Roger Colinvaux, a professor at Catholic Law, recently authored an article published in The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Titled "Know Your Rights: How Much Can Tax-Exempt Groups Speak Out?," the piece highlights how charities may have greater legal freedom to lobby than their leaders often realize.

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The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Date: May 1, 2025
By: Roger Colinvaux
Know Your Rights: How Much Can Tax-Exempt Groups Speak Out?

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The first months of the second Trump administration have been a whirlwind of policy disruption. By executive order, the White House has announced vast changes to public policy on civil rights, health care, the environment, immigration, the arts, and federal contracting, all while canceling billions of dollars of grants to nonprofits and proposing a sweeping revision to federal tax law. Profound policy changes that impact nonprofits of all stripes are happening at a breakneck pace.

Amid the storm, many nonprofits want to speak out but are concerned about violating the law, unsure of their rights. Can tax-exempt nonprofits lobby Congress or the executive branch about administration policy? Can you write editorials, engage with and inform the public about issues of concern, support litigation, or organize peaceful, law-abiding protests?
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