Can nonprofits lobby?

It depends. And on many different factors, including what you mean by “lobbying” (or more precisely, what the IRS means by it). Putting aside the rules for a minute, consider how effective nonprofits can be at influencing policy makers. Nonprofits generally are credible sources of information about the issues they deal with and the communities they serve. Nonprofits are usually held in high regard by the public, and favorably portrayed in the media. Organizational assets such as these are too valuable to waste, so it is critical for nonprofits to understand what they are permitted to do in when it comes to advocating for the issues and causes central to their missions. For everything you need to know about IRS lobbying regulations, turn to the Alliance for Justice at www.afj.org.