Mark wrote: > On 10/5/11 1:50 AM, Ryan Kaldari wrote: >> The WMF isn't allowed to lobby for or against legislation, per our >> 501c3 non-profit status in the US. This is not necessarily true for >> chapters though, and definitely not true for the communities. >> > Somewhat true, but not a red line. The IRS gives this wonderfully > vague formulation: "A 501(c)(3) organization may engage in some > lobbying, but too much lobbying activity risks loss of tax-exempt > status". > > In addition, "organizations may conduct educational meetings, prepare > and distribute educational materials, or otherwise consider public > policy issues in an educational manner without jeopardizing their > tax-exempt status". For example, perhaps, in suitable cases, Wikimedia > could issue factual statements about proposed legislation likely to > affect its operations, with a neutral legal analysis of if and how the > legislation would do so. > > -Mark
I don't think that there is a distinction between "lobbying" and "campaigning". It cannot be assumed that a charitable organisation should not be able to protect its own status, because I think the law should assume that right. The issue is to how that is to be achieved, and by what means, and that is where a political dimension arises. Thus far, it is by words and gestures. Politicians, at a practical level, are sometimes more used to more physical expressions of dissent. I doubt it will come to that in this case. However, I would be surprised if the message did not reach its intended target in this instance. _______________________________________________ foundation-l mailing list [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
