Advocacy and Lobbying 101: CUSA Webinar hosted by the Alliance for Justice

CUSA Webinar: Advocacy and Lobbying 101: Legal Tips for 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Advocates

Wednesday, June 15, 2022
12 pm PT, 1 pm MT, 2 pm CT, 3 pm ET

501(c)(3)s play an important role in educating the public about policy issues and actions taken by elected officials, including the President. Elected officials vote on bills, make public statements and executive decisions, and set the course for public policy on a wide range of issues. These actions may be consistent with or conflict with a nonprofit’s position on an issue.

After this webinar, you will have a clear understanding of how to maximize your advocacy, the kinds of advocacy activities 501(c)(3)s can engage in, and when a communication is considered lobbying.

Participants will learn:

  • How federal tax law permits lobbying for charities and how lobbying is defined;
  • One easy step most charities can take to maximize the amount they’re allowed to spend on lobbying;
  • Yearly lobbying limits for charities;
  • Tips for taking advantage of the narrow definitions of lobbying – which will help charities make the most of their lobbying limit; and the application of these rules to ballot measure activities.

Email Gena@circlesusa.org to register.


Presenters from Alliance for Justice: 

Victor Rivera Labiosa is a Bilingual Counsel for the Bolder Advocacy team and the Alliance for Justice’s Texas office, where he works with Spanish-and English-speaking nonprofit organizations to ensure they are maximizing their lobbying and advocacy efforts. He is passionate about amplifying the voices of the Latino community here in Texas and across the United States. Prior to working for AFJ, Victor served as a Corporate and Real Estate associate for a full-service law firm in Puerto Rico.

Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Victor obtained his law degree from Tulane University School of Law. He also earned an undergraduate B.A. from Duke University, where he majored in History and minored in Chemistry.

In his free time, Victor likes to promote the wonderful things Puerto Rico has to offer, watch sports, and spend time with his dogs, Duke and Leo.

Mallory Morales is the Northern California Counsel for the Bolder Advocacy Program at Alliance for Justice. She supports nonprofit organizations in their advocacy efforts to push progressive policies and bend the arc of justice.

Mallory graduated magna cum laude from Boston University in 2013 with a degree in Anthropology and Religion. She earned her law degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 2018, where she was elected Editor-in-Chief of the California Law Review. Mallory was also involved in La Raza Law Student’s Association, La Raza Law Journal, First Generation Professionals, and the Women of Color Collective. She was a housing rights intern for the East Bay Community Law Center and externed for the Honorable William H. Alsup on the United States District Court, Northern District of California.

Prior to joining AFJ, Mallory was a litigator at Tycko & Zavareei LLP representing consumers and whistleblowers to fight fraudulent corporate practices and was selected to the Northern California Rising Stars List. Before that she was an associate at Morrison & Foerster LLP, where she maintained a pro bono practice in civil rights litigation and indigent criminal defense.

In her free time, Mallory likes to explore Oakland’s restaurant and pop-up scene and is a proud pop culture connoisseur.