Comments on: CFI Office of Public Policy http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/10/29/cfi-office-of-public-policy/ Atheism with Positivity Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:18:17 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: HumanistPR http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/10/29/cfi-office-of-public-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-747 HumanistPR Tue, 31 Oct 2006 18:36:31 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/10/29/cfi-office-of-public-policy/#comment-747 Ooops. In the second to last paragraph, I meant to write: So…the SCA can do a lot more lobbying that a <strong>(c)3</strong> and is probably more effective in that area. Ooops. In the second to last paragraph, I meant to write:

So…the SCA can do a lot more lobbying that a (c)3 and is probably more effective in that area.

]]> By: HumanistPR http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/10/29/cfi-office-of-public-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-746 HumanistPR Tue, 31 Oct 2006 18:34:47 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/10/29/cfi-office-of-public-policy/#comment-746 >>>Since CFI is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, one thing they cannot do is lobby (something that 501(c)4 groups like the Secular Coalition for America can do) That's not entirely correct. 501(c)3 nonprofits <em>can</em> lobby. The <a href="http://www.humaniststudies.org" rel="nofollow">Institute for Humanist Studies</a>, which is a founding member of the Secular Coalition for America, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Tim Gordinier, Ph.D., was employed by the IHS as a registered lobbyist in New York State for four years. A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization can only dedicate 20 percent of its resources to lobbying. A 501(c)4 can dedicate 100 percent of its resources to lobbying. Both (c)3's and (c)4's can only lobby on issues -- neither can endorse a particular candiate (something a PAC can do, I believe). Donations to a (c)3 are tax deductible, where as donations to a (c)4 are not. So...the SCA can do a lot more lobbying that a (c)4 and is probably more effective in that area. But each type of organization serves a distinct purpose. The Alliance for Justice is a wonderful resource for 501(c)3's and 501(c)4's and other social activists. Their website is: <a href="http://www.afj.org/" rel="nofollow">http://www.afj.org/</a> >>>Since CFI is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, one thing they cannot do is lobby (something that 501(c)4 groups like the Secular Coalition for America can do)

That’s not entirely correct.

501(c)3 nonprofits can lobby.

The Institute for Humanist Studies, which is a founding member of the Secular Coalition for America, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Tim Gordinier, Ph.D., was employed by the IHS as a registered lobbyist in New York State for four years.

A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization can only dedicate 20 percent of its resources to lobbying.

A 501(c)4 can dedicate 100 percent of its resources to lobbying. Both (c)3’s and (c)4’s can only lobby on issues — neither can endorse a particular candiate (something a PAC can do, I believe).

Donations to a (c)3 are tax deductible, where as donations to a (c)4 are not.

So…the SCA can do a lot more lobbying that a (c)4 and is probably more effective in that area. But each type of organization serves a distinct purpose.

The Alliance for Justice is a wonderful resource for 501(c)3’s and 501(c)4’s and other social activists. Their website is: http://www.afj.org/

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