FREE EDUCATIONAL GUIDE ✦ OCTOBER 2026
Your mission does not have to go silent during election season.
Know what your nonprofit can do, where the legal boundaries lie, and how to participate in civic life without unnecessarily putting your mission or tax-exempt status at risk.
Can your nonprofit speak out on an issue candidates are debating? Host a candidate forum? Encourage people to vote? Support a ballot measure?
For 501(c)(3) public charities, the answers are not always as simple as yes or no. And getting the distinction right matters.
Mission Voice & Election Decisions: The Ground Rules is a free, practical guide that helps nonprofit leaders understand the rules, recognize important distinctions, and make informed decisions about advocacy and election-related activities.
Free 29-page PDF | 18 ground rules | Question-based quick reference | Practical examples
THE CHALLENGE
You want to protect your organization. But you don't want to silence its mission.
You know that 501(c)(3) organizations cannot support or oppose political candidates.
But does that mean your organization must avoid controversial issues, election-related conversations, or civic engagement?
No. And that distinction matters.
Public charities have meaningful room to advocate, educate, lobby within legal limits, and help people participate in civic life.
The challenge is knowing which rules apply.
When those boundaries are unclear, nonprofit leaders face two risks: remaining silent when their mission calls for engagement, or taking action without fully understanding the legal requirements.
You shouldn't have to choose between protecting your organization and participating in the public conversations that affect its mission.
The Ground Rules helps you understand what your nonprofit can do, what the law prohibits, and what to consider before making a decision.
INSIDE YOUR FREE GUIDE
Know what's allowed. Understand what's limited. Recognize what's prohibited.
You don't need another resource that simply tells you what nonprofits cannot do.
You need practical guidance that helps you understand your options and recognize the boundaries that matter.
01 / GROUND RULES
18 legal and governance ground rules
Understand the distinctions between issue advocacy, lobbying, ballot measures, nonpartisan voter engagement, and prohibited candidate campaign intervention.
Learn what your organization may do, what requires additional care, and where federal tax law draws a firm line.
02 / QUICK REFERENCE
Find the right rule without reading the entire guide.
Have a specific question? The question-based Quick Reference Guide directs you to the relevant rules.
Whether you're considering a candidate forum, voter registration activity, public statement, or ballot measure, you'll know where to begin.
03 / PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Practical examples that make the rules clearer.
See how legal boundaries apply to situations nonprofit leaders actually encounter, including candidate appearances, voter engagement, organizational resources, coalition participation, funding restrictions, and the personal political activity of board members and staff.
04 / GOVERNANCE JUDGMENT
Make more informed organizational decisions.
Understand why decision-making authority, documentation, implementation, and changing circumstances matter.
Learn what questions to raise with your board or staff and when a closer legal review may be appropriate.
05 / SOURCES
Practical guidance grounded in federal law.
This isn't just a collection of opinions or general recommendations. The guide draws on federal tax law, IRS guidance, and other legal authorities to explain what 501(c)(3) public charities can and cannot do.
You'll get clear, practical explanations supported by legal sources you can consult if you need to understand a rule more closely.
FREE RESOURCE
Get your free copy of The Ground Rules
Your organization has important work to do. Election season does not change that.
Get a practical reference you can use when questions arise about your nonprofit's advocacy, civic engagement, and election-related activities.
Free 29-page PDF. No payment information required.
Your mission belongs in public life.
GOOD WORKS LEGAL SOLUTIONS
Good governance isn't about avoiding every difficult decision.
It's about understanding your responsibilities, exercising sound judgment, and protecting the mission entrusted to your organization.
At Good Works Legal Solutions, we make nonprofit law and governance more accessible, practical, and actionable so leaders can approach important decisions with greater clarity.
Know the boundaries. Understand your options. Participate with purpose.
Mission Voice & Election Decisions: The Ground Rules is a free educational publication from Good Works Legal Solutions.
About this resource
Version 1.0 | October 2026 | Federal legal authorities included
This guide is intended for 501(c)(3) public charities, not private foundations. It provides general educational information about federal tax-law requirements and related governance considerations. It does not determine whether a particular activity is legally permissible, address every potentially applicable law, provide organization-specific legal advice, or establish an attorney-client relationship. State and local requirements and funding restrictions may also apply.
© 2026 Good Works Legal Solutions