Mission & Purpose

The Coalition is uniquely positioned to deliver on its mission of promoting funding and regulatory equity for charters.  Currently, there is no other 501(c)(6) trade group in North Carolina that represents public charter schools. Other charter organizations operating in North Carolina are 501(c)(3) associations that exist primarily to provide services to their members. Their ability to lobby is limited. By law, a 501(c)(3) cannot work to fulfill the mission statement outlined above.

We can.

As a 501(c)(6), the Coalition is the only organization in the state that can work on behalf of public charter schools during the election process and at the state legislature. We work through the election process by explicitly endorsing candidates and preparing issue-oriented guides for voters. We also work at the state legislature by lobbying and advocating for legislation that is encompassed by our mission statement and is favorable to charters. Thus, the Coalition is a valuable complement to other organizations and an indispensable partner to the state’s public charter schools.

Political endorsements: A 501(c)(6) can endorse federal or state candidates for public office. The organization may communicate the endorsement to its membership and share the endorsement with the organization’s press list. In its communications to members, the organization can expressly advocate for the election or defeat of a specific candidate. Under the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC, 501(c)(6) organizations may also expressly advocate to the general public, as long as those activities are not coordinated with candidates.