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      Who can and can't contribute

Who can and can't contribute This page discusses the individuals, groups, political committees and other entities that can make contributions to federal candidates and those that are prohibited by federal law from making such contributions.
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      Types of contributions
            
             Contribution limits
 Who can contribute
          
            Who can't contribute
          
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            Legal citations
 Who can contribute

  
  
    Individuals
      
      An individual may make contributions to candidates and their authorized committees, subject to limitations.
      
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      How to report
        Individual contributions
      
      MinorsAn individual who is under 18 years old may make contributions to candidates and political committees, subject to limitations, if:The decision to contribute is made knowingly and voluntarily by the minor;The funds, goods or services contributed are owned or controlled by the minor, proceeds from a trust for which he or she is a beneficiary or funds withdrawn by the minor from a financial account opened and maintained in his or her name; andThe contribution is not made using funds given to the minor as a gift for the purpose of making the contribution, and is not in any way controlled by another individual.
      
      TrustsA political committee may:Accept contributions from an individual’s estate made through a testamentary trust, subject to the same limitations and prohibitions that were applicable to the decedent during the decedent’s lifetime.Only accept contributions from trusts in which neither the committee nor any officer, director, employee, member, agent, or affiliated organization of the political committee serves as a trustee or exercises any control over any undistributed trust corpus or interest amount.Note that the committee must disclose the name of the both the trust and the name of the decedent on its report.Contributions may be made from a living (inter vivos) trust as long as the trust’s beneficial owner has control over the use of the trust funds. The contribution should be reported as a contribution from the beneficial owner (as signor on the contribution), rather than from the trust.Special requirements apply to contributions from trusts to presidential campaigns that are eligible for federal matching payments.
      
      Limited liability companies (LLCs)Corporation vs. partnershipFor purposes of contribution limitations and prohibitions, a limited liability company (LLC) is treated as either a corporation or a partnership.An LLC is treated as a corporation if:It has chosen to file, under Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules, as a corporation; orIt has publicly traded shares.An LLC is treated as a partnership if:It has chosen to file, under IRS rules, as a partnership; orIt has made no choice, under IRS rules, as to whether it is a corporation or a partnership.If an LLC is treated as a corporation, it is prohibited from making contributions to candidate committees, but it can establish an SSF. It may also give money to independent expenditure-only PACs. If it is considered a partnership, it is subject to the contribution limits for partnerships.
      
      Learn more about receiving contributions from LLCs
      
      Partnerships
      
      Partnerships are permitted to make contributions according to special rules.Contributions received by a candidate's authorized committees from a partnership may not exceed the limitations. In addition, a contribution from a partnership also counts proportionately against each participating partner’s own limit with respect to the same candidate.
      
      Learn more about receiving contributions from partnerships
      
      Indian tribesIn past advisory opinions and enforcement cases, the Commission has determined that an unincorporated tribal entity can be considered a "person" under the Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act) and thus subject to the various contribution prohibitions and limitations.
      
      Political party committeesParty committees may support federal candidates in a variety of ways, including making contributions.
      
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      How to report
        Political party contributions
      
      Learn more about contributions from party committees to candidates
      
      Political action committeesSeparate segregated fundsSSFs may make contributions to candidates and to their authorized committees.
      
      Learn more about contributions from SSFs to candidates
      
      Nonconnected PACsGenerally, nonconnected PACs may make contributions to influence federal elections, subject to the Act’s limitations and reporting requirements.As nonconnected committees that solicit and accept unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations, labor organizations and other political committees, Super PACs and Hybrid PACs do not make contributions to candidates.
      
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      How to report
        PACs & other political committee contributions
      
      Learn more about contributions from nonconnected PACs
      
      Other federal campaignsA candidate’s authorized committees may accept a contribution of up to $2,000 per election from the authorized committee of another federal candidate.
      
      Learn more about campaign-to-campaign contributions
      
      Authorized committeesAn authorized committee, however, can be affiliated only with another authorized committee of the same candidate. Note that, by definition, an unauthorized committee sponsored by an officeholder (that is, a “leadership PAC”) is not considered to be affiliated with any authorized committees sponsored by the same individual.
      
      State PACs, unregistered local party organizations and nonfederal campaign committeesState PACs, unregistered local party organizations and nonfederal campaign committees (nonfederal committees) may, under certain circumstances, contribute to federal candidates, but:The funds that comprise the contribution must come from permissible sources under the Act; andMaking the contribution may require the nonfederal committee to register with the FEC as a federal political committee, subject to federal laws and regulations.
      
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      How to report
        Contributions from unregistered organizations
      
      Learn more about accepting contributions from unregistered committees
      
      The candidateWhen candidates use or loan their personal funds for campaign purposes, they are making contributions to their campaigns. Unlike other contributions, these candidate contributions are not subject to any limits.
      
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      How to report
        Candidate contributions
      
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      How to report
        Candidate personal funds loans

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      How to report
        Bank loans obtained by the candidate
      
      Learn more about using or loaning the personal funds of the candidate
 Who can't contribute

  
  
    Campaigns are prohibited from accepting contributions from certain types of organizations and individuals. These prohibited sources are:Corporations, including nonprofit corporations (although funds from a corporate separate segregated fund are permissible)Labor organizations (although funds from a separate segregated fund are permissible)Federal government contractorsForeign nationalsContributions in the name of anotherCorporations, labor organizations, national banksCampaigns may not accept contributions from the treasury funds of corporations, labor organizations or national banks. National banks and federally chartered corporations may not make contributions in connection with any election–federal, state or local. This prohibition applies to any incorporated organization, including a nonstock corporation, a trade association, an incorporated membership organization and an incorporated cooperative.However, a political committee that has incorporated for liability purposes only is not considered a prohibited source.
      
