[Advocacy Advisors] Freedom of Panorama

Thu Dec 20 16:30:43 UTC 2012

Thanks Stephen

It's interesting issue and I don't know how many chapters or people from
the FDC\GAC are members here, so it may be better to have it also in a
wider community.

1. Why there is diffrent between what allow under money that comes from the
FDC and the GAC? I thought the problem is the WMF finance something that is
not legal under the U.S law - but it both of the cases the money come from
the same source.

2. "Grants for such activities (when permitted under U.S. law and IRS
regulations)" - so, back again to the question - if in IL is legal to NGO
and non profit NGO to support lobbying such as what we did, and you say
that according to the U.S law - it's not allow - it mean that also the GAC
is not allow to finance it?

Itzik

On Thu, Dec 20, 2012 at 6:23 PM, Stephen LaPorte <slaporte at wikimedia.org>wrote:

> On Thu, Dec 20, 2012 at 7:48 AM, Itzik Edri <itzik at infra.co.il> wrote:
>
>> Amgine, Of course the US law not apply on IL, but every entity that get
>> budget from the FDC confirm that he will not be involve in politics
>> lobbing. It seem that what is not consider political lobbing in Israel is
>> consider true in US, so we need to see that we not clash with the FDC rules.
>
>
> FDC funds may not be used for political campaign activity or lobbying, but
> lobbying activity may be covered by project grants from the GAC or other
> funding sources. Here is the line on the FDC request form:
>
> The term “political or legislative activities” includes any activities
>> relating to political campaigns or candidates (including the contribution
>> of funds and the publication of position statements relating to political
>> campaigns or candidates); voter registration activities; meetings with or
>> submissions and petitions to government executives, ministers, officers or
>> agencies on political or policy issues; and any other activities seeking
>> government intervention or policy implementation (like “lobbying”), whether
>> directed toward the government or the community or public at large. Grants
>> for such activities (when permitted under U.S. law and IRS regulations)
>> should be sought from the GAC.
>
>
>
> http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Funds_Dissemination_Committee/Grant_application_form
>
>
> See also
> http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Funds_Dissemination_Committee/Framework_for_the_Creation_and_Initial_Operation_of_the_FDC#General_versus_project_funding
>
> I cannot provide you legal advice, but I am happy to discuss the issue
> with you in detail if you are concerned.
>
> --
> Stephen LaPorte
> Legal Counsel
> Wikimedia Foundation
>
> *For legal reasons, I may only serve as an attorney for the Wikimedia
> Foundation. This means I may not give legal advice to or serve as a lawyer
> for community members, volunteers, or staff members in their personal
> capacity.*
>
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>
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