Many Executives and leaders of non-profits like pregnancy centers do not engage in political issues during the election season for fear of the negative impact it might have on their non-profit status. The attorney Barry Bostrom and his legal firm Bopp, Coleson, & Bostrom have put together a list of activities that we as non-profit organizations can and cannot do. Most pregnancy centers are registered as 501 (c) (3) organizations under the IRS tax code and as such have legal rights to engage in certain kinds of activities to not only protect their organizations but also to further the cause of community change for which their organization exists. To download this very helpful document click the following link:
Political Do’s and Don’ts during Election Season
Some examples of things you can and cannot do as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit pregnancy center are:
(1) Discuss the positions of political candidates on issues: Yes
(2) Endorsement of political candidates: No
(3) Financial contributions to political candidates: No
(4) In-kind Contributions to political candidates: No
(5) Independent expenditures in favor of or against political candidates: No
(6) Fundraising projects for political candidates: No
(7) Contributions to PAC’s: No
(8) Electioneering Communications regarding Federal candidates: Yes
(9) Expenditures related to state referendums: Yes
(12) Appearance of political candidate at meeting: Yes
(14) Voting records Yes