2. YES, Your Health Center CAN Lobby!
And you should.
More than 75 percent of a community health
center’s budget is determined by federal, state and
local government decisions. However, there are
limits to what nonprofit organizations can do. First,
you cannot use ANY federal funds to lobby.
Second, you should keep lobbying expenses
below five percent of your organization’s time and
effort.
3. What Is Lobbying?
There are two types of lobbying and health centers
should use both when appropriate. Both are critical
to making an impact with your elected official.
•Direct lobbying means you are communicating directly with
the official’s office and urging support or opposition to a
specific piece of legislation or referendum.
•Grassroots lobbying means you are urging others to
communicate with an official.
4. What Is Not Lobbying?
Generally speaking, communications that do not
advocate the passage or defeat of legislation
or similar measures are not considered to be
lobbying.
For example: meeting with a congressman to provide objective
and educational information about health centers, the need for
primary health care services, and other general information is
not considered to be lobbying.
Also, responding to requests from a member of Congress for
information or data is not considered to be lobbying.
5. YES, Your Health Center CAN Register Voters!
• Registration drives must be designed to educate
the public about the importance of voting.
• Activities cannot be biased towards or against
any candidate or party.
• Nonprofits may target registration and turnout
efforts to the areas or people they serve.
6. NO, Your Health Center CAN’T!
• Support or oppose candidates for elective office
(although you personally can).
• Use federal grant dollars for lobbying or registration.
• Endorse or oppose a candidate—implicit or explicit.
• Contribute money, time or facilities to a candidate.
• Coordinate activities with a candidate.
9. Resources to Help Clarify the Legalities of Advocacy
• IRS presentation on non-profit lobbying:
http://www.stayexempt.irs.gov/Mini-
Courses/Political_Campaigns_and_Charities/political-campaigns-and-
charities.aspx
• IRS restriction of political campaign intervention by
section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations:
http://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Charitable-Organizations/The-
Restriction-of-Political-Campaign-Intervention-by-Section-501%28c
%29%283%29-Tax-Exempt-Organizations
• Q & A About Health Center Lobbying, and Advocacy
Information Bulletin #8: Legislative and Political Advocacy
for Health Centers, available here:
http://www.saveourchcs.org/101toolkit
