TO: YWCA Leaders
FROM: YWCA USA Communications
DATE: November 3, 2016
SUBJECT: Election Day Guidance
Dear YWCA Leaders,
Election Day is right around the corner and we are so thrilled with your voter engagement efforts over the past few weeks! Please keep up the great work!
As you already know, 501(c)(3) nonprofits like YWCAs cannot conduct any campaign intervention. This means 501(c)(3) organizations may not help or hurt the chances for election of any particular candidate or group of candidates, regardless of political party affiliation. For instance, 501(c)(3) organizations may not campaign to get women or Latinos elected, even if they don’t care which party the candidates are, or even if the election is non-partisan.
Risk can arise when a communication could be perceived as attempting to influence voters. Here are some topics to avoid:
- talking about a candidate’s qualifications
- commenting on whether someone is a good or a bad candidate
- discussing a candidate’s record
- talking about voters and making references to the election
- identifying a candidate by name
- making a statement about which candidate is better on the 501(c)(3) organization’s issues
These documents from Bolder Advocacy clearly outline these parameters:
Once the election is over, we have a bit more leeway in commenting on the election outcome. However, even in the post-election context, it’s important that we continue to avoid making partisan comments, particularly ones that suggest that one party or candidate is more favorable for an organization’s issue or concerns. Don’t focus on the candidate, but keep your focus on our public policy concerns.
While this could potentially be a historic election, context is important. As such, we have drafted some sample statements you may choose to use or draw from following the election. One includes a measured celebration of election of the first woman president. The other is a standard statement that reinforces YWCA’s legacy of working for justice and our commitment to working with both the new White House administration and Congress. Do not release either of these press statements in advance of the final election outcome.
Following the election, we will release an analysis of the election results and an official YWCA USA statement.
If you have any election-related questions over the next few days, please reach out to Catherine Beane, Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy at advocacy@ywca.org.
Sincerely,
YWCA USA Communications
#NationalCommunications