Public Charities Can Advocate and Lobby - How Your 501(c)(3) Friends of the Library Group or Library Foundation Can Influence Policy for the Greater Good (Non-Member)

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NOTE: This on-demand webinar is FREE to United for Libraries members and some United for Libraries statewide partners. Please read the information below *before* purchasing registration for this webinar.

 

Presented Live: October 22, 2025


Description

When our laws and policies work for us, our communities win. Nonprofits have a close-up view of community needs, and can and should take advantage of their right to influence law and policy. After this workshop, you will have a clear understanding of the advocacy activities you can engage in, and how to maximize your non-lobbying advocacy when representing 501(c)(3) public charities, including public and community foundations.

Learning Outcomes
Participants will learn
  • The difference between education, advocacy, and lobbying;
  • How federal tax law permits lobbying for charities and how lobbying is defined; 
  • One easy step most charities can take to maximize the amount they’re allowed to spend on lobbying; 
  • Yearly lobbying limits for charities; 
  • Tips for taking advantage of the narrow definitions of lobbying – which will help charities make the most of their lobbying limit; and 
  • How to apply these rules to ballot measure activities.

Speaker

Melissa Marichal Zayas serves as Counsel at Alliance for Justice’s Bolder Advocacy program. In this role, Melissa provides training and technical assistance to public charities, private foundations, and other nonprofits on the laws governing advocacy and election-related activities. She earned her J.D. from Yale Law School and her B.A. from Columbia University.

Bolder Advocacy has provided trainings to thousands of nonprofit organizations. We work with nonprofit boards, staff, and volunteers to improve their understanding of the legal issues involved in influencing public policy advocacy so they can maximize their advocacy and election-related activities, learn what it takes to engage in effective advocacy, and confidently engage in their advocacy campaigns.


Please read the information below *before* purchasing registration for this webinar.

Webinar Includes
  • Live webinar presented on October 22, 2025
  • On-Demand access to the recording
  • Slides and handouts
Target Audience
  • Library Directors
  • Library Trustees / Library Board Members
  • Friends of the Library
  • Library Foundations
  • Library Staff who work with Trustees, Friends, and/or Foundations
  • Students
Registration
  • All registration and participation is per person; there is no group viewing or group registration option.
  • United for Libraries personal members receive FREE registration (scroll down to learn more).
  • Base price is $89 per person. Membership‐related discount is based on the membership status of the person purchasing the seat(s):
    • ALA personal members receive a 10% discount.
    • ALA student members receive a 50% discount.
    • United for Libraries personal members receive a 35% discount on the purchase of additional seats.
  • Purchaser receives one “sign‐up code” per seat purchased and distributes the sign‐up code(s) to individuals, who then redeem the sign‐up code to complete their registration.
Before You Register

Residents of MA, MD, MI, MN, ND, NE, OR, SC, VA

  • Do not purchase registration for this course.
  • Your state library provides FREE registration to attend the live webinar and access the on-demand video for the duration of the statewide partnership.
  • Please complete the alternate registration form.
  • If you have questions, please contact united@ala.org.

United for Libraries Personal Members

    Register Yourself
    • Option 1: Go to the United for Libraries Member Benefits & Resources course and click the link to register directly in the course.
    • Option 2: Complete the alternate registration form.
    Purchase Additional Registration(s) for Others
    • All registration and participation is per person; there is no group viewing option.
    • Log in with the account associated with your personal membership to ensure the 35% discount applies.
    • Additional 15% discount on the purchase of three (3) or more seats to this webinar.

    Contact

    If you have a question or need to make arrangements for additional assistance or accessibility, please contact United for Libraries by email at united@ala.org or by phone at (312) 280-2161.


    Register