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      Using the facilities or resources of a corporation or labor organization

Using the facilities or resources of a corporation or labor organization When using the facilities and resources of a corporation (including an incorporated trade association or membership organization) or labor organization, a campaign must pay the organization according to the rules described on this page. Otherwise, the use may result in a prohibited contribution from the corporation or labor organization. Meeting rooms Usual and normal rental rate Candidates and political parties may, at the discretion of the organization, rent a corporation or labor organization's meeting rooms at the usual and normal rate, provided reimbursement is made within a commercially reasonable time. Provided by organization’s political committee As with other facilities, if the organization’s political committee pays for the room as an in-kind contribution, it is advisable that payment be made in advance to avoid a prohibited contribution from the organization. For free or at a discount A candidate may be able to use the rooms for free or at a discount under the following conditions: The corporation or labor organization customarily makes its meeting rooms available to civic and community groups;The corporation or labor organization makes the rooms available to other candidates upon request; andThe corporation or labor organization makes the rooms available to the candidates on the same terms given to other groups (for free or at a discount if those are the terms offered to other groups). Using staff, food services and mailing lists A corporation or labor organization may only allow its food services and mailing lists to be used for candidate fundraisers if it receives payment in advance at the fair market value for the goods or services. Likewise, a corporation or labor organization may direct its personnel to work on these fundraisers, so long as employees are not coerced into providing on-the-job fundraising services if they do not wish to perform them. In all cases, advance payment by a source that may legally make a contribution or expenditure (such as the campaign or the organization's SSF) is required in order to avoid a prohibited contribution by the organization. FEC regulations specifically require advance payments for: The services of corporate or labor personnel directed to carry out candidate fundraising activities as part of their job;The use of the organization’s list of clients, customers, vendors or other persons outside the restricted class for purposes of soliciting contributions or distributing invitations; andThe use of catering or other food services arranged for or provided by the corporation or labor organization. Note, however, that if a corporation is providing the services (such as catering or personnel) in its ordinary course of business as a commercial vendor, payment does not have to be made in advance as long as: The payment is at the usual and normal charge; andThe payment schedule conforms to normal business practice. Otherwise, a prohibited contribution results. Use of corporate or labor name or trademark A corporation or a labor organization may not use the corporation’s names, trademarks or service marks to facilitate the making of contributions to a federal political committee, and a federal political committee may not knowingly accept or receive such facilitated contributions. For example, a campaign may not recognize the corporate (or labor) employers of individual contributors in connection with a fundraising event. These restrictions do not apply to the use of a name as part of the name of a political committee.
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          Fundraising for the campaignFundraising notices for campaignsSupport from corporations and labor organizations Need help? Get help from the FEC by phone or email
 Legal citations Regulations 11 CFR 100.52(d)(1)Definition of "anything of value" 11 CFR 100.52(d)(2)Definition of "usual and normal charge" 11 CFR 104.3(a)Reporting of receipts 11 CFR 104.3(b)Reporting of disbursements 11 CFR 114.9(a)Use of corporate facilities for individual volunteer activity by stockholders and employees 11 CFR 114.9(b)Use of labor organization facilities for individual volunteer activity by officials, members, and employees 11 CFR 114.9(d)Use or rental of corporate or labor organization facilities by other persons 11 CFR 114.13Use of meeting rooms 11 CFR 116.3Extensions of credit by commercial vendors
 Advisory opinions AO 2007-10Committee recognizing the corporate employers of individual contributors at a fundraiser


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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