Public Policy & Advocacy

GUIDE: 1056-B Guidance
Guidance from the Commission on Governmental Ethics regarding which financial activities are covered by 21-A M.R.S.A. §1056-B. Use this document in relation to nonprofit election season advocacy.
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GUIDE: Federal Lobbying Rules & Regulations
MANP document that summarizes federal advocacy rules & regulations governing 501(c)(3) organizations.
download the pdf version
download the microsoft word version

GUIDE: Internet Advocacy
MANP document that summarizes rules and regulations governing Internet Lobbying for 501(c)(3) organizations.
download the pdf version
download the microsoft word version

GUIDE: Maine Lobbying Rules & Regulations
MANP documents that summarize and answer frequently asked questions (FAQ) regarding Maine's lobbying rules and regulations governing 501(c)(3) organizations.
download the FAQ document
download the Maine lobbying law summary document

GUIDE: Raise Your Voice
MUST VISIT. Advocacy and lobbying toolkit for nonprofits. What is lobbying? Can nonprofits lobby? If so, what are the guidelines and restrictions? All these questions and more are answered in this easy to read MANP publication.
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ORGANIZATION: Alliance For Justice
Advocacy support organization that strengthens the advocacy capacity of nonprofits. Resources include: technical assistance, workshops, publications, a lawyer and accountant network, and a wealth of tools and information.
visit their website

ORGANIZATION: Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest
Nonprofit advocacy and lobbying support organization. Resources include: tutorials, FAQ, publications, links, and resource center.
visit their website.

ORGANIZATION: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
MUST VISIT. Policy support organization working at the federal and state levels on fiscal policy and public programs that affect low- and moderate-income families and individuals.
visit their website

ORGANIZATION: Independent Sector
Advocacy coalition providing a meeting place for nonprofit advocacy. Resources include: up-to-date news and information, and great publications.
visit their website

ORGANIZATION: Maine Development Foundation
Sustainable development-promoting nonprofit in Maine. Resources include: articles, publications, and advocacy groups.
visit their website

ORGANIZATION: NP Action
MUST VISIT. Nonprofit advocacy capacity building organization hosted by OMB Watch. Resources include: Nonprofit Congress information, advocacy guides, and legal information.
visit their website

ORGANIZATION: OMB Watch
Nonprofit government watchdog organization originally founded to oversee the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), but oversees much more now, including nonprofit-related operations. Resources include: e-newsletters, lots of information and news, and links to subsidiary organizations.
visit their website

TOOL: Advocacy and Lobbying Toolkit
Toolkit from the Connecticut Nonprofit Information Network for nonprofit advocacy and lobbying. Resources include: tools, templates, advice, and public and media relations guide.
view this webpage

TOOL: Speak for Yourself - Nonprofit Advocacy Toolkit
Toolkit from the Colorado Nonprofit Association for nonprofit advocacy and lobbying.
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TOOL: Toolkit for Building Advocacy Capacity
Comprehensive toolkit from the National Council for Nonprofit Associations (NCNA) for fully assessing and building advocacy capacity in a nonprofit organization. This NP Action webpage gives a toolkit summary and provides a link to the full toolkit.
view this webpage

WEBSITE: FedSpending.org
Searchable database of government spending created by OMB Watch. Search by grants or contracts.
visit their website

WEBSITE: IRS Political Campaign Activities of Exempt Organizations
Revenue Ruling 2007-41 provides guidelines for exempt organizations on the scope of the the tax law prohibition of campaign activities by section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations. The IRS also released its Report on the Political Activity Compliance Initiative for the 2006 election cycle.
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WEBSITE: Legislative Action Center
Full array of local and national contact information and news for public policy and media. Resources include: elected official listings, news on local and national topics, media guide, and much more.
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WEBSITE: Maine Revised Statutes
MUST VISIT. Enactments and laws made by the Maine State Legislature. See TITLE 13-B: MAINE NONPROFIT CORPORATION ACT
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WEBSITE: Maine State Legislature
Homepage of the state legislature. Resources include: information on all representatives and officers, legislative council, publications, bills, statutes, and the Constitution.
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WEBSITE: MANP Advocacy Tools
MANP's online advocacy and public policy center.
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WEBSITE: Nonprofit Advocacy Guide
Guide from the Independent Sector on the many ways charitable organizations can use lobbying to advance their causes in federal, state, and local legislatures.
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WEBSITE: Nonprofit Congress
"Many Missions, One Voice." Coalition of nonprofits, including MANP, whose three priorities are 1) to increase organizational effectiveness through accountability and best practices, 2) to advocate for the sector at large and promote grassroots community activities and 3) to increase public awareness, understanding and support of the sector. Visit the website to join, contribute or find out more.
visit their website

WEBSITE: OpenTheGovernment.org
Public policy and advocacy support organization. Resources include: e-newsletter, articles, information, experts directory, and action center.
visit this website

WEBSITE: Watchdog Organizations
Listing of government watchdog organizations presented by Activism.net.
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