Nonprofit organizations are stepping up their political activity and becoming more aggressive lobbyists as the presidential primaries draw near, though they must be careful to follow the complex laws governing their tax-exempt status, reports Time magazine.

The Gates Foundation and the Broad Foundation will spend $60-million on “Ed in ’08,” which aims to encourage presidential candidates to make education a big part of their platform. The Nonprofit Primary Project is trying to meet with all the presidential candidates one-on-one before New Hampshire’s primary in January.

“We’re telling candidates that we’re the problem solvers of our communities,” says Cynthia Mills, CEO of the Tree Care Industry Association, in New Hampshire, who has met with 11 of the people seeking the presidential nomination. “And you can see many of them having that ‘aha’ moment.”

Political activity by charities comes with many restrictions; nonprofit groups must not advocate for any political party or candidate. In the 2006 election cycle, the Internal Revenue Service issued warnings to 26 charities, and another 60 are currently under investigation for improper politicking.

Read a Chronicle of Philanthropy article about the efforts foundations are undertaking in the 2008 campaign.

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