Jerkovich

Many nonprofits hesitate to engage in advocacy because the rules can feel unclear or intimidating, but advocacy is not only allowed, it’s often essential to advancing your mission. Check out this recent presentation, Public Charities Can Advocate!, developed by Alliance for Justice’s Bolder Advocacy program, and its accompanying resources.

These materials break down, in plain language, what 501(c)(3) nonprofits can and cannot do when it comes to lobbying, nonpartisan advocacy, voter engagement, and election-season activities.

Public Charities Can Advocate! Presentation

A Guide to Election-Related Activities for 501(c)(3) Organizations

A Guide to the IRS Lobbying Regulations for Advocacy Charities

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DISCLAIMER: Spokes offers informed advice and recommendations, not professional counsel. Blog content is current as of the date shown. Individual posts are not necessarily updated, so please confirm the accuracy of the information, especially of older posts.

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