How Nonprofits Can Inform Policy Without Lobbying
Advancing policy doesn’t always mean lobbying—it often starts with showing up, sharing what you know, and building trust.
Understanding the Fear Around “Advocacy”
Many nonprofit and scientific organizations hesitate to engage in policy work because of one word: lobbying. It’s a valid concern—especially for 501(c)(3) organizations and those whose members include federal employees.
But here’s the truth: you can inform policy every day without ever lobbying. The IRS and Office of Government Ethics both distinguish between lobbying (attempting to affect specific legislation) and education or engagement (sharing information, building relationships, or providing expertise).
According to federal law, lobbying only occurs when an organization:
Communicates directly with lawmakers about specific legislation, and
Asks them to take a position (support, oppose, amend, etc.) on that legislation.
Everything else—educating, convening, informing, and relationship-building—is not lobbying. It’s mission-aligned engagement.
Why This Matters for Scientific and Conservation Organizations
Science-based nonprofits and professional societies occupy a unique space. You represent experts who deeply understand how policy decisions affect people, ecosystems, and research. Yet, many of your members—particularly federal scientists—must stay neutral in political spaces.
That doesn’t mean your organization has to stay silent. In fact, the opposite is true. Policymakers often crave clear, unbiased, science-informed insights to help them make better decisions. Nonprofits can fill that gap by serving as trusted connectors—translating science into accessible, actionable knowledge for decision-makers.
The Honest Broker Approach
A powerful model for policy engagement—especially for nonprofits that want to avoid lobbying—is the Honest Broker Approach. This strategy focuses on presenting research and context objectively, without prescribing a policy solution.
By acting as an honest broker, your organization:
Builds trust across the political spectrum.
Provides policymakers with reliable, evidence-based information.
Keeps your engagement fully compliant and nonpartisan.
This approach works best when you commit to neutrality, prioritize transparency, and center relationships over rhetoric.
Engagement, Not Lobbying: Practical Ways to Inform Policy
Here are tangible, compliant ways your nonprofit can engage in the policy process—no lobbying required:
1. Educate Decision-Makers
Share research findings, reports, or policy-relevant data in plain language. Host briefings or webinars where policymakers can hear from your members without being asked to take a stance.
Tip: Use “policy education” instead of “advocacy” when describing these events—it signals neutrality while maintaining visibility.
2. Build Relationships Year-Round
Don’t wait for a bill to drop. Connect with legislative staff and agency contacts during interim sessions or off-season months. Offer to be a resource when questions arise. Trust grows through consistency.
3. Use Science to Frame Conversations
Translate technical findings into real-world stories. Data opens the door, but stories keep people listening. Make it clear how your organization’s mission connects to the challenges lawmakers are trying to solve.
4. Empower Members Within Their Boundaries
Federal employees can still participate in educational forums, publish research, and provide expertise when invited. Nonprofit members can support this work by curating and sharing information without directing legislative outcomes.
5. Submit Comments and Provide Testimony
Responding to open comment periods or providing invited testimony is considered education, not lobbying, as long as you avoid advocating for specific legislative action.
6. Collaborate with Coalitions
Work with peer organizations to share collective findings, develop neutral briefing papers, or host nonpartisan events. Coalitions amplify your reach and ensure science-informed dialogue across multiple sectors.
Staying Compliant: A Quick Legal Snapshot
For 501(c)(3) organizations, the IRS allows limited lobbying but prohibits “substantial” lobbying activity. Many nonprofits opt to file the 501(h) election, which clarifies how much lobbying is allowed, but this isn’t required to inform policymakers.
Federal employees, meanwhile, are guided by the Hatch Act and agency-specific ethics rules, which limit political activity but still allow for scientific and educational engagement. Activities like publishing neutral research, serving on advisory panels, and briefing committees on scientific issues are all permissible when done in a nonpartisan manner.
Leading Through Education and Connection
Informing policy doesn’t always come from persuasion—it often comes from presence. When your organization consistently shows up with clarity, empathy, and evidence, you become part of the trusted infrastructure that helps decision-makers do their best work.
That’s where true impact happens: in the relationships you build, the expertise you share, and the way you translate science into stories that matter.
At RKO Consulting Group, we help nonprofits, scientific societies, and mission-driven organizations navigate this kind of engagement with confidence and compliance—no lobbying required.
Call to Action
Curious how your organization can stay visible in policy spaces next year—without crossing lobbying lines?
📅 Schedule a Policy Readiness Call before December 15.
Let’s map out your 2026 engagement strategy together.