Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast

After the Supreme Court wrapped up its latest term, we thought it would be a good idea to revisit the unique opportunities 501(c)(3) public charities have to advocate in favor of or against specific nominations made by the Executive Branch that require confirmation from a legislative body. On this episode, we explore the nomination process for key positions and give you some best practices on how...

On today's episode, we are breaking down the 2026 state legislative season and how the landscape affecting nonprofit advocacy is shifting across the country. We are recording this in mid-June, and while most states have wrapped up for the year, not all have, so you are going to want to look at your state to get a sense of what's enacted, what's moving, and what's dead. What we're seeing this year...

This week, we are diving into the world of philanthropy. We are thrilled to be joined by Matthew L. Evans from the United Philanthropy Forum who will help us understand how philanthropy is evolving to meet this moment and what challenges and opportunities we are seeing for funders and philanthropy infrastructure organizations.      Guests for this episode   Brittany Hacker Leonard   Tim Mooney   M...

Employees and volunteers of public charities often participate in the political and democratic process in ways that connect to their organization's mission. While a 501(c)(3) cannot engage in partisan activity, individuals don't give up their First Amendment rights when they are staff, board members, or volunteers of a public charity . In our last episode, we talked about candidate appearances at...

When nonprofits speak out on issues in the public square, the line between education and electioneering can get blurry – especially during election season. On this episode of Rules of the Game, we break down what the law allows when organizations comment on statements made by candidates and campaigns, and how those rules shift when addressing the actions of incumbents who may also be on the ballot...

Primaries are taking place or may have already occurred where you are . More elections will take place from now until November so w e thought it's a good time to talk about candidate appearances. We'll explain how (c)(3)s can stay nonpartisan while helping to educate voters and candidates by hosting candidates . (c)(4) s , you can of course do everything (c)(3)s can do and much more !   Attorneys...

With direct democracy becoming more important than ever in this political climate, we thought it was a good time to revisit ballot measures. From local park bonds to important state constitutional amendments, ballot measures have become important tools for policymaking, and nonprofits often play a huge role in supporting and opposing them. On this episode we do a deep dive on the details and how y...

  On this episode of Rules of the Game, we dive into some of the most common – and pressing – questions we hear on our free nonprofit advocacy technical  assistance hotline. From whether foundation funding can support voter registration efforts, to what nonprofits should know when attending rallies and advocating around local law enforcement cooperation with ICE, we break down the rules and offer...

Legislative season is underway, and we're seeing a wave of proposals that could significantly reshape the operating environment for nonprofits and advocacy organizations. We're tracking over 1,000 bills across the country, and while some of them do positive things, like make improvements to our electoral system or increase voter turnout, unfortunately, most of these measures are taking aim at impa...

On this edition, we open up the docket and get an update on the variety of court cases that impact tax-exempt organizations and their ability to advocate on the issues they care about. And to help with that, we're joined once again by friend of the pod Emma Olson Sharkey from Elias Law Group to help demystify what's happening in the courts and how it might impact you and your work. Attorneys for t...

One of the hottest topics in college athletics turns out to be about nonprofits. This episode unpacks how nonprofit colleges and third-party NIL collectives support individual student athletes, the governance and tax questions that follow, and what the recent NCAA settlement means for oversight and compliance. We also look ahead to emerging federal regulation and how nonprofits might engage in sha...

In this episode, we're answering questions from organizations about voter registration , which is, of course, timely given the upcoming midterm election season . Since these activities occur within an electoral framework, it's crucial to keep various legal aspects in mind while crafting and executing your voter registration campaigns. We'll discuss the key considerations related to nonprofit tax l...

On this episode ,  we're  going  back-to-basics  to discuss the rules that apply when nonprofits engage in lobbying activities. With legislative sessions  ramping-up  in several states,  it's  important to take time to understand the lobbying limits and definitions that apply to your organization's advocacy.  But,   it's  even more important to recognize that public charities  can lobby  and advoc...

