Your web browser is not supported You're using Internet Explorer, some features might not work. Please switch to another browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for a better experience.


An official website of the United States government Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Federal Election Commission | United States of America Calendar
           Glossary
          Search
              Search


Menu
      Home
      Campaign finance data
        All data
            Raising
            Spending
            Loans and debts
            Filings and reports
            Candidates
            Committees
            Bulk data
            Campaign finance statistics
        Find elections. Search by state or ZIP code
          Look up contributions from specific individuals
      Help for candidates and committees
        All compliance resources
            Guides
            Forms
            Dates and deadlines
            Trainings
        Learn about electronic filing
          Find and contact your committee's analyst
      Legal resources
        All legal resources
            Advisory opinions
            Enforcement
            Statutes
            Legislation
            Regulations
            Court cases
            Policy and other guidance
        Search across all legal resources
          Search guidance documents
      About
        All about the FEC
            News and announcements
            Commission meetings
            Mission and history
            Leadership and structure
            Reports about the FEC
            Careers
            Working with the FEC
            Contact
        Introduction to campaign finance and elections


- Home
- ›
        Help for candidates and committees
- ›
        Making disbursements as an SSF or connected organization
- ›
      Supporting nonfederal candidates

Supporting nonfederal candidates Support from corporation or labor organization A corporation or labor organization may make donations from its treasury funds to nonfederal candidates and to organizations not involved in federal elections, if permitted by state law. However, foreign nationals are prohibited from making contributions or expenditures in connection with state and local elections.
 SSF involvement in nonfederal elections An SSF may expend its funds for nonfederal elections, as permitted by state law. A committee engaging in activities to influence both federal and nonfederal elections has two options under FEC regulations: Set up one federal account (an SSF) that supports both federal and nonfederal candidates while reporting all activity to the FEC; orSet up two accounts—an SSF for federal elections and a nonfederal account for state and local elections. Using one SSF account A committee may support both federal and nonfederal candidates and committees with one SSF account, but all funds received by the SSF are subject to the prohibitions, contribution limits and solicitation restrictions of the Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act). Reportable nonfederal activity A registered SSF must file FEC reports on all its financial activity of its federal account, including activity that supports nonfederal candidates. SSF disbursements for nonfederal elections must be reported as “Other Disbursements” on Line 29 of Form 3X and itemized on Schedule B once they aggregate over $200 to the same candidate, committee or other person in a calendar year.
 Icon of an example
      How to report
        Donations to nonfederal candidates
 State law applies Any SSF contribution or expenditure made in connection with a nonfederal election is subject to applicable state law. An SSF should seek guidance from state election officials before engaging in nonfederal campaign activity. Using two accounts Alternatively, a committee or connected organization may set up two accounts—an SSF for activity in connection with federal elections and a second account (sometimes referred to as a "state PAC") for activity in connection with nonfederal elections. This option permits the committee to maintain a nonfederal account that has no federal registration or reporting obligations. When conducting an activity that benefits both federal and nonfederal candidates and committees, however, the committee may have to allocate the costs between the two accounts. This means that the committee may pay for at least some of the costs from its federal account, and follow specific rules for payment. Federal accountIf two accounts are used, only the federal account (the SSF) has registration and reporting obligations under the Act. Nonfederal accountAn account used only for state and local elections is generally not subject to the Act’s registration and reporting requirements, nor is it subject to the Act’s contribution limits or solicitation rules. (Nevertheless, federal law prohibits nonfederal committees from accepting contributions from foreign nationals, national banks and federally chartered corporations. Note, however, that when the SSF and the nonfederal account engage in activities for which payment may be allocated between the accounts, transfers to/from the nonfederal account are reportable. Transfers from the nonfederal account The committee may not transfer funds from the nonfederal account to the federal account except under these two circumstances: The nonfederal account acting in its capacity as a collecting agent.The nonfederal account transferring the nonfederal share of an allocated expense attributed to both federal and nonfederal elections. Collecting agent activity A nonfederal account may act as a collecting agent for contributions to the federal account and transfer funds raised for the federal SSF without triggering registration requirements. Allocated expense payments A nonfederal account may transfer funds to the federal account to cover the nonfederal portion of expenses benefiting both federal and nonfederal candidates and committees. For example, the nonfederal account may transfer its allocable share of the expenses for a public communication that supports both a federal and a nonfederal candidate. The transfer must be made according to the rules described in Supporting multiple candidates.
 Read next
            
          
            
          Allocating shared expenses between federal and nonfederal accountsEvents and programs for candidates or party committeesCoordinated communications by the SSFMaking independent expendituresSupporting multiple candidates Need help? Get help from the FEC by phone or email
 Legal citations Regulations 11 CFR 102.5(a)(1)(i) and (ii) and (2)Federal account and nonfederal account 11 CFR 102.6(b)(1) and (2)Fundraising by collecting agents; no reporting required 11 CFR 104.3(b)(3)(ix)Itemization of nonfederal disbursements 11 CFR 106.6(b)(1)(i)Allocation only required when connected organization does not pay for expense 11 CFR 106.6(e)Payment of allocable expenses by committees with separate federal and nonfederal accounts 11 CFR 110.20 and 114.2(a)Entities prohibited from activity in connection with both federal and nonfederal elections
 Advisory opinions AO 2003-29Transfer of funds from a nonfederal PAC to a federal PAC of an incorporated membership organization AO 1991-35Allocation when SSF's nonfederal account pays its own administrative expenses AO 1984-31Donations transferred from corporation's state PAC to its federal PAC


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.


About
          Careers
          Press
          Contact
   Privacy and security policy
          Plain language
          No FEAR Act
          Strategy, budget and performance
 Open government
          Protected Voices
          USA.gov
          Inspector General
          FOIA
 OpenFEC API
          GitHub repository
          Release notes
          FEC.gov status


Federal Election Commission
 The FEC's Twitter page
            The FEC's YouTube page Sign up for FECMail


Hide glossary Glossary Search terms