Who can be an advocate?

Advocacy 101 for Individuals

Why Your Voice is Our Strongest Asset

When it comes to public policy, it is easy to feel like contacting your elected officials is like yelling into a hurricane. Many people assume that one person cannot make a difference, or they decide to simply "wait until Election Day" to vote. But in the halls of the Capitol, silence is interpreted as approval. Lawmakers need to hear from the people they represent—and they need to hear from you.

The Power of the "Everyday" Advocate

You might think that lawmakers only want to hear from policy experts or leaders who work directly in the arts. In reality, the most persuasive advocates are often normal, everyday people.

When a legislator hears from an arts director, they expect them to advocate for the arts. But when a banker, healthcare worker, city planner, teacher, or tourism professional speaks up, it demonstrates that the arts are vital to the entire community. You don't need to be an expert on the nuances of policy; you are the expert on your own experience. When you explain how the arts impact your family, your business, or your local economy, you provide lawmakers with the real-world examples they need to convince their colleagues to support an issue.

Why Calling and Writing STILL Matters

Whether your representative is a Republican or a Democrat, contacting them regularly reminds them that they work for you. Here is why your action makes a direct impact:

It Creates a Record: Every call and email is logged into a constituent-management system and tallied. When enough people reach out on the same issue, it signals urgency and grabs the office's attention.
The Multiplier Effect: Many legislators operate under the belief that a single letter or phone call represents the opinions of many other constituents who shared the same thought but didn't take the time to reach out.
It Changes Priorities: A critical mass of calls can force a legislator to take notice of an issue that might have otherwise gone ignored, and can even influence them to vote a certain way or introduce a new bill.

Reaching out to Congress or the State Legislature doesn't have to be intimidating. Check out our Advocacy Playbook for tips and resources.

Advocacy 101 for Nonprofits

Advocating Within Your Boundaries

As a cultural organization in Montana, your voice is essential to the democratic process. Many nonprofits hesitate to engage in policy work out of fear of breaking the rules, but the good news is that 501(c)(3) public charities are legally allowed to lobby within generous limits.

Here are the basics of what your organization should do, the strict rules you cannot cross, and the specific Montana thresholds you need to monitor. You can find more in-depth information in the document, Practical Guidance: What Nonprofits Need to Know About Lobbying in Montana.

1. Advocacy Best Practices

The Montana Nonprofit Association recommends that nonprofits actively participate in the formation of public policy that aligns with their mission. To be an effective advocate, your organization should:

Empower Ambassadors: Encourage your board, staff, and volunteers to act as knowledgeable advocates for your organization and the cultural sector.
Adopt an Advocacy Policy: If you actively engage in public policy, adopt a written policy that clarifies the scope of your work and the resources you will allocate to it.

2. The Hard Boundaries for 501(c)(3)s

Federal law allows 501(c)(3) public charities to lobby (determined by either the "insubstantial part test" or the "501(h) expenditure test"). However, there are a few strict legal boundaries you must observe:

Stay Strictly Nonpartisan: You must ensure all activities promoting public participation are completely nonpartisan.
No Candidate Endorsements: Nonprofits cannot make contributions to political candidates or parties, and must never engage in activity that promotes or discourages a vote for a specific candidate.
No Federal Funds for Lobbying: If your organization receives federal funding, those specific funds cannot be used to support lobbying activities.

3. The Montana Lobbying Threshold (When to Register)

In Montana, lobbying generally means directly communicating with state legislators to promote or oppose legislation. Montana state law does not currently regulate executive branch lobbying or local municipal lobbying (like speaking to your mayor or city council).

The Registration Trigger: You only need to register as a lobbyist with the State of Montana if you hit a specific paid-time threshold. Your organization must register if:

A single staff member is paid $2,650 or more in prorated compensation in a calendar year for direct lobbying activities (including preparation time once a position on legislation is taken).
Your organization pays $2,650 or more cumulatively to multiple staff members for lobbying activities.

Activities that DO NOT trigger registration

Many vital advocacy activities do not count toward this $2,650 threshold, meaning your organization can do them freely without needing to register:

Volunteer Activity: Time spent by unpaid volunteers or board members never triggers registration.
Grassroots Lobbying: Asking the general public to contact their legislators does not trigger registration in Montana.
Member Communications: Communicating directly with your organization's own membership about policy issues is exempt.
Media Commentary: Editorials, news stories, and commentary published in general media are not considered lobbying.

ABOUT