Npos and volunteers lobby the government but many think they cannot. While the IRS states that any non-profit organization that spends much of its money on lobbying will no longer qualify for being a non-profit, there are ways to legally get around that. Volunteers can lobby for them, for one thing. Also, legal representation has ruled that they can lobby.
Funds can be given in less that above board methods, ultimately resulting in the cause going forward. While it isn't exactly right or ethical, it happens. Yes, npos and volunteers lobby the government all the time and that's a fact and is exactly how they get what they want in government.