The information on this page is available as a two-page PDF document.

A 501(c)(3) may sponsor an appearance by a candidate or public official. Just remember...

• You must take steps to ensure that you indicate no support or opposition to the candidate at the event.
• No political fundraising should occur at the event.
• The other candidates for the same office should be given an equal opportunity to participate at a comparable event.  Therefore, you cannot just invite one candidate for a particular office.  You must invite all candidates for the same office to site visits structured in a similar way.
• 501(c)(3)s are allowed to try to persuade candidates to agree with them on issues and to take a public stand-but that is as far as you may go.  You may not ask the candidate to sign a pledge of support for your position on those issues; such action would imply that you favor candidates who make the pledge.
• Nonprofits may provide candidates with the same research materials they distribute to educate the general public.  However, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) considers providing valuable issue research to certain candidates exclusively, and not to others, to be an illegal "in-kind contribution" (and it's also a violation of IRC Section 501(c)(3)).  So, if some candidates decline your invitation to visit, consider sending them a packet including the information you provide to the candidates that accept.

Note: This information applies to individual meetings with candidates, NOT candidate forums and debates.  If you plan on organizing a candidate forum or debate, please consult The Alliance for Justice (www.afj.org) or Charity Lobbying in the Public Interest (www.clpi.org).  

(Last updated: September 4, 2002)