Bob Smucker

Bob Smucker is the founder and former Executive Director of the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest (CLPI).  He was formerly vice president for government relations at Independent Sector from its founding in 1980 to 1997 and he has been a lobbyist for nonprofits for more than 25 years at the local, state and national levels.  During that time Bob wrote The Nonprofit Lobbying Guide published by Jossey-Bass, one of the most widely read and used books on lobbying.  Shortly after founding CLPI, he updated the book and Independent Sector published the second edition.  Bob Smucker has also written numerous articles on lobbying by nonprofits in the United States.

Smucker worked with the advocacy community to organize and provide leadership for the coalition that convinced the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to withdraw restrictive proposed regulations governing lobbying.  That coalition also worked with the IRS to develop sound new lobbying regulations.  He also had senior staff responsibility in developing and providing coordination for a coalition that acted to have the Office of Management and Budget withdraw proposed regulations that would have greatly curtailed the rights of nonprofits to lobby with the funds they receive from private contributions.  In 1995-96, he co-chaired the Let America Speak! coalition that defeated a number of efforts by Congressman Ernest Istook (R-OK) to sharply reduce or disallow lobbying by nonprofits that receive federal funds.

Smucker also led the successful Independent Sector effort in 1981 to enact a charitable tax deduction for taxpayers who do not itemize their tax deductions. That action led to a major increase in charitable giving.

Prior to working at Independent Sector, Smucker was the vice president for government relations at the National Mental Health Association where he advocated for the rights of mentally ill persons and the responsibilities of government to provide critical services.