what is the max you can donate to a presidential campaign

by Dr. Cristal Reichert II 10 min read

What is the maximum amount of money a candidate can donate?

Feb 02, 2021 · During the current two-year election cycle the limit for contributions by individuals to federal candidates for President, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives will increase to $2,900 per election.

How much can you contribute to a presidential campaign?

The student may donate directly to the candidate's campaign committee (the limit is $2,500 per election). Because he is giving $200 or less, his name is not required to be disclosed in public...

What are the limits on contributions to federal candidates?

Feb 07, 2020 · Democratic presidential candidates have spent the past year fervently trying to fundraise money for their White House bids, burning through the cash at a rapid pace.. While some 2020 candidates ...

Are there campaign contribution limits for the 2020 election?

Can a candidate donate to another candidate? In general, funds may be transferred between authorized committees of the same candidate (for example, from a previous campaign to a current campaign committee) without limit as long as the committee making the transfer has no net debts outstanding.

How much can a political action committee donate?

Unlike super PACs, a political action committee has a donation cap of $5,000. That means an individual may be limited to donating just $2,800 to a candidate's campaign but that person could provide endless funds to a super PAC supporting the same candidate.

How much can a party committee accept?

The same goes for party committees, which can accept up to $35,500 per year. An individual could also give $106,500 to a party’s convention, recount and building funds.

When does the 2020 election end?

The per-election limits on contributions to candidates are in effect for the two-year election cycle beginning the day after the general election and ending on the date of the next general election (November 4, 2020 - November 8, 2022).

What is the FEC?

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent regulatory agency that administers and enforces federal campaign finance laws. The FEC has jurisdiction over the financing of campaigns for the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, the Presidency and the Vice Presidency.

Notes on Contributions to Presidential Campaigns

The contribution limits work a little differently for presidential campaigns.

Can Anybody Contribute?

Certain individuals, businesses, and associations are prohibited from making contributions to Federal candidates or political action committees (PACs).

What Constitutes a "Contribution?"

Besides checks and currency, the FEC considers "...anything of value given to influence a Federal election " to be a contribution. Note that this does not include volunteer work. As long as you are not compensated for it, you can perform an unlimited amount of volunteer work.

Public Funding of Presidential Elections

Not all of the money spent by presidential candidates comes from donations by individuals. Since 1974, eligible presidential candidates have been allowed—should they choose to do so—receive money from the taxpayer-supported presidential public funding program.

How much can you give to a political party?

Yes, individuals are allowed to give as much as $35,500 to national political parties and $10,000 to state, district, and local parties over the course of a calendar year.

Who is Tom Murse?

Federal Election Commission Rules and Regulations. Tom Murse has been writing about politics and government for over two decades, and has been recognized by the Nieman Foundation for fairness in investigative reporting. So you want to give some money to a political candidate.

How many states have no limits on donations?

Only eleven states (Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Virginia) impose no contribution limits on individual donors. The other 39 states restrict the amount of money that any one individual can contribute to a state campaign. These limits are typically dependent upon the office ...

What states allow political parties to donate money?

19 states impose no restrictions on the ability of state party committees to contribute money to a candidate’s campaign. Illinois, Kansas, New Jersey, and New York allow state parties to donate unlimited sums if the candidate meets certain qualifications, such as running uncontested or agreeing by certain spending limits. The remaining 27 states have some sort of restriction on funds from political parties, falling into two camps. Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico and West Virginia require parties to follow the same contribution limits established for individuals. The other 20 states outline separate limits for political parties.

How many states prohibit corporations from contributing to political campaigns?

22 states completely prohibit corporations from contributing to political campaigns. Another five—Alabama, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah and Virginia—allow corporations to contribute an unlimited amount of money to state campaigns. Of the remaining 23 states, 19 impose the same restrictions on corporation contributions as they do for individual contributions. The other four set different limits.

What is a PAC?

PACs, or political action committees, are organizations that pool campaign contributions from its members to support or oppose candidates, ballot initiatives, or legislation. Oftentimes formed in support of a specific candidate or ballot measure, PACs represent one way a corporation can contribute to a candidate’s campaign without violating restrictions on corporate influence in elections. If a corporation desired to form a PAC, pooling contributions from its employees or outside sources into a distinct bank account, the PAC can spend money to influence elections in a way the corporation cannot by itself. 13 states allow PACs to contribute unlimited amounts of money to state campaigns.

Authorized Campaign Committees

In the 2021 - 2022 election cycle, an authorized campaign committee may give:

Political Action Committee (PAC), Not Multicandidate

In the 2021 - 2022 election cycle, a PAC (not multicandidate) may give:

State, District and Local Party Committees

In the 2021 - 2022 election cycle, a state, district or local party committee may give:

National Party Committees

In the 2021 - 2022 election cycle, a national-level party committee may give:

Notes on Contributions to Presidential Campaigns

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The contribution limits work a little differently for presidential campaigns. 1. You can contribute a total of up to $2,800 to presidential candidates running in state primaries, but the donation is for the entire primary election period. You cannot donate $2,800 for each state primary in which the candidate is running. 2. A porti…
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Can Anybody Contribute?

  • Certain individuals, businesses, and associations are prohibited from making contributions to Federal candidates or political action committees(PACs). 1. Foreign nationals -- may not contribute to any candidate or party in any Federal, state, or local election in the United States. Foreign citizens who have permanent US residency status (posses a "green card") are allowed t…
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What Constitutes A "Contribution?"

  • Besides checks and currency, the FEC considers "...anything of value given to influence a Federal election" to be a contribution. Note that this does not include volunteer work. As long as you are not compensated for it, you can perform an unlimited amount of volunteer work. Donations of food, beverages, office supplies, printing or other services, furniture, etc. are considered "in-kind" …
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Public Funding of Presidential Elections

  • Not all of the money spent by presidential candidates comes from donations by individuals. Since 1974, eligible presidential candidates have been allowed—should they choose to do so—receive money from the taxpayer-supported presidential public funding program. Administered by the FEC, the presidential public financing system is funded by an optional $3 tax check-off on individ…
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Individual Contribution Limits

  • Only eleven states (Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Virginia) impose no contribution limits on individual donors. The other 39 states restrict the amount of money that any one individual can contribute to a state campaign. These limits are typically dependent upon the office the ca...
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State Party Contribution Limits

  • 19 states impose no restrictions on the ability of state party committees to contribute money to a candidate’s campaign. Illinois, Kansas, New Jersey, and New York allow state parties to donate unlimited sums if the candidate meets certain qualifications, such as running uncontested or agreeing by certain spending limits. The remaining 27 states have some sort of restriction on fu…
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Corporation Contribution Limits

  • 22 states completely prohibit corporations from contributing to political campaigns. Another five—Alabama, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah and Virginia—allow corporations to contribute an unlimited amount of money to state campaigns. Of the remaining 23 states, 19 impose the same restrictions on corporation contributions as they do for individual contributions. The other four s…
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Political Action Committee Contribution Limits

  • PACs, or political action committees, are organizations that pool campaign contributions from its members to support or oppose candidates, ballot initiatives, or legislation. Oftentimes formed in support of a specific candidate or ballot measure, PACs represent one way a corporation can contribute to a candidate’s campaign without violating restrictions on corporate influence in elec…
See more on ncsl.org