As the nation prepares for mid-term congressional elections this year, many nonprofit aging services providers are concerned about staying within Internal Revenue Service rules for allowable politically-related activity. LeadingAge has prepared a set of guidelines to help you stay in compliance.

 

If you work for a nonprofit organization, can you contribute to political campaigns or participate in candidate fundraising? What kind of help can you give residents with learning about candidates who are running for office or getting to the polls to vote? Can your organization hold candidate forums? What if an elected official who is running for reelection wants to visit your community to talk to your residents?

 

All of these questions are discussed in our new publication, Lobbying and Election Activity: Guiding Principles for Nonprofit Providers. As the campaign season heats up, we hope these guidelines will help you balance your and your residents’ rights as citizens with the IRS restrictions on political activity by nonprofits.