527 Political Action Organization for HBCUs
Just when we are at the height of the Age of Aquarius, Global Warming, and the increase of gas prices, we are also at the height of Change for America. When the announcement was made about an African-American male Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama, HBCU Fund, a 527 political organization, was also developed to seek out voters in historical black colleges and universities, to educate the students on the political process, and conduct issue advocacy organizing.
Political organizations that claim tax-exempt status under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code are referred to as "527 organizations" or "527s." These organizations are formed and operated primarily to receive and make contributions for the purpose of influencing the selection, nomination, election or appointment of any individual to federal, state or local public office. 527 organizations are exempt from federal income tax on contributions.
MoveOn.org is a political organization that most people are familiar with that work on issues that concern those who want change and equal justice for all. HBCU Fund has not coordinated with nominees for the Presidential campaigns or their campaign staff and does not directly urge any candidate's election or defeat. But what we are doing is educating students on the political process and encouraging them to not only talk about change but be about change.
We would like to encourage all those who are interested in making change to register to vote, vote, and encourage those from your schools, communities, families, and friends to also vote. If you are not registered, please do so at www.hbcufund.org.
Together, the students from HBCUs can be a part in rewritten politics in this country where a 527 political organization was founded and led by an African-American female and HBCU alumni, that can alleviate scandalous record of sabotaging candidates. This moment in American politics is one we have never seen before.
To contact the writer on this story: Chioma Adaku-Griffin in Nashville, Tennessee at hbcufund@gmail.com.
Political organizations that claim tax-exempt status under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code are referred to as "527 organizations" or "527s." These organizations are formed and operated primarily to receive and make contributions for the purpose of influencing the selection, nomination, election or appointment of any individual to federal, state or local public office. 527 organizations are exempt from federal income tax on contributions.
MoveOn.org is a political organization that most people are familiar with that work on issues that concern those who want change and equal justice for all. HBCU Fund has not coordinated with nominees for the Presidential campaigns or their campaign staff and does not directly urge any candidate's election or defeat. But what we are doing is educating students on the political process and encouraging them to not only talk about change but be about change.
We would like to encourage all those who are interested in making change to register to vote, vote, and encourage those from your schools, communities, families, and friends to also vote. If you are not registered, please do so at www.hbcufund.org.
Together, the students from HBCUs can be a part in rewritten politics in this country where a 527 political organization was founded and led by an African-American female and HBCU alumni, that can alleviate scandalous record of sabotaging candidates. This moment in American politics is one we have never seen before.
To contact the writer on this story: Chioma Adaku-Griffin in Nashville, Tennessee at hbcufund@gmail.com.
