Post election we should really examine a major obstacle to us getting free and a major part of elections infrastructure: nonprofits

here is a good article to start https://truthout.org/articles/beyond-the-non-profit-industrial-complex/

Theres a reason so many social movements turn into nonprofits. Theres a structure in place set up by the state to force you into that position if you are resourced enough or have enough strength. If you suddenly get a lot of money you need to figure out what to do about *taxes*

the state makes it super easy to set up a nonprofit, it even incentivizes it. some are tax deductible if you donate to them (only if you give a ton, which the rich usually are the ones who do this), & they are tax exempt, meaning they dont have to pay taxes on the money they get

oh but there are strings attached!!

There are different kinds of nonprofits in the US, the two major ones that have roles in elections are 501(c)3s (service organizations, education orgs, charities etc) and 501(c)4s (advocacy organizations and interest groups)

These all operate pretty differently but c3s usually only get involved peripherally in elections work because they are spooked by IRS restrictions. They are allowed to engage in elections work if it is not "political". according to the IRS this means supporting candidates.

c3s including Boys and Girls Club, the Red Cross but also including organizations that get involved in political "education". As you can see sometimes in the case of fka NCLR they have a sister c4 org. these orgs (c3s) can work on ballot measures, but cant do candidate work

famous c4s are like the NRA and the AARP, who have most of their money from a large base of donors and individual rich donors. these orgs throw their weight around in elections and can financially support candidates

c4s have more wiggle room generally and will not get government funding, nor will they often get a ton of foundation money meaning they can throw their weight around. unless you have a big base or a big donor this status doesnt make a whole lot of sense from a growth standpoint

regardless of your structure, if you are very successful invariably funders (foundations or individuals) take notice and offer you money with strings attached. those funders include the government. all of a sudden you very well could be doing extension government work

nonprofits will often exert influence in the other direction (influencing government like the NRA) but only really if they have a ton of outside funding. usually from rich people or a massive massive grassroots base. this is how the rich influence the government indirectly

this means nonprofits either have a direct line to the government, where they exert influence on the part of the wealthy, or they work on behalf of the government doing the work to influence people. sometimes they do both

This institutional bullshit is very much part of counterinsurgency (according to the US Army). It is also a way to put pressure on radicals to turn into contollable organizations but also a money laundering scheme for rich people to exert influence.

so these nonprofits show up to rallies, they show up to events, they flier, they do social media, they organize bases through their programs and they always act as a force to smooth out radical demands. even if their demands are ostensibly good reforms.

this only is the case on the left, as right wing nonprofits are free to go as hard to the right as possible, because that means more money from rich right wingers

so where does that leave us? sometimes organizations *have to form nonprofits* if they get a big chunk of money so they dont get the funds frozen or go to jail for fraud or owe their own money in taxes.

sometimes nonprofits show up to social movements and swoop. sometimes nonprofits speak on behalf of communities. sometimes nonprofits do good for our community.

*nonprofits are not to be trusted* regardless of the incidentally good reforms they may achieve. and many who worked in a nonprofit will tell you this

even when they mean well, even when they intend to do good there is pressure from every direction to be shitty, and they are a core part of state and capitalist repression