Public Charities Can Advocate and Lobby: How Your 501(c)(3) Friends of the Library Group or Library Foundation Can Influence Policy for the Greater Good

Description

When our laws and policies work for us, our communities win. Nonprofits have a close-up view of community needs, and can and should take advantage of their right to influence law and policy. After this workshop, you will have a clear understanding of the advocacy activities you can engage in, and how to maximize your non-lobbying advocacy when representing 501(c)(3) public charities, including public and community foundations.

Participants will learn:

• The difference between education, advocacy, and lobbying;
• How federal tax law permits lobbying for charities and how lobbying is defined;
• One easy step most charities can take to maximize the amount they’re allowed to spend on lobbying;
• Yearly lobbying limits for charities;
• Tips for taking advantage of the narrow definitions of lobbying – which will help charities make the most of their lobbying limit; and
• How to apply these rules to ballot measure activities.

Presenter

Melissa Marichal Zayas

Melissa Marichal Zayas serves as Counsel at Alliance for Justice’s Bolder Advocacy program. In this role, Melissa provides training and technical assistance to public charities, private foundations, and other nonprofits on the laws governing advocacy and election-related activities. She earned her J.D. from Yale Law School and her B.A. from Columbia University.

Bolder Advocacy has provided trainings to thousands of nonprofit organizations. We work with nonprofit boards, staff, and volunteers to improve their understanding of the legal issues involved in influencing public policy advocacy so they can maximize their advocacy and election-related activities, learn what it takes to engage in effective advocacy, and confidently engage in their advocacy campaigns.

How to Register

This exclusive webinar is free for personal members of United for Libraries and the statewide partners listed below. 

United for Libraries Statewide Partners

United for Libraries statewide partners in MA, MD, MI, MN, ND, NE, OR, SC, and VA receive free individual registration.

Statewide Partner Registration

United for Libraries Personal Members

United for Libraries personal members receive individual free registration. 

Personal Member DIRECT RegistratioN*

Personal Member Alternate Registration

*If you receive an error message when using the direct registration option, then you are either (1) not logged in with the username and password associated with your ALA and United for Libraries personal membership, or (2) you are not currently a personal member of United for Libraries.

Accessibility

This session will be held in Zoom with automatic Zoom captioning available. If you require a reasonable accommodation to fully participate in this event, please contact United for Library by phone at 312-280-2161 or by email at united@ala.org by October 15, 2025, with the nature of your request.

Staff Contact

Please contact United for Libraries staff by email at united@ala.org.