Chand et al., ISOs, the IRS, and the H-election option: when immigration nonprofits act as interest groups

Prior research has established that nonprofits play a role in shaping public policy. However, prior research has focused widely on social service nonprofits generally, leaving us with little knowledge of how specific sectors such as immigrant-serving organizations (ISOs) engage in policy advocacy. Here, we survey 170 organizations across the United States to understand when ISOs seek policy change. Our findings reveal that ISOs utilizing the H-election option on their Form 990s are significantly more likely to engage in policy advocacy. Such groups are particularly more likely to engage in formal and regulated advocacy activities like lobbying. Interestingly, groups in communities with high concentrations of H-election organizations also report advocating at higher levels. Organizational factors, such as staff turnover and a range of funding sources, also predict advocacy engagement. These findings provide practical insights for nonprofit leaders and scholars who wish to understand how service-based groups deal with highly contentious issues like immigration.