NCRP has encouraged infrastructure development and effective giving for public policy and advocacy, defending the advocacy and lobbying rights of nonprofits and foundations, and educating policy makers and the philanthropic community about key policy issues affecting the charitable sector. Over the past two years, NCRP helped successfully fight restrictions in the state employees' charitable campaigns of the goverments of Minnesota and Texas, among others, that would have eliminated contributions to advocacy-oriented nonprofits. In 2004, NCRP joined the Alliance for Justice and Charity Lobbying in the Public Interest as a key opponent of proposed Federal Elections Commission regulations that would have substantially chilled nonprofit advocacy initiatives. Similarly, we joined with many organizations in critically commenting on the Treasury Department's "voluntary" guidelines on international giving. Most recently, we have spoken out about the counterproductive anti-terrorism certifications required of charities participating in the Combined Federal Campaign. NCRP is committed to defending the advocacy and lobbying rights of nonprofits and foundations, and will continue to do so as part of our ongoing public policy work.   <