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New Era Colorado

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New Era Colorado
New Era Colorado.jpg
Basic facts
Location:Denver, Colo.
Type:501(c)(4)
Top official:Lizzy Stephan, Executive director
Founder(s):Steve Fenberg, Lisa Kaufmann, Joe Neguse, and Leslie Herod
Year founded:2006
Website:Official website

The New Era Colorado is a nonprofit consisting of a 501(c)(3) foundation and a 501(c)(4) political advocacy group that aim to educate and mobilize young people to vote and becoming politically active in the state of Colorado. A progressive organization, New Era Colorado primarily focuses on advocating for policies related to issues of local control and voter registration. It also operates voter registration drives.

Mission

According to the organization's website, New Era Colorado's mission statement is:[1]

“ New Era Colorado is a multi-issue organization committed to engaging, educating, and training a new generation of active citizens and young leaders in Colorado. We are a full-spectrum civic engagement organization; we provide the resources and tools for young people to gain collective power in all levels of the democratic process, including issue organizing, electoral mobilization, and the legislative process.[2] ”

Background

In 2006, after Steve Fenberg, Lisa Kaufmann, Joe Neguse, and Leslie Herod graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder, they started New Era Colorado, a nonprofit organization aimed at educating young voters about political issues. In 2012, Fenberg said that one of the motivations for starting New Era was to show younger people "hands-on" methods of democratic involvement. He told Westword, "Young people do play a role in politics, but mostly through free labor, this kind of bullshit stuff. ... We wanted to show them they can do more."[3]

During the 2012 election cycle, New Era Colorado came under scrutiny for a voter guide it published. According to RedState, the guide listed "Democratic candidates in state and federal elections who have received the 'thumbs up' from New Era Colorado."[4] Around the same time as the voter guide appeared, the group developed a 501(c)(4) affiliate, the New Era Colorado Action Fund. The campaign literature did not specify which nonprofit produced the guide; a 501(c)(3) organization is prohibited from engaging in activities that advocate for a certain outcome in an election.[5] After the separate 501(c)(4) was developed, the organization performed advocacy work as part of the action fund and used the 501(c)(3) as an educational foundation.

Work

As a 501(c)(4) organization (also called a social welfare organization), the New Era Colorado can make its GOTV work in support of or opposition to a candidate or cause. The IRS does not consider direct or indirect political influence to be in the domain of promoting social welfare. However, a social welfare organization designated as a 501(c)(4) can engage in some political activity in support of or opposition to candidates for office. These political activities cannot be the organization's primary activities and cannot be direct donations to a candidate for office or a candidate's committee.[6][7]

Young voter outreach

The New Era Colorado primarily works with young voters to increase voter turnout and political engagement. The group aims to connect with younger voters through techniques that grab their attention. Past outreach efforts have included advocates dressing up in costume, the group issuing edgy voter awareness materials, or handing out "Do It for Democracy" condoms.[8] The organization's executive director, Lizzy Stephan, described New Era's approach to mobilizing younger generations as one that takes unconventional approaches like dressing up in costumes to get voters' attention. She told 5280 Magazine:[9]

“ I think our approach to mobilizing young voters is so successful because our work is peer-to-peer, face-to-face, and we do things in an unconventional way. We’re young people meeting other young people where they are, and having a conversation about why to vote and cast a ballot. Because it’s peer-to-peer, it’s different than what young people are used to with politics. We are able to break through the noise. ... We’re going in costumes, on roller skates, or dressed as Where’s Waldo. We give out ‘Vote, F*cker’ buttons. Our brand is appealing to young people because it’s a new brand of politics.[2] ”

Municipal energy utility campaign

In 2011, the New Era Colorado was involved in getting Boulder, Colorado, ballot questions 2B and 2C passed. These measure increased a tax to allow for study of a municipal energy utility in the city and authorized the city to operate and establish a municipal power utility, respectively.[10] In 2013, after the measures were approved, the group began its campaign asking for $40,000 in crowdfunded donations to support the charter amendment.[11]

Voter registration

One of the organization's primary activities is to register young voters throughout Colorado and to help those voters get to the polls, a practice commonly known as get out the vote or GOTV. Lizzy Stephan, the group's executive director, explained New Era's rationale for focusing on young voters, saying, "Young people are moving to Colorado in droves. I think more so than another state in the country comparatively. ... In 2016, one in three eligible voters is a member of the millennial generation. And what’s really important to understand about this generation, is that it’s registration that’s the key hurdle that keeps them from participating in our elections."[12]

During the 2016 election cycle, the organization joined with the Associated Students of Colorado State University to work together registering voters on the Colorado State campus. At the time, the university's newspaper, The Rocky Mountain Collegian, explained the partnership: "ASCSU and New Era reserve the right to pull out of the agreement at any time should either party feel that issues are being advocated other than voter registration and education. ASCSU may also work with any other voter registration group that they see fit."[13]

Lobbying

According to the New Era Colorado's website, the organization has been active in crafting policies on voter registration and local control throughout the state. In 2009, the organization's interns wrote and lobbied for a bill to allow Colorado voters to register to vote online. The organization was also involved in allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to preregister to vote.[14]

