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So you might be curious
why someone would put in a site dealing with nonprofits a topic concerning
thinking politically!
The name of the game as a nonprofit is
being involved in your community, Right? If this is the case, and I think it is, to come out ahead in the nonprofit arena
you have to be willing to be politically involved and agree to in some way shape
or form play the game!
What do I mean when I say "play
the game?" It is simple, you need to support people at all levels of
government that run for office and, yes, this means giving them money and
working toward getting good people elected. This idea may frustrate you, but if
you expect to get much consideration at local, state and federal funding you
need to get real! Running for political office requires money no matter what
level you run on. There are lots of good organizations that have good projects
that are going to apply for a grant, but if yours could get special
consideration then why not go for it!
The faster you get your head out of the
sand and realize that regardless of how good or popular your organization is in
the community, it is the powerbrokers who sit on your local boards of
government, at the state and even national levels, that make key decisions that
effect you on a day to day basis. These individuals can approve funding, cause
your organization to have to pay taxes and a whole host of other goodies they
might throw your way or keep from you.
The reality is that in many areas in
the United States, cities and counties are abdicating their responsibility as
fast as they possibly can, freely unloading the human needs off to nonprofits
while at the same time doing little to help those same organizations meet the
same needs. Never mind that we pay taxes and our tax dollars should go to help
fund these needs; nonprofits are expected to shoulder the responsibility and
sometimes all alone.
Responsibility is a big word that few
people like to use! Many times you see the individuals themselves wanting to
play the role of a victim and blame others. Other times we as citizens look the
other way trying to ignore the homeless person, the crying baby or screaming
mother, and we say to ourselves it's not our responsibility. We have also from
time to time looked to churches to feel the gaps, but alas, this institution too
has decided to narrowly define their goals and in many cases sticks to only to
the job of saving souls and effectively, ignoring, the other needs.
If you and your organization don't get
involved then in effect you are allowing others to make choices for you.
If you want to help in shaping your future and not leave it up to someone else
than ACT NOW!
What does the Internal Revenue Code say about lobbying?
Read our page on: Political and Lobbying Activities -
Adapted from IRS Publication 1828, Tax Guide for Churches and Religious
Organizations - February 2004
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