Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
GROWING YOUR
ASSOCIATION’S
POLITICAL PROGRAM
Scott Hildebrand,
Starboard Strategies, LLC
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
Overview
• A Well Executed Political Program Can:
• Expand your association’s influence
• Increase your association’s visibility
• Help your association recruit and retain members
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
What Can You Do To Grow Your Political
Program?
• Generally speaking, an association has two avenues to
expand its political presence:
• Candidates
• Vetting, evaluating, endorsing and assisting candidates.
• Issues
• Communicating issue priorities to association members and the general
public.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
Issue Advocacy
• Generally, an association can advance issues that are
part of the association’s mission without limit.
• Often, issue positions can be advanced without having to
register or disclose to regulators.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
Issue Advocacy Continued
• Pure Issue Advocacy is Cleanest With Regard to
Regulations. Usually, no limits and no disclosure
required.
• Ex: Newspaper Ad where the Realtors Association thinks
raising taxes is a bad idea.
• Ex: Gun owner organization opposing a proposal to limit
gun ownership.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
Candidates and Issue Advocacy
• Tying a candidate or office-holder to a particular position
can be like issue advocacy.
• Ex: Tell Rep. Smith that she is wrong on reproductive
freedom.
• Ex: Call Rep. Jones to encourage him to oppose the gun
registration loophole.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
“Magic Words” That Can Make Advocacy
Electioneering Speech
• Typically, if the message asks voters to “vote for,” “vote
against,” “support,” “oppose” a candidate, even in the
context of an issue, the message may be limited and/ or
otherwise regulated.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
Advantages of Issue Advocacy
• Heightens your association’s profile in the community.
• Builds a bond to issues that are important to your
members.
• Allows you to characterize your Association in a Manner
You Wish to be Viewed.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
Case Study: Built Green
• Homebuilders in the Puget Sound had a reputation as
non-environmentalists.
• Built Green program created to accentuate environmental
initiatives by builders.
• Built Green sponsorship of Mariners broadcasts
heightened new image.
• Allowed homebuilders to take control of an issue that
could have destroyed them.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
Allowing Issues to Tell Your Story
• Use predominantly positive speech.
• Don’t refute something that might be a general, but
unverified belief.
• Feel free to link your association to positive perceptions.
Ex: “The hard working men and women of the Georgia
Land Developers Association.”
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
Political Action Committees (PACs)
Creating a PAC will allow your association the ability to
involve itself in electoral campaigns while staying legal with
regulators. A PAC will allow your association to:
 Raise and spend money for political purposes.
 Influence elections in other ways.
 Easily enter into alliances with other organizations to
leverage your influence.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
Do You Need to Form a PAC?
• It depends on your state’s laws and your association’s
objectives.
• Usually if you want to participate directly in the electoral
process, forming and maintaining a PAC is a good idea.
• Interviewing candidates and advancing issues does not
usually require the formation of a PAC.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
PAC Downsides
• Reports usually need to be compiled and filed.
• You may be subject to limits regarding how you raise and
spend money.
• May be cumbersome to follow rules.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
What Can Your Association Do Without
Forming a PAC?
• If your Association is organized under IRS Code 501(c)5
or 6 you may be involved in support or opposition of a
candidate provided that is not the organization’s primary
activity.
• Certain 501(c)4 organizations may not be able to get
involved as easily.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
Implications of Your Association Engaging
in Political Activities
• Typically, money used for political campaigns may not be
deductible as a business expense.
• Many lobbying costs (both direct and grassroots) are not
deductible.
• IRS Code 527 may allow your association to establish a
political account so long as it is a “separate segregated
account.”
• May require disclosure on Form 990.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
Exercising Influence in the Political Arena
• Candidate evaluation.
• Educating candidates and the public about your issues.
• Direct contributions.
• In-kind candidate and ballot measure assistance.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
Candidate Evaluation
Formal or informal, this involves interviewing candidates
about your association’s political positions and objectives.
 Often, formal questionnaires are distributed to candidates.
 Interview panels of members are called in to “rate”
candidates against the goals of your association.
 The results of questionnaire evaluation and interviews can
result in endorsement, recommendation to your
membership and/or funding.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
Upside of Candidate Interviews
• Gives your association leadership a chance to meet
policymakers.
• Gives policymakers an opportunity to understand your
association, its priorities and desires in the policy space.
• Establishes (hopefully) an ongoing dialog between
policymakers and your association on issues of concern
to you.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
Downside of Candidate Interviews
• Drafting questionnaires can be difficult and tedious.
• Scheduling can be problematic and difficult.
• With the wrong public image, these interviews can look
“rigged” to opponents of your positions.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
Candidate Education
• Invite candidates to an open house or other social event
conducted by your association.
• Some associations do formal issues or formal “candidate
training.”
• Invite candidates to site tours or workplace shadowing
opportunities so they understand your members’ specific
challenges.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
Consider a “Contact Program”
• Give a member or members of your association the
responsibility of serving as the contact for a given elected
official.
• Encourage regular meetings over breakfast or coffee- the
less formal, the better.
• Gives real opportunity for information exchange and
understanding.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
Direct Contributions
• If you support a candidate, consider supporting them
monetarily.
• Because contribution limits are relatively low in most
states, candidates usually want appreciate your checks.
• If the candidate you are funding is a first-time candidate,
your contribution may make a real difference in their
campaigns.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
In-Kind (Non Monetary) Contributions
• Your association may be able to assist candidates in other
ways:
• Membership lists.
• Meeting space.
• Campaign events.
Make sure you don’t run afoul of campaign laws when supporting
candidates in this manner.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
Be Creative With In-Kind Assistance
• A restaurant association might provide a venue for a
campaign fundraiser.
• An auto dealers association might provide a car for the
candidate to use in a parade.
• An association of lumberyards might be able to provide
stakes for yard signs.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
Consider Expanding the Circle of Support
• If your PAC or association supports a candidate,
• Make sure your members know to vote for that candidate.
• Conduct fundraisers within your association.
• Allow a supported candidate to use your membership list to
communicate with your members directly.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
If the Candidate You Helped Gets Elected,
You Have a Friend
• When an issue comes before him or her that affects your
industry, chances are they’ll ask you how you feel about it.
• Once they get elected, don’t be shy about scheduling
coffee or lunch with them to brief them on your issues.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
Consider Your Political Affairs Program a
Membership Tool
• Some in your association, and those who want to join may
consider political outreach a calling.
• Use the program to draw these people in and let them
enhance the program.
• Use the program as an entrée with other organizations to
form alliances and expand your influence.
Copyright Starboard Strategies, LLC and Scott Hildebrand
Questions?
• Scott Hildebrand
• Starboard Strategies, LLC
• 206-605-8874
• [email protected]
• www.starboard-strategies.com