A View of the Seminar Series The "Nonprofit Advocacy and the Policy Process" series was designed to explore the engagement of nonprofit organizations in the policy process and the regulation of their political activities. The series examined current regulation of nonprofit advocacy, proposed reforms, and the impact of regulation on nonprofit contributions to civic and political participation, policymaking and representative democracy. The series began in February 2000, and ended in December, 2001. Ten seminars were held during this period, and each covered a specific topic such as government regulation of advocacy, advocacy strategies, representation and accountability, global advocacy, and constitutional and political theories that shape the law and practice of nonprofit advocacy. A discussion paper was prepared to provide background for the areas of inquiry in the seminars. The series brought together over hundred academics, practitioners, and government regulators who had an interest or experience with nonprofit advocacy. Papers were commissioned from experts in the field, presented at a seminar, and then discussed by seminar participants. The papers presented during the seminars, as well as the seminar proceedings are being disseminated through a series of four edited volumes.  Seminar's Reports Volume I, Structuring the Inquiry into Advocacy , published in October 2000, covered the seminars held during the winter and spring 2000. It introduced advocacy as a concept, examined the structure of nonprofit political regulation under federal tax and election law, and discussed the evolving relationship between nonprofit organizations and money-driven elections. This volume has had considerable resonance with policymakers and leaders in the nonprofit sector. Volume II, Exploring the Organizations and Advocacy includes papers and findings from seminars held during the fall-winter of 2000-2001. Because of the diversity of elements that were discussed during the seminar sessions, this second volume is divided into two issues: Volume II - Issue 1: Strategies and Finances, published in August 2001, contains the complete text of six papers that were presented during the Fall 2000 series. These papers looked at the diverse advocacy strategies and the conditions they succeed and fail. Likewise, the papers examined the finance of advocacy and the influence of patrons on advocacy activities and strategies. Volume II - Issue 2. Governance and Accountability examines the internal operations of nonprofit organizations and how their mission, capacity, governance and constituency shape their advocacy and their internal and public accountability. Volume III concludes the series summarizing findings from the seminars and future research questions generated from the seminar papers and participants' comments (forthcoming). The Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy was pleased with scope of the seminar inquiry, the network of participants that shared in the series, and the papers that served as the focal point for discussion. We hope that the papers and topics discussed during the series will stimulate dialogue and research about nonprofit advocacy in American democracy. The Seminar Series is made possible by the support of the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, the Nathan Cummings Foundation, and the Surdna Foundation, Inc. Comments and questions may be sent via email to advocacyresearch@ui.urban.org.