Now that the primary results are in and the candidates on the November ballot have been determined, it is important for us as the nonprofit community to be educating voters and candidates alike on the issues we view as important. One way to accomplish both of these goals is to host a candidate forum.
 
Candidate forums are a great avenue by which to place the nonprofit community in the spotlight for would-be policymakers, introduce them to the breadth and depth of the issues we address, and give them faces and stories to personalize the impact of legislative decisions. These forums are absolutely legal for 501(c)(3) nonprofits to engage in - you just need to follow some simple guidelines.
 
Rules for Hosting a Candidate Forum
 

* Keep it nonpartisan. As 501(c)(3)s, you may not endorse candidates or political parties or engage in activities that could make you appear like you are endorsing a candidate.

* Invite all viable candidates. If it is a two-candidate race and only one candidate agrees to come, you cannot hold the forum. However, if more than two candidates are in the race and at least two candidates agree to participate, you can hold the event. Helpful hint: Have a candidate forum with candidates for more than one seat. This will increase the chances that you will have enough participation to hold the forum.

* Cover a broad range of issues. Because some issues may be identified more strongly with one party, it is important that you cover a broad range of topics to avoid appearing partisan or to give the impression that you favor a particular candidate. Covering a broad range of issues can also help your forum appeal to a broader constituency base, thus increasing the numbers of individuals (voters) who attend.

* Ask open-ended questions. Asking yes or no questions can give the impression that you favor one candidate over another. All questions should be phrased in such a way that candidates have the opportunity to explain their answers.

* Give each candidate equal time. You may limit the amount of time each candidate has to respond to a question, but you must provide equal time to each candidate.

* Make sure your moderator stays neutral and nonpartisan. It is easy to get caught up in the moment and get carried away when asking questions about a topic that sparks passion. Make sure your moderator understands the IRS rules that your organization must stay nonpartisan and is willing to pose questions and follow up in a nonpartisan manner.

More background on the rules for hosting a candidate forum and tips for pulling off a successful event can be found in the free guide A Nonprofit's Guide to Hosting a Candidate Forum. Download your free copy here! You may also This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to MPP to have it posted on our site.