Political activity

Ballot measure activity

Overview of ballot measure support and opposition

The following table details New Era Colorado’s ballot measure stances available on Ballotpedia:

Ballot measure support and opposition for New Era Colorado
Ballot measure Year Position Status
Colorado Definition of "Personhood" Initiative, Amendment 67 2014 Opposed Defeatedd Defeated
Colorado Severance Tax Revenue for Highways, Initiative 52 2008 Opposed Defeatedd Defeated

Leadership

Lizzy Stephan is the executive director of the New Era Colorado.[15]

The following individuals are members of the organization's board, according to New Era Colorado's website:[16]

  • Rob DuRay, Board Chair
  • State Rep. Brittany Pettersen, Vice chair
  • Jamie Harkins, Treasurer
  • Courtney Law
  • Daniel Ramos
  • Amanda Gonzalez

Finances

The following is a breakdown of the New Era Colorado's revenues and expenses as submitted to the IRS for the 2012 to 2014 fiscal years:

Annual revenue and expenses for the New Era Colorado, 2012–2014
Tax YearTotal RevenueTotal Expenses
2014[17]$1,126,497$715,017
2013[18]$721,238$591,458
2012[19]$646,907$472,749

Tax status

New Era Colorado consists of two separate but affiliated nonprofit entities. Each entity is subject to different regulations from the federal government.

The New Era Colorado Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Its 501(c) designation refers to a section of the U.S. federal income tax code concerning charitable, religious, and educational organizations.[20] Section 501(c) of the U.S. tax code has 29 sections that list specific conditions particular organizations must meet in order to be considered tax-exempt under the section. Organizations that have been granted 501(c)(3) status by the Internal Revenue Service are exempt from federal income tax.[21] This exemption requires that any political activity by the charitable organization be nonpartisan in nature.[22]

The New Era Colorado Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Its 501(c) status refers to a section of the U.S. federal income tax code concerning social welfare organizations.[23] Organizations that have been granted 501(c)(4) status by the Internal Revenue Service are exempt from federal income tax.[24] Section 501(c) of the U.S. tax code has 29 sections listing specific conditions particular organizations must meet in order to be considered tax-exempt under the section. Unlike 501(c)(3) organizations, however, donations to 501(c)(4) organizations are not tax-deductible for the individual or corporation making the contribution. 501(c)(4) organizations may engage in political lobbying and political campaign activities. This includes donations to political committees that support or oppose ballot measures, bond issues, recalls, or referenda.

See also: 501(c)(4) organizations on Ballotpedia

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'New Era Colorado'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

New Era Colorado - Google News

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ New Era Colorado, "Not Left. Not Right. But Forward," accessed September 19, 2016
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  3. ↑ Westword, "New Era's Steve Fenberg pushes for new voter registration model," June 13, 2012
  4. ↑ RedState, "New Era Colorado May Have Violated Tax Exempt Status," October 16, 2012
  5. ↑ Media Trackers, "Breaking: New Era Colorado May Have Violated Tax Exempt Status," October 16, 2012
  6. ↑ Internal Revenue Service, "Political and Lobbying Activities," accessed July 10, 2015
  7. ↑ Nolo, "What are Section 501(c)(4) Social Welfare Organizations?" accessed July 14, 2015
  8. ↑ Red State, "Swinging Colorado Back," May 1, 2013
  9. ↑ 5280 Magazine, "New Era Colorado Celebrates 10 Years," July 6, 2016
  10. ↑ Citizens for Boulders Clearn Energy Future, "About 2B & 2C," accessed September 19, 2016
  11. ↑ Boulder Daily Camera, "New Era Colorado launches $40K crowdfunding campaign to push Boulder municipalization," August 19, 2013
  12. ↑ 9 News, "Active Colorado voters up 700k since 2012," August 29, 2016
  13. ↑ The Rocky Mountain Collegian, "ASCSU members accuse New Era voter registration group of liberal bias," September 1, 2016
  14. ↑ New Era Colorado, "Forward. Thinking. Policy." accessed September 19, 2016
  15. ↑ New Era Colorado, "Who runs the show," accessed September 19, 2016
  16. ↑ New Era Colorado, "These guys are important," accessed September 19, 2016
  17. ↑ Guidestar, "New Era Colorado IRS Form 990 (2014)," accessed September 19, 2016
  18. ↑ Guidestar, "New Era Colorado IRS Form 990 (2013)," accessed September 19, 2016
  19. ↑ Guidestar, "New Era Colorado IRS Form 990 (2012)," accessed September 19, 2016
  20. ↑ Internal Revenue Service, "Exempt Purposes - Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3)," accessed January 13, 2014
  21. ↑ Internal Revenue Service, "Life Cycle of a Public Charity/Private Foundation," accessed July 10, 2015
  22. ↑ Internal Revenue Service, "Exemption Requirements - 501(c)(3) Organizations," accessed January 13, 2014
  23. ↑ Internal Revenue Service, "Social Welfare Organizations," accessed January 14, 2014
  24. ↑ Internal Revenue Service, "IRC 501(c)(4) Organizations," accessed July 10, 2014
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