A common question we get at MNA is how 501c3’s can be involved in elections without putting their tax-exempt status at risk. We are always excited to answer that yes, it is important for nonprofits to be engaged in our elections and there is a lot that nonprofits can, and should do, to help your neighbors show up, vote, and engage in democracy!
Voting should be simple, but for a lot of Montanans, it isn’t. That’s where nonprofits come in. Study after study shows that when nonprofits encourage voting — always on a nonpartisan basis — through registration drives, clear information on where and how to vote, candidate forums, or just giving staff a few hours off to get to the polls, people show up in bigger numbers. This isn’t a feel-good extra. It works, because people respond when they know someone’s actually asking them to participate. Voting is a fundamental right, and every eligible Montanan deserves a real say in shaping their community, state, and country’s future. Nonprofits are already doing this work, and we’re especially well-placed to do more of it. Communities that get overlooked, under-served, or stretched thin trust us — and that trust is exactly what makes voter engagement effective.
That’s why we put together this Voter Engagement Guide. It walks through how Montana nonprofits can engage in elections while staying nonpartisan, make the most of the networks you’ve already built, and strengthen relationships with elected officials along the way. Whether you’re a two-person operation or a statewide organization, the examples and guardrails inside are meant to give you the confidence to bring voter engagement into the work you’re already doing.
When nonprofits step up, more people vote and more voices get heard — and that can only help your mission and our country, state and community.
Below, please find the 2026 Voter Engagement Guide for Montana Nonprofits. This resource was prepared in partnership with the National Council of Nonprofits and Nonprofit Vote.
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