As the election cycle accelerates, the League of American Orchestras is providing information about how orchestras can take action to support voter engagement. As 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, orchestras and the League are strictly prohibited from supporting the election or defeat of any candidate for office, but they can engage in non-partisan voter engagement activity that encourages all voters to register and participate in the election process. Nonprofits are also allowed to expend funds and take public positions on referenda, ballot initiatives, propositions, and tax levies, as long as they do not cross the line into party or candidate endorsement. The League of American Orchestras resource, Playing Your Part: An Orchestra’s Guide to Public Policy Advocacy, includes a Q & A on the rules that allow issue advocacy and voter engagement by orchestras as nonprofit organizations. The League has also gathered resources about nonprofit participation in voter engagement including: National Voter Registration Day; an Elections Call to Action Toolkit; Vote.org, with essential voting information for each state; and Nonprofitvote.org, which helps nonprofits engage the people they serve in voting and elections, and includes a helpful guide to “What Nonprofit Staff Can Say about the Election.”
