About CLPI

Citizen participation is the essence of democracy, and nonprofit organizations are one of the most effective vehicles for engaging people in the democratic process.  Lobbying is an important activity that nonprofits can undertake to achieve their missions and foster democracy.  Through lobbying, nonprofit volunteers and staff provide vital expertise and perspectives to federal, state and local government decision-makers, resulting in better law and policy.  These beliefs and the need to preserve them led to CLPI’s founding in 1998.

Mission: Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest (CLPI) promotes, supports and protects 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy and lobbying in order to strengthen participation in our democratic society and advance charitable missions.

Goals: CLPI’s goals are to:

¨      Promote the participation of nonprofits in the public policy process by acting as a catalyst for nonprofit advocacy and lobbying; 

¨      Support the participation of nonprofits in the public policy process by providing tools, organizing networks to convey those tools, and building foundation support for advocacy; and

¨      Protect and expand nonprofit lobbying rights.  

  Click on the image to view CLPI brochure.

Beginning with its establishment by Bob Smucker, Tom Troyer and other long-time nonprofit leaders and advocates, CLPI has endeavored to be a trusted resource for information, training and network building.  The Washington, D.C.-based organization focuses on several persistent barriers that significantly undermine the essential public policy role of nonprofits, including:

¨       Limited financial resources, 

¨       Confusion regarding the law, and 

¨       Limited staff or volunteer skills.
 

CLPI works to remove these barriers by expanding the advocacy capacity of nonprofit networks and seeking to increase awareness of the important role of nonprofit advocacy. 

As a non-partisan convener, CLPI is uniquely positioned to communicate and connect with a broad range of organizations, including federal, state and local nonprofits and coalitions, foundations, public policy research and public interest groups, and educational institutions.  CLPI works with nonprofit organizations and networks around the country to encourage their active engagement in effective lobbying.  This work results in a more engaged nonprofit sector and citizenry.