Knowing the rules of the game will help you decide how best to support your candidate.
The sky is not (always) the limit. Individuals may donate up to $2,500 per candidate per election (the primary and general elections are counted separately), up to $30,800 to a national political party annually, and up to $10,000 to state, district and local parties combined each year. Individual donations to issues-oriented political action committees (PACs) are capped at $5,000 per year. Anyone may contribute unlimited sums to nonprofit advocacy groups — often dubbed 501(c)(4)s — and to independent-expenditure-only committees, or “Super PACs.”
Make a connection. A direct donation to a candidate’s campaign often offers the most bang for your buck, says Michael Beckel, spokesman for the Center for Responsive Politics. A contribution of, say, $1,000 might yield, depending on the district, special access to current or future elected officials, Beckel says. Campaigns prefer direct donations (even if they’re small), especially early in the race.
Follow the money. Candidates are prohibited from spending campaign money on personal expenses, such as a new car or baseball tickets, but PACs and Super PACs aren’t bound by those rules. Still, PACs and Super PACs must disclose their spending in regular reports, which are available on the Federal Election Commission’s website.
Let the sunshine in. At the federal level, if you donate more than $200 to a candidate, political party, PAC or Super PAC, your name, address, occupation and the amount of your contribution will become publicly available through FEC filings. Large contributors, however, may donate privately to a 501(c)(4), which may turn the money over to a Super PAC.
Give to a nonprofit twin. Nearly every advocacy group, from the National Rifle Association to the Sierra Club, has a related 501(c)(3) charity. So, if you want to support an organization in a general sense, a contribution to its charitable operations could be a good bet. Your money may not be used directly for political purposes, but if you itemize deductions, you will be able to write off the contribution on your federal tax return.
Michael Stratford is an editorial intern for Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine.
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