PANO is a collective voice to influence state policies on behalf of more than 40,000 nonprofit employees and 100,000 nonprofit volunteers in Pennsylvania. We believe Pennsylvania nonprofit professionals grow better together.
We advance public policies that support a strong nonprofit sector in Pennsylvania to build vibrant and thriving communities. We educate and engage elected officials on issues of importance to nonprofits and the people who count on them.
Our 2026 Advocacy Priorities and Strategies advance a public policy agenda that strengthens nonprofit capacity, protects essential public funding, and promotes charitable giving and workforce sustainability. These priorities reflect the urgent need for nonprofits and their allies in philanthropy, government, and business to unite around shared solutions, coordinate advocacy efforts, and work collectively to safeguard the systems that support health, housing, education, and human services across the Commonwealth.
Duane Morris Government Strategies (DMGS) supports PANO’s advocacy efforts. DMGS is a national full-service legislative lobbying and tracking firm that does work in all 50 state capitals across the country.
Federal Advocacy
What happened: Last Friday, President Trump announced “pocket rescissions” of $810 million in funds previously appropriated for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Education, Department of […]
UPDATE, September 30 — SNAP Cost Shift to Pennsylvania Begins October 1 What happened: The first major SNAP cost shift under H.R. 1 (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) takes […]
UPDATE, September 30 — Take Action! Protect a Fair, Accurate, and Complete 2030 Census What happened: The draft rule PANO flagged in August is now official. On September 10, the […]
State Advocacy
What happened: The General Assembly returned September 28 after a 10-week recess. The two-year legislative session ends November 30, and every bill not signed into law by then dies and […]
What happened: On September 29, committees in both chambers advanced five bills updating Pennsylvania’s 1988 Local Option Small Games of Chance Act — the law governing raffles, pull-tabs, and similar […]
UPDATE, September 30 — Skill Games: October 13 Deadline, No Deal Yet What happened: Lawmakers returned to Harrisburg on September 28 with no agreement on skill games and roughly two […]
Yes. Every charitable nonprofit can and should make its voice heard on issues that are important to its mission and to the people it serves. As advocates, nonprofits are required to speak up about policies, laws, and regulations. Lobbying by nonprofits is permitted by law. Unless a charitable nonprofit has elected to have a 501(h) designation, organizations may not spend a “substantial” portion of revenue on lobbying. The IRS does not define substantial.
On the federal level, lobbying is contact with a legislator to influence legislation. On a state level for PA, it is contact with a legislator or any member of state government to influence legislation or administrative action. This also includes time spent planning or researching in preparation for a lobbying contact. For reporting requirements, organizations should track the amount of time spent on activities that fit the federal definition of lobbying whether that be on a federal, state, or local level.
Educational contacts that do not include a call to action are not considered in the definition of lobbying.
Absolutely. Nonprofits have a constitutional right and responsibility to engage in policy-making processes. Though federal regulations require that nonprofits remain strictly nonpartisan (neither supporting nor opposing candidates for elected office), much can and should be done, including voter education guides, voter registration, get-out-the-vote drives, and candidate forums. Each of these activities is legally permissible if conducted in a strictly nonpartisan manner.
No. While lobbying by nonprofits is permitted by law, charities are strictly prohibited from electioneering. Electioneering is engaging in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office. Charities cannot endorse any candidates, make donations to their campaigns, engage in fundraising, distribute statements, or become involved in any other activities that may be beneficial to or detrimental to any candidate for public office.
Charities must operate in nonpartisan mode. Charities must be aware that engaging in prohibited campaign activity could result in excise taxes imposed on the money spent electioneering, loss of tax-exempt status, and more severe penalties for flagrant violations.