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      Supporting tax-exempt organizations

Supporting tax-exempt organizations General rule for solicitations A federal candidate, officeholder or his or her agents may make solicitations for certain tax-exempt organizations. The regulations regarding solicitation for tax-exempt organizations differ depending on whether the funds solicited will be used for certain federal election activities and whether the organization’s principal purpose is to conduct Federal Election Activity. Limits and prohibitions on solicitations General solicitations A federal candidate or officeholder (or individual acting on behalf of either) may make a general solicitation on behalf of a 501(c) tax-exempt organization, or an organization that has applied for this tax status, without limits on the source or amount of funds, if:  The organization does not engage in activities in connection with elections; orIt is not the principal purpose of the organization to conduct election activities, including certain federal election activity; andThe solicitation is not to obtain funds for activities in connection with an election, including certain federal election activity.  Specific solicitations for Federal Election Activity A federal candidate or officeholder (or individual acting on behalf of either) may also make a specific solicitation explicitly to obtain funds to pay for federal election activities conducted by or for a tax-exempt organization whose principal purpose is to undertake such activities. The federal election activities for which such a specific solicitation may be made are limited to:  Voter registration activity during the period that begins 120 days before the date of a regularly scheduled federal election and ends on the day of that election; andVoter identification, get-out-the vote or generic campaign activity conducted in connection with an election in which a federal candidate appears on the ballot (regardless of whether a state or local candidate also appears on the ballot).  When making specific solicitations for a tax-exempt organization, the candidate may solicit only individuals and may solicit no more than $20,000 per calendar year from each contributor. General prohibition Federal law permits solicitations by federal candidates and officeholders only for the specific federal election activities listed above; these individuals must not make any solicitations on behalf of a 501(c) organization, or an organization that has applied for this tax status, for any other types of election activities, such as public communications promoting, supporting, attacking or opposing federal candidates. Safe harbor To determine whether a 501(c) organization is not one whose principal purpose is to conduct election activities, such as those outlined, a federal candidate or officeholder or their agent may obtain and rely upon a written certification, signed by an officer or other authorized representative of the organization with knowledge of the organization’s activities, stating that:  It is not the organization’s principal purpose to engage in election activities, including the types of election activity described above; andThe organization does not intend to pay debts incurred from expenditures or disbursements in connection with an election for federal office (including for federal election activities) in a prior election cycle.  If the federal candidate or officeholder (or an agent of either) has actual knowledge that the certification is false, then the certification may not be relied upon.
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          Fundraising for other candidates, committees and organizationsMaking contributions to other candidates From the FEC Record Fundraising by federal candidates and officeholders for other candidates and committees
 Need help? Get help from the FEC by phone or email
 Legal citations Regulations 11 CFR 100.24Federal election activity 11 CFR 100.25Generic campaign activity 11 CFR 300.65(a)Exceptions for tax-exempt organizations; general solicitations 11 CFR 300.65(c)Voter registration, voter identification, get-out-the-vote activity and generic campaign activity 11 CFR 300.65(d)Prohibited solicitations 11 CFR 300.65(e) and (f)Safe harbor


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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