Nonprofits and elections discussion

The Hudson Institute is hosting an event entitled, Should Nonprofit Organizations Play an Active Role in Election Campaigns? on August 9th from noon to 2 PM in DC:

Recent readers of The Chronicle of Philanthropy witnessed a lively discussion unfold on its pages between D.C. Central Kitchen president and author ROBERT EGGER and Georgetown University scholar PABLO EISENBERG. With a view to the next election cycle, Egger argued in a May 31 opinion piece* that nonprofit organizations deserve the kind of political stature corporations enjoy because like corporations, they employ millions of Americans, command billions of dollars in resources, and thus play a vital economic as well as civic role in their communities. Yet nonprofits face a double standard when it comes to political activity, and they “accept their muzzled role.” Egger concludes that the laws that prohibit charities from direct campaign activities “not only are outdated, but also will be counterproductive” as nonprofits continue to grow in size, wealth, and stature.

Eisenberg, a regular contributor to the Chronicle, responded to Egger in his June 28 column.** “Existing regulations are not the culprit for the nonprofit world’s failure to be more activist and politically involved,” he wrote. Historically, charities and foundations have held themselves apart from business and government, serving as a mediating force between the two. Yet as a result, nonprofit groups have “enormous leeway in supporting and promoting activism and influencing the political system.” The problem is not that these organizations are hampered by their nonprofit status and all that it entails, Eisenberg argued, but that most simply fail to exercise their current rights to organize communities, communicate with elected officials and their staffs, and educate and register voters.

On Thursday, August 9, Hudson Institute’s Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal will host a discussion between these two storied nonprofit sector leaders. Chronicle of Philanthropy editor STACY PALMER will serve as the discussion’s moderator. Please join us! Lunch will be served.

* “Charities Must Challenge Politicians,” Robert Egger, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, May 31, 2007. (For an electronic copy, visit the Chronicle's web site at http://www.philanthropy.com. Also available in PDF form - click here.)
** “Charities Should Remain Nonpolitical,” Pablo Eisenberg, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, June 28, 2007. (For an electronic copy, visit the Chronicle's web site at http://www.philanthropy.com. Also available in PDF form - click here.)

I plan on attending... this should be an interesting discussion.