Advocacy Activities for 501(c)(3) Public Charities

Foundations often give “lobbying-restricted funds,” meaning they place restrictions in grant agreements that prohibit their grantees from using those grant funds for lobbying. Such restrictions are not legally required in a grant to a public charity. But, once included in a grant agreement, the grantee is contractually obligated to adhere to the restriction. This resource sets out common advocacy activities for 501(c)(3) public charities and notes those in which your organization can safely engage using “lobbying-restricted funds.”