Unless we want to risk our 501c3 status by playing around with the definition of "substantial", we should probably not run any kind of campaign, including helping to collect signatures and send emails.
On Sat, Jun 25, 2016 at 5:45 PM, Michael Grube <michael.gr...@gmail.com> wrote: > > https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/exemption-requirements-section-501-c-3-organizations > > " In addition, it may not be an *action organization* > <https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/political-and-lobbying-activities>*, > i.e.,* it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part > of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for > or against political candidates." > > On Sat, Jun 25, 2016 at 3:33 PM, Ximin Luo <infini...@freenetproject.org> > wrote: > >> Could you educate us with some more details on that? A link to the >> specific legislation would be great. On a quick web search, I can see this: >> >> http://www.njnonprofits.org/NPsCanLobby.html >> >> which only talks about spending money on lobbying, implying that costless >> efforts (like having a banner on your website) are perfectly fine. >> >> X >> >> Michael Grube: >> > I'm somewhat familiar with 501c3 rules. Ian's correct, it's not legal >> for >> > the Freenet project to officially have a political agenda. >> > >> > Tor project is probably also in violation. >> > On Jun 25, 2016 2:57 PM, "Ximin Luo" <infini...@freenetproject.org> >> wrote: >> > >> >> Ian Clarke: >> >>> Even more seriously, it may put us in violation of US law because we >> are >> >> a 501c3 >> >>> non-profit, which are restricted in the political and lobbying >> >> activities they >> >>> can participate in while claiming 501c3 status. >> >> >> >> I don't see the banner now, but I would just like to point out that the >> >> Tor project is also a 501c3 non-profit and they are also protesting >> against >> >> Rule 41. >> >> >> >> https://blog.torproject.org/blog/day-action-stop-changes-rule-41 >> >> >> >> I don't know the specific restrictions about lobbying though, so it >> >> *could* be the case that they're also in violation. But I think this is >> >> less likely. >> >> >> >> X >> >> >> >> -- >> >> GPG: ed25519/56034877E1F87C35 >> >> GPG: rsa4096/1318EFAC5FBBDBCE >> >> https://github.com/infinity0/pubkeys.git >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> Devl mailing list >> >> Devl@freenetproject.org >> >> https://emu.freenetproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/devl >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Devl mailing list >> > Devl@freenetproject.org >> > https://emu.freenetproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/devl >> > >> >> >> -- >> GPG: ed25519/56034877E1F87C35 >> GPG: rsa4096/1318EFAC5FBBDBCE >> https://github.com/infinity0/pubkeys.git >> _______________________________________________ >> Devl mailing list >> Devl@freenetproject.org >> https://emu.freenetproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/devl >> > > _______________________________________________ Devl mailing list Devl@freenetproject.org https://emu.freenetproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/devl
