Learn how nonprofits can be a part of the policymaking process and lobby for their organization, mission, and community.

1. Executive Directors Chat
Nonprofits' Advocacy with Lawmakers
Aretha Simons Kevin Wong
Webinar Producer Webinar Producer Intern
July 13, 2022

2. Closed captioning is available
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3. Featured Speaker
Robert Guyer
Engineering The Law, Inc.
President

4. Today we will discuss
1. Responsible regulated organizations must lobby
2. Relevant, supportive homefolk trained in what to do, do
the best lobbying
3. Keeping nonprofit lobbying legal (tax and practice)
4. 27 Fundamentals for Successful Lobbying

5. Responsible organizations must lobby:
Legislators can do ~anything they want
“Neither liberty nor property is safe
when the legislature is in session.”
Variously attributed to J. Gideon Tucker, Mark Twain, H. L. Mencken

6. Responsible organizations must lobby:
Agencies are “last in time is first in authority.”
“The execution of laws is more important
than the making of them.”
Thomas Jefferson
Legislatures make ~10% of body of law
Executive agencies make ~ 90% of the body of law

7. Relevant, supportive homefolk trained in
what to do, do the best lobbying
Lawmakers listen to them because they can help lawmakers:
•Further lawmakers’ self-interests
•Stay in office
•Succeed in office
•Promote lawmaker’s personal politics
•Advance public good
•Navigate the political process outside the legislature

8. Keeping nonprofit lobbying tax-legal
•“Lobbying” is legally correct term for legislative advocacy
•IRS offers 10 free training courses (video and pdf) to keep
501(c)(3) lobbying legal to protect federal tax exempt status
•(check state-specific requirements for tax exempt status)

9. Keeping nonprofit lobbying practice-legal
Lobbying is regulated by federal, state, local governments:
• Legislative and executive branch – each may issue own license
• Registration – lobbyist and principal
• Fees paid to regulating agency
• Laws, regulations, rules – statutory, agency, chamber, committee
• Reporting on regulated activities
• Etiquette – socially, rather than legally, enforced conduct
• Non-compliance penalties for violations of law and etiquette

10. 27 Fundamentals for Successful Lobbying
Discussion starters:
3. Lawmakers are your “customers.” Customers buy to meet their
needs, not yours.
9. “Facts don’t vote.” A lawmaker votes his or her own peculiar
political calculus.
12. 80-90% of lawmakers are irrelevant to your bill. Relevant ones
are on key committees; plus, the few, if any, who actually care.
19. Legislatures operate on 3 types of rules: 1) written; 2) unwritten;
3) unwritten and unspoken. Violate any of the 3 and you will be
disrespected as being ill-informed.

11. Lobby School Robert L. Guyer
(561) 319 9427
rlguyer@lobbyschool.com
Training resources
• Insiders Talk: 6-vol set of lobbying practice manuals
• Campaign Method: 15-online videos
• Live or web seminars when and where you want
• Free planning materials and articles

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