Tips for ethical nonprofit lobbying released

June 24, 2008

The Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest has released a set of principles and practices designed to help nonprofits assess their current and future lobbying efforts.

With funding from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the recommendations were developed through an 18-month collaborative effort involving nonprofit leaders throughout the U.S.

The center identifies four guiding principles for ethical lobbying:

• Public-interest lobbying adds civic value to the community today and in the future.
• Public-interest lobbying is inclusive and expansive, engaging the community and particularly those most affected by the public policy being advocated.
• Public-interest lobbying is credible, trustworthy and fact-based.
• High-quality public-interest lobbying is multi-faceted and adaptive.

The report also includes 17 practices intended to help nonprofits make these principles a reality within their organizations.

"Corrupt lobbyists like Jack Abramoff have tarnished lobbying," Larry Ottinger, president of the center, says in a statement.  "But smart and ethical public-interest lobbying can help solve social problems and strengthen the democratic process."

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