Advocacy Resources
Stand for Your Mission: Engage Your Board in Advocacy
The Stand for Your Mission campaign envisions a reality where nonprofit and philanthropic missions are fully realized because board members are standing for the mission of their organizations and helping set priorities in partnership with government – rather than waiting for the outcome. Use the Campaign tools to better engage your board and increase your organization and our sector’s impact!
More Than Charity: The Economic Importance of KY’s Nonprofit Sector (Report)
Every other year, KNN releases a new More Than Charity report to increase understanding of the economic importance of Kentucky’s nonprofit sector, as well as it current challenges. KNN’s 2026 More Than Charity report highlights the impact that charitable nonprofits have on Kentucky’s economy and communities. As the fourth-largest private-sector employer in the state, charitable nonprofits employ 178,864 Kentuckians, generate $11.9 billion in annual wages, and contribute $32.5 billion in expenditures benefiting Kentucky’s economy. Nearly one in ten private-sector jobs in Kentucky is at a charitable nonprofit employer. Check out the full report to learn more, and explore data by county and local workforce area on the More Than Charity Dashboard. Print and share with elected officials, sponsors, donors, board, staff, volunteers – help spread the word that nonprofits are More Than Charity!
Lobbying Registration and Reporting
Lobbying is only one form of advocacy and the key distinction between the two is that lobbying means attempting to influence specific legislation. Not all advocacy is lobbying, but all lobbying includes advocacy.
The bottom line is that, nonprofits can and should advocate for their missions and those they serve at all levels of government. And nonprofits can – and many should – also lobby. Federal government protects nonprofit advocacy and lobbying by 501(c)3 organizations through the 1976 Lobby Law and 1990 IRS regulations. For organizations that are lobbying, there are important things to know about registration and reporting:
