Donation Agreement
I agree that I am not a foreign national. Campaigns may not solicit or accept contributions from foreign nationals. Federal law prohibits contributions, donations, expenditures and disbursements solicited, directed, received or made directly or indirectly by or from foreign nationals in connection with any election — federal, state or local.
Who can’t contribute
Campaigns are prohibited from accepting contributions from certain types of organizations and individuals. These prohibited sources are:
• Corporations, including nonprofit corporations (although funds from a corporate separate segregated fund are permissible)
• Labor organizations (although funds from a separate segregated fund are permissible)
• Federal government contractors
• Foreign nationals
• Contributions in the name of another
Minors
An individual who is under 18 years old may make contributions to candidates and political committees, subject to the limit of $2,700 per election, if:
• The decision to contribute is made knowingly and voluntarily by the minor;
• The funds, goods or services contributed are owned or controlled by the minor, proceeds from a trust for which he or she is a beneficiary or funds withdrawn by the minor from a financial account opened and maintained in his or her name; and
• The contribution is not made using funds given to the minor as a gift for the purpose of making the contribution, and is not in any way controlled by another individual.
Certain limited liability companies (LLCs)
An LLC must, at the time it makes a contribution, notify the recipient committee:
• That it is eligible to make the contribution; and
• How the contribution is to be attributed among members.
This requirement will prevent the recipient committee from inadvertently accepting an illegal contribution.
Corporations and partnerships
For purposes of contribution limitations and prohibitions, a limited liability company (LLC) is treated as either a corporation or a partnership.
An LLC is treated as a corporation if:
• It has chosen to file, under Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules, as a corporation; or
• It has publicly traded shares.
An LLC is treated as a partnership if:
• It has chosen to file, under IRS rules, as a partnership; or
• It has made no choice, under IRS rules, as to whether it is a corporation or a partnership.
If an LLC is treated as a corporation, it is prohibited from making contributions to candidate committees, but it can establish an SSF. It may also give money to IEOPCs. If it is considered a partnership, it is subject to the contribution limits for partnerships. See FEC for your other obligations.