      Example
The owner of an incorporated “mom and pop” grocery store is not permitted to use a business account to make contributions. Instead, the owner would have to use a personal account.
      
      A campaign may, however, accept contributions from PACs established by corporations, labor organizations, incorporated membership organizations, trade associations and national banks. Moreover, the Act permits corporations, labor organizations, incorporated membership organizations, trade associations and national banks to use their treasury funds for certain election-related activities that benefit candidates.Professional corporationsAlthough law firms, doctors’ practices and similar businesses are often organized as partnerships, some of these businesses may instead be professional corporations. Unlike a partnership, a professional corporation is prohibited from making any contributions because contributions from corporations are unlawful.Partnerships or LLCs with corporate partners or membersBecause contributions from corporations are prohibited, a partnership or LLC with corporate partners or members may not attribute any portion of a contribution to the corporate partners or members.A partnership or LLC composed solely of corporate partners or members may not make any contributions.Partnerships or LLCs with foreign national membersSimilarly, because contributions from foreign nationals are prohibited, a partnership or LLC may not attribute any portion of a contribution to a partner who is a foreign national.
      
      Learn more about prohibited partnership/LLC contributions
      
      Learn more about foreign nationals
      
      Candidate employed by prohibited sourceA candidate’s salary or wages earned from bona fide employment are considered his or her personal funds. However, compensation paid to a candidate in excess of actual hours worked, or in consideration of work not performed, is generally considered a contribution from the employer. If the employer is a corporation, federal government contractor, or another prohibited source, the excess payment would result in a prohibited contribution under the regulations applicable to that employer.Other charitable organizationsIncorporated charitable organizations—like other corporations—are prohibited from making contributions in connection with federal elections. Unlike most other corporations, charities face additional restrictions on political activity under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.Federal government contractorsCampaigns may not accept or solicit contributions from federal government contractors.
      
      Learn more about the federal government contractor prohibition
      
      Foreign nationalsFederal law prohibits contributions, donations, expenditures(including independent expenditures) and disbursements solicited, directed, received or made directly or indirectly by or from foreign nationals in connection with any federal, state or local election.
      
      Learn more about the foreign national prohibition
      
      Contributions in the name of anotherA contribution made by one person in the name of another is prohibited. For example, an individual who has already contributed up to the limit to the campaign may not give money to another person to make a contribution to the same candidate. Similarly, a corporation is prohibited from using bonuses or other methods of reimbursing employees for their contributions.
 Continue learning

  
  
    Video: Contributions 2023-2024
 Legal citations Regulations 11 CFR 100.33Personal funds 11 CFR 100.5(e)(6)Political committee 11 CFR 100.5(g)(5)Affiliated committee 11 CFR 103.3(b)(1), (b)(2) and (b)(4)Deposit of receipts and disbursements 11 CFR 110.1(b)(1)Contributions to candidates; designations; and redesignations 11 CFR 110.1(e)Contributions by partnerships 11 CFR 110.1(g)Contributions by limited liability companies (LLC) 11 CFR 110.1(k)(1)Joint contributions and reattributions 11 CFR 110.3(a)(1)(i)Contribution limitations for affiliated committees 11 CFR 110.4(b)Contributions in the name of another 11 CFR 110.19Contributions by minors 11 CFR 110.20Prohibition on contributions, donations, expenditures, independent expenditures and disbursements by foreign nationals 11 CFR 113.1(g)(6)(iii)Personal use 11 CFR 114.2Prohibitions on contributions expenditures and electioneering communications 11 CFR 114.5Separate segregated funds 11 CFR 115.2Prohibition 11 CFR 115.4Partnerships 11 CFR 115.5Individuals and sole proprietors 11 CFR 115.6Employee contributions or expenditures 11 CFR 9034.2(c)(2)Matchable contributions
 Advisory opinions AO 2009-14Administration and naming of separate segregated fund by a domestic LLC that is affiliated with the SSF's connected corporation and has a foreign parent AO 2009-02Expenditure by single-member LLC AO 2006-15Domestic subsidiaries of foreign corporation may donate to state and local elections AO 2005-20Use of federal contractor partnership's automated payroll system to allow partners to designate funds from their electronic payroll distributions as contributions to the partnership's nonconnected PAC AO 2004-02Contributions from testamentary trusts AO 2003-28LLCs' nonconnected PAC may become a separate segregated fund AO 2001-18Affiliation of LLC PAC and PACs of corporate owners in 60-40 joint venture AO 2001-07Nonaffiliation of LLC PAC with PACs of its five corporate owners AO 2000-17Establishment of separate segregated fund by subsidiary of foreign corporation AO 1999-19Contribution from living trust AO 1996-05Refunding illegal contributions AO 1995-19Discovering illegal contributions in committee's treasury AO 1995-15Foreign-owned subsidiary, earmarked contributions and payroll deductions AO 1993-12Native American tribe as federal contractor AO 1992-17Partnership PAC affiliated with separate segregated funds of corporate partners AO 1992-16Nonfederal contributions made by foreign parent's U.S. subsidiary AO 1991-39Contributions suspected of being made in the name of another AO 1991-01Credit card contributions to PAC of federal contractor partnership AO 1990-08Establishment of PAC by corporation majority-owned by foreign bank AO 1985-03Contributions to state campaign by American subsidiary of foreign corporation
 Statutes 52 U.S.C. § 30122Contributions in name of another prohibited


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This information is not intended to replace the law or to change its meaning, nor does this information create or confer any rights for or on any person or bind the Federal Election Commission or the public. The reader is encouraged also to consult the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (52 U.S.C. 30101 et seq.), Commission regulations (Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations), Commission advisory opinions and applicable court decisions.


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