8:30 - 9:00 am   Registration

9:00 -10:30 am  Lobbying Rules

This session will explain the federal laws governing 501(c)(3) lobbying.  It includes a discussion on how to calculate your lobbying limits under the insubstantial part test or the 501(h) expenditure test, definitions of direct and grass roots lobbying, and the application of these rules to ballot measure activities.  In addition, this session highlights the exceptions to lobbying and includes a discussion of record keeping techniques.   

10:30 - 10:45 am  Break

10:45 - 12:00 pm  Lobbying (con't)

12:00 - 12:45 pm  Lunch

12:45 - 2:00 pm   Tax Law on Election Related Activity

This session explains the rules regarding permissible electioneering activities for 501(c)(3)s under the IRS tax code.  Specifically, the session will discuss voter registration drives, candidate questionnaires, candidate forums, and legislative scorecards. 

2:00 - 2:15 pm   Break

2:15 - 3:00 pm  Foundation Funding of Advocacy

This session discusses advocacy from a funder's perspective.  The session will review the legal rules governing private and community foundation support for lobbying and other advocacy, general support grants and project grants, and present examples of grant language that foundations may adopt to comply with these rules.  

3:00-3:45 pm  Coalitions AND Affiliations

This session examines the different roles and functions of 501(c)(3)s, 501(c)(4)s, and Political Organizations, and the federal rules on how these types of organizations work together.  The session explores the legal separation necessary between affiliated organizations, the fundraising constraints of each organization, and the lobbying distinctions and permissible electoral activity for each organization.

3:45-4:00 pm  Evaluation and Closing Remarks