Some time ago, a few people set up a fundraiser to solicit private people to give money to fund a government project that was *not* meant as a gift to reduce the debt of the public. The campaign went sideways (embezzlement and fraud in the inducement are alledged), but I am more interested in the original idea, which I heard was illegal or even unconstitutional:


* Why can't the federal government (the executive!) take the money raised by private citizens to fund a project they started? or phrased differently: What's the law that regulates it?
* What is the *legal* difference between such a campaign (private citizens wanting to *gift* money to the government to fund a program) and war bonds?



Is it legal to give money to the Federal Government to fund specific projects?