Lobbying

Lobbying refers to contacting or urging the public to contact legislators for the purpose of proposing, supporting, or opposing legislation, or advocating for the adoption or rejection of legislation. There are two types of lobbying: Direct, to member(s) of a legislative body, or Grassroots, to member(s) of the general public and encourages the recipient to take action.

Within Fractured Atlas's Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement alone, these operations are not allowed. With Fractured Atlas's lobbying clause in our primary grant agreement, an additional grant agreement can be signed by sponsored projects allowing for a project to engage in grassroots or direct lobbying. This agreement clearly states the policies and regulations for projects participating in these activities. Some key points are:

• Projects must sign the lobbying agreement each year that they plan to use funds raised through Fractured Atlas’s fiscal sponsorship program to engage in lobbying activity.
• When projects sign the lobbying agreement, they must declare whether they are engaging in Direct or Grassroots lobbying. We are unable to support projects who would like to use our program to engage in both types of lobbying. 
• There is an annual per project cap on funds raised through Fractured Atlas’s fiscal sponsorship program to be used towards lobbying activities.
• When projects submit fund release requests, they must note whether they are using said funds towards lobbying activities.
• If a project notes that funds will be used for lobbying activities, they must include accompanying documentation.

Please note, as a 501(c)(3), Fractured Atlas’s fiscal sponsorship program is prohibited from being used to support electioneering. Electioneering is activities that directly or indirectly participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for elective public office.

If your activities work towards a bill being passed, please contact us at [e-mail] for the lobbying agreement to be signed before moving forward. 

Please note, if a project aims for social impact and/or partakes in social justice work, the project's activities may not be considered lobbying and an additional agreement may not be required.