DO’s and DON’Ts For Contacting Elected Officials
Rules governing Nonprofit Organizations & Elected Officials
Nonprofit organizations and their designated volunteers may approach elected officials only if their activities can be categorized as educational outreach and/or as part of an awareness campaign. Therefore, if you approach an elected official as a volunteer of the EndoMarch Advocacy Week Committee, this would require you to follow the guidelines pertaining to nonprofits, since you would be considered an agent of the EndoMarch.
In such a capacity, you would be prohibited from engaging in activities or communications that could be construed as attempting to influence the outcomes of elections, policies, or the passing of bills. Since all of EndoMarch’s planned activities relating to elected officials do fall under the two accepted categories of educational outreach and/or awareness campaigns, we can all feel assured that we are following the guidelines. However, please do take time to consider this Do’s and Don’t list carefully, just to make sure you understand the basic rules. If you would like further clarifications please email EndoMarch HQ at [email protected].
DON’T’s
· Don’t try to influence elections or bills
· Don’t try to influence the elected official to vote a certain way
· Don’t try to influence the official concerning policies or bills
· Don’t mention voting or upcoming elections or bills
· Don’t ask the elected official to influence elections or policies
· Don’t suggest that their decisions would influence your vote
DO’s
· Do engage in educational outreach about endometriosis
· Do explain that the EndoMarch is a worldwide awareness campaign
Do invite elected officials to join us in DC on March 28, 2015
·
Rules governing Nonprofit Organizations & Elected Officials
Nonprofit organizations and their designated volunteers may approach elected officials only if their activities can be categorized as educational outreach and/or as part of an awareness campaign. Therefore, if you approach an elected official as a volunteer of the EndoMarch Advocacy Week Committee, this would require you to follow the guidelines pertaining to nonprofits, since you would be considered an agent of the EndoMarch.
In such a capacity, you would be prohibited from engaging in activities or communications that could be construed as attempting to influence the outcomes of elections, policies, or the passing of bills. Since all of EndoMarch’s planned activities relating to elected officials do fall under the two accepted categories of educational outreach and/or awareness campaigns, we can all feel assured that we are following the guidelines. However, please do take time to consider this Do’s and Don’t list carefully, just to make sure you understand the basic rules. If you would like further clarifications please email EndoMarch HQ at [email protected].
DON’T’s
· Don’t try to influence elections or bills
· Don’t try to influence the elected official to vote a certain way
· Don’t try to influence the official concerning policies or bills
· Don’t mention voting or upcoming elections or bills
· Don’t ask the elected official to influence elections or policies
· Don’t suggest that their decisions would influence your vote
DO’s
· Do engage in educational outreach about endometriosis
· Do explain that the EndoMarch is a worldwide awareness campaign
Do invite elected officials to join us in DC on March 28, 2015
·