Funders can engage in advocacy, fund advocacy, and encourage grantees to engage in advocacy, with exceptions involving lobbying and electioneering.
Private foundations may:
- Fund public charities that lobby
- Learn about grantees’ lobbying or advocacy work in reports
- Communicate with legislators about an issue, so long as they do not address a specific proposal
- Conduct and disseminate a nonpartisan analysis or research on a legislative issue
- Provide technical assistance to a legislative body
- Lobby on their own behalf (i.e., if their tax-exempt status, duties, or regulations that govern them are affected)