Happy 2026! As policy shifts and new advocacy opportunities emerge , t he Bolder Advocacy team is here to guide nonprofits so they can continue to advocate boldly while remaining compliant and effective. W e're kicking off the year with our Top 10 nonprofit New Year's resolutio ns to help your organization thrive .       Attorneys for This Episode   Monika Graham   Victor Rivera Labiosa   Natalie...

It's been a long year, and while progressive movements have faced real setbacks, that's not the whole story. Across the country, nonprofits and the communities they serve pushed for justice and secured meaningful victories worth lifting up. On this episode, we celebrate several advocacy wins from 2025.   Attorneys for this episode:   Maggie Ellinger-Locke, she/her Susan Finkle Sourlis, she/her Mel...

In recent months, the threats facing nonprofit organizations have continued to develop at a furious pace. In the face of challenges like funding reductions and congressional investigations, nonprofits are taking the time to shore up their defenses and prepare for what's to come. On this episode, we'll discuss several recent events that have the sector talking so that your nonprofit can take the st...

On this episode, we gather around the virtual table and share three success stories for nonprofit advocacy that may help to put a smile on your face and give you something positive to reflect on, in a year that could use a lot more of that.   Attorneys for this episode ·      Tim Mooney ·      Quyen Tu ·      Sarah Efthymiou   Shownotes UNIDOS MN Action and the power of advocacy ·      Driver's li...

Whether it be local elections or picking a new president, election season seems to always be lurking around the corner, so on today's episode we're unpacking what it means for 501(c)(3)s to remain nonpartisan and how these nonprofits can safely engage in several different types of advocacy during election season.     Attorneys for this episode   Monika Graham   Melissa Marichal Zayas   Sarah Efthy...

  As we head into the final stretch of 2025,  we're back on the mic to tackle some of the most common questions we hear about accountability advocacy. Whether your organization is calling out broken promises, uplifting community voices, or demanding action from those in power, this episode is all about giving nonprofit organizations the clarity, confidence, and tools to hold public officials accou...

It's fall, it's October and the US Supreme Court is back in session.  On today's episode, we have a special guest from the AFJ Justice team. We are joined by our colleague Jamal Lockings . With Jamall we will cover the big cases to be heard by the court. Then we will talk about how nonprofits can get involved with supreme court advocacy, nominees, and more while staying nonpartisan and being mindf...

With school back in session and fall in the air, it's the perfect time to get back to basics on the Rules of the Game podcast. On today's episode, we'll review how the advocacy rules differ across the various types of tax-exempt organizations, including 501(c)(3)s, 501(c)(4)s, and PACs. Whether you're a seasoned advocate or just starting out, understanding these fundamentals is crucial for craftin...

Ballot measures give voters a chance to participate in direct democracy while providing nonprofit organizations with a powerful platform to educate the public about issues they champion. In this episode, we discuss California's pending redistricting ballot measure and other developments in direct democracy with returning guest Emma Olson Sharkey. Attorneys for this Episode • Tim Mooney • Susan Fin...

In today's episode, we're focusing on the topic of state advocacy, specifically exploring the vital role that nonprofits play in shaping policy and driving change at the state level, and how that role is increasingly coming under attack. We will discuss some of the landscape nonprofits are currently facing at the state level and provide actionable tips for organizations looking to amplify their im...

On this episode, we're diving into a topic that's especially important in today's high-stakes advocacy environment — threats to your tax-exempt status. Yes, we're talking about that precious 501(c)(3) status, the one that lets your organization do good in the world without paying taxes, and with the constant challenge of figuring out how to advocate, influence policy, and make change without accid...

This is a special rebroadcast of an episode from earlier this year on a self assessment tool that our nonprofit listeners should know about because of the continued and on-going threats of politically motivated investigations and attacks on the sector. We'll be back in two weeks with a brand new episode.  * * *  For those who caught our most recent podcast on Nonprofit New Year's Resolutions – Res...