{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Candidate Appearances","description":" Primaries are taking place or may have already occurred where you are. More elections will take place from now until November so we thought it\u2019s a good time to talk about candidate appearances. We\u2019ll explain how (c)(3)s can stay nonpartisan while helping to educate voters and candidates by hosting candidates. (c)(4)s, you can of course do everything (c)(3)s can do and much more!  Attorneys for this episode  Quyen Tu  Victor Rivera   Brittany Hacker Leonard    Shownotes  Why is this important?  C3s are a trusted source of information and have a crucial role to play in election seasons, often in touch with the local community more, have an important role to play in bringing the candidates and their platforms to the voters, and also bringing information about the community and the organization\u2019s work to the candidates.   Because of this, we often get questions about c3s holding debates, forums, site visits from candidates as ways to educate both the voters and the candidates themselves\u2014and all of this great work can be c3 safe.     Remember the general rule: c3s cannot support or oppose candidates for office   Doesn't mean that you can\u2019t talk to candidates, or host candidates  Different reasons you may have a candidate appear:   In their capacity as a candidate: individually or debate\/forum  In another capacity: expert in their field, current elected official, celebrity  They just show up at a public event   Rules will be different depending on why they are there!  Remember: document interactions with candidates, use disclaimers, and keep good records  7(c)(3)s holding candidate debates and fora  Examples: CA gov, D.C. mayoral primary  Do:   Cover a broad range of issues  Nonpartisan, independent questions and moderator  Invite all viable candidates   Make it open to the public for a diverse audience   Don\u2019t:  Ask for pledges  Give anyone special treatment   Only ask about your organization\u2019s narrow area of focus   Continue to hold the \u201cdebate\u201d if only one candidate can attend   (c)(3)s hosting a candidate because of their candidacy (not debate format)  Follow the same rules as debate\u2014all invited and given equal opportunities in similar settings   (c)(3)s hosting candidate for non-election reason  Do not need to invite every candidate   Make sure the candidate knows what capacity they are there in (which hat they are wearing)  No fundraising or campaigning   Use disclaimers!    (c)(4)s and PACs hosting candidates  Can host just one candidate in their capacity as candidate\u2014will be c4\u2019s secondary purpose activity   Can give site visits to just preferred candidates, can ask for pledges   PACs may also host or sponsor candidate fundraising events  Foundations: can fund (c)(3)s hosting nonpartisan candidate debates or appearances    Resources   Rules of the Game  Candidate Appearances: Foundations Can Host or Fund Nonpartisan Candidate Appearances  Hosting Candidates at Charitable Events: Ensuring Candidate Appearances Remain Nonpartisan   Nonpartisan Candidate Education: How 501(c)(3)s Can Talk to Candidates During an Election Year  Sample 501(c)(3) Organizational Policy for Election Season  501(c)(4) Partisan Activities  ","author_name":"Rules of the Game: The Bolder Advocacy Podcast","author_url":"https:\/\/afj.org\/podcast","html":"