501(c)(3) nonprofits are prohibited from engaging in partisan political activities. This nonpartisanship requirement is particularly relevant in the period leading up to an election when many charitable nonprofits are engaged in (legal) voter registration, voter education, and get-out-the-vote work. Whether your nonprofit is engaging in election-related activities or just providing your usual programs and services, it is essential that your organization avoid activities that appear to support or oppose particular candidates for office or political parties. In the past few weeks, the Center has seen multiple 501(c)(3) nonprofits in North Carolina, including both conservative and progressive organizations, make public statements that appear to violate the prohibition on nonprofit nonpartisanship that applies to all 501(c)(3) nonprofits and foundations.
To help your nonprofit navigate some of the most common election-related issues for 501(c)(3) organizations, this Center blog post answers (some of which are “it depends”!) some of the most common and thorniest questions we typically receive about the types of election-related activities that are legal and advisable for charitable nonprofits. Let us know of other questions you have about your nonprofit’s engagement in the 2024 election, and we’ll add them to our post.
If you are looking for additional resources or support for your nonprofit’s voter registration, voter education, or get-out-the-vote activities, the Center recommends resources of our trusted partners at Nonprofit VOTE and You Can Vote, which provide accurate and user-friendly information for 501(c)(3) nonprofits.