Advocacy vs. 501c3

On this page: 501c3 political compliance and early endorsements for 2024
PROGRESSIVE POLITICS HAPPENS ON SIDEWALKS
BECAUSE POLITCIAL SPEECH & ACTIVITIES ARE SUPPRESSED BY 501c3 RULES & PERMITS
  • Progress requires political debate, but political speech & activities such as ballot signature collection are suppressed by 501c3 rules and event permit requirements. 
  • Know your rights as a private US citizen to debate issues, because it will take all of us to change everything. 
  • Working for change by engaging in politics gets results.  
    • I have worked as an Environmental Engineer for 30+ years and saw zero progress on state water policy.  
    • After I ran for MWRD in 2022, three bills were entered in the IL House and one has passed into the Senate. 

​Some may say that I'm politicizing issues & legislations. 
​My response: Climate change is real and science has become political.  It's time to elect engineers and scientists.

501c3 political compliance

VOTER EDUCATION 101: 501c3 POLITICAL COMPLIANCE
501c3 Nonprofits play an important role during elections, particularly by educating and activating voters. However, specific political activities are prohibited for 501c3 organizations, and some people affiliated with nonprofits disengage in politics due to unclear rules. As a result, we lose political discourse with the people who care and know the most about issues such as environmental protection and sustainability policy. Since our democracy depends on a well-educated electorate (3rd Pres TJ), it’s critical for staff, members, and volunteers to know 501c3 boundaries and our individual rights as US citizens because we need everyone to engage in our democracy as we face climate change.

YOUR RIGHTS AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN: Employees, members, or officers of 501(c)(3) organizations can participate in a political campaign provided that they say or do everything as a private citizen and not as spokespersons for the organization or while using the organization’s resources.

501c3 BOUNDARIES: IRS says public forums and the publication of voter education guides are allowed but voter education or registration activities conducted in a biased manner that favors one candidate over another, opposes a candidate in some manner, or has the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates, will constitute prohibited campaign intervention. (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4221pc.pdf)

ALLOWED 501c3 ACTIVITIES:
  • Engage in nonpartisan voter education, voter registration, and get-out-the-vote activities.
  • Educate all candidates and political parties about your organization’s issues.
  • Invite candidates to meetings or to public forums sponsored by the nonprofits. The invitation must be extended to “all serious candidates.”
  • Prepare a voter scorecard that displays how each member has voted on key issues and distribute it to your constituents.
  • Create a public policy agenda with your board to identify long-term changes to legislation that would benefit your issue/organization.

Barriers to grassroots politics

Political campaigning is barred on 501c3 and government-owned property such as libraries, schools, park district buildings, etc.  This included emails (.org, .gov, .edu) and phones.
  • 501c3 organizations include most environmental advocacy groups and religious institutions such as churches, synagogues, etc.
  • IRS rules reportedly prohibit "soliciting" on 501c3 property, which can be interpreted to include collection of signatures on ballot petitions.  
  • Although freedom of speech is guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution, choosing 501c3 status and employment therein is voluntary.
  • Many privately owned stores have corporate policies prohibiting soliciting on their property which is generally interpreted to include petition signature collection.  ​
  • The Incumbent edge: elected officials can speak at 501c3 and government-owned buildings in their official capacity. 
  • Political discussion is generally allowed on public sidewalks and in privately owned places with permission (i.e., restaurants, pubs, private residences, etc.)  
  • In Chicago, a Public Place of Amusement license (up to $14K fee) is required to host a political fundraising event.  
​PROHIBITED 501c3 ACTIVITIES:
  • Endorse or oppose a candidate.
  • Campaign contribution.
  • Coordinate activities with a candidate.

For more information on 501c3 and election activity:

How is THE MWRD Election different?

  • The MWRD race is decided in the primary election. 
  • High signature requirement to get on the ballot - typically double the governor
  • Some people don't know what MWRD does
  • Most organizations don't endorse for MWRD until after ballot it set (after signature collection, petition challenges, and ballot position is determined)

Who can get double the governors signatures for a water district?

MWRD candidates need about twice the signatures required for the governor to get on the ballot. ​

For the 2022 Democratic Primary Election, the following signatures were required (Candidates Guide & Important Dates and Signature Requirements Handout):
  • State Representative 400
  • State Senator 650
  • Governor 3,250
  • MWRD 5,770

​​Winners of MWRD Commissioner are correlated to:
  • Cook County Democratic Party endorsement helps with high number of signatures required to get on the ballot  
  • Ballot position of candidates.  First and last positions are determined by lottery.  Many people vote 1-2-3.  
  • Ballot position of MWRD.  We reportedly have one of the longest ballots in the country, and many voters don't get that far down the ballot to vote for lesser known races.

Our democracy depends on a
​well-informed electorate (3rd Pres TJ)

  • Most voters rely on endorsements, all of which are biased. 
  • Know the bias of the sources you rely on for voting recommendations.

Q&A: Why is MWRD important? ​

Our water district will be at the forefront of how we adapt to climate change to keep more places livable longer.
  • MWRD treats all the water that leaves your house and business by drains plus stormwater that enters combined sewers.
  • MWRD serves 129 communities, 53 of which have combined sewers, covering nearly all of Cook County 
  • From the 2021-25 Strategic Plan:
    • MWRD cleans an average of 1.4 billion gallons of wastewate​r each day
    • The MWRD owns and operates seven (7) water reclamation plants, 560 miles of intercepting sewers and force mains, 23 pumping stations, 34 stormwater detention reservoirs, and three Tunnel and Reservoir Plan reservoirs.
    • MWRD controls 76.1 miles of navigable waterways, which are part of the inland waterway system connecting the Great Lakes with the Gulf of Mexico.
    • MWRD is governed by a nine-member Board of Commissioners, each elected at large to a six-year term.
    • MWRD has over 1,700 employees, annual budget of $1.1 billion, and a AAA credit rating.
  • Why do we elect MWRD Commissioners?  No taxation without representation. 

two jobs

Any elected position is two jobs: 1) campaign and 2) office. 
  • Specialized skill sets may be beneficial for offices related to finance, science, and technology.  But you have to get elected first!
  • Campaign skills are essential, and candidates who have worked for a campaign have experience.  
  • The campaign is largely fundraising for advertising. 
  • Skills in advertising and community organizing are more useful for getting elected than knowledge of issues. ​

COALITION BUILDING

COMMUNITY SUPPORT (just for fun)
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Water PAC supports IL State Reps & Senators committed to advancing water and climate change policy
  • Illinois Effluent Brewers PAC
  • Urban Chicken Keepers PAC (a.k.a. ChixPAC)
  • Two Degree Adapt PAC
Waller4Water was endorsed by the following entities for the 2022 election.
​The following Cook County Democratic Ward and Township Organizations supported me prior to the Cook County Democratic Party (CCD) vote: Ward 2 Tim Egan, Ward 25 Byron Sigcho-Lopez (Ugo Okere), Ward 32 Scott Waguespack, Ward 40 Maggie O'Keffe, Ward 47 Paul Rosenfeld, ​Palatine Township Maria Galo, Proviso Township Karen Yarbrough, and ​Wheeling Township Mark Walker.  Collectively, the CCD voted to endorse others that contributed $40K and signed the pledge.  
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