Are nonprofit organizations allowed to lobby?
Yes, nonprofit organizations are allowed to lobby in Washington. Lobbyists are defined as people who attempt to influence the decisions of lawmakers by presenting viewpoints on a particular issue in an attempt to enact change. Nonprofit organizations are allowed to do the same. In Washington, nonprofit organizations may advocate for legislation or engage in lobbying activities as long as their purpose is related to their mission in some way. It is important to note that not all nonprofit organizations engage in lobbying and that certain rules must be followed in order to do so. For example, a nonprofit organization cannot use more than an insignificant portion of its resources to support lobbying activity and cannot use donor funds to help pay for lobbying efforts. Additionally, though any person may communicate with legislators and their staff, it is important to note that only those persons registered with the state of Washington as lobbyists can engage in certain activities, such as making political campaign contributions and organizing fundraisers for legislators.
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