Distributed Fundraising: Political Financial Reporting

What counts as political spending?

For federal reporting purposes, partisan political spending includes any activity conducted to influence an election. For example, ads that explicitly seek to support or oppose a candidate for federal office, or voter outreach that explicitly supports or opposes a candidate. You may notice a theme here: supporting or opposing a candidate for public office. Supporting a specific party in an election, even without focusing on an individual candidate, may also be considered partisan political activity. Partisan political activity will often trigger campaign finance obligations (i.e., reporting), which is why you must seek pre-approval for that spending. Indivisible will use the info you provide using the form link above to file campaign finance reports as necessary with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Sometimes this reporting must happen within 24 hours of an expenditure, so it is important that you seek pre-approval as early as possible.

Political spending with this card must be independent, and direct contributions to campaigns are prohibited. 

This card cannot be used to make direct financial contributions or offer other direct financial support to a candidate, political party, or PAC. This includes spending that is done in coordination with candidates, political parties, or PACs. Spending will be considered coordinated if it is made with knowledge of a campaign or political party’s plans, projects, activities, or needs. If you are not sure whether a particular spend would be considered coordinated, please reach out to us as soon as possible.

Political spending on state or local races is prohibited. 

The card cannot be used for any political activity directed towards influencing the outcome of state or local races, including ballot measures. Indivisible cannot provide support for legally-mandated reporting associated with these races.

FEC – Required Disclaimers

Printed or digital materials:

All printed and digital materials must include the following disclaimer, as required by the FEC:

Paid for by Indivisible Project (indivisible.org). Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

OR

Paid for by Indivisible Project (indivisible.org) and {Your Group’s Name}. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

Disclaimer formatting requirements:

• Must be clearly readable – ideally 12 point font with a reasonable degree of color contrast (e.g. black text on a white background, or the same degree of contrast of the background color and the color of the largest text).
• Must be set apart in a separate box and the frame of the box should be the same color as the text so it stands out.

TV ads

All tv ads must include EITHER:

• A visual disclaimer that says:  “Indivisible Project is responsible for the content of this advertising. Paid for by Indivisible Project (indivisible.org). Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.” This disclaimer must appear for at least four seconds with a reasonable degree of color contrast between the background and the disclaimer statement and must occupy at least four percent of the vertical picture height AND A spoken disclaimer that says “Indivisible Project is responsible for the content of this advertising,” in an audio statement recorded by an Indivisible Project employee or representative 
• OR A visual disclaimer that says:  “Indivisible Project and {Your Group’s Name} is responsible for the content of this advertising. Paid for by Indivisible Project (indivisible.org). Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.” AND A spoken disclaimer that says “Indivisible Project and {Your Group’s Name}” are responsible for the content of this advertising, in an audio statement recorded by a representative of your group.

All disclaimers must be clear and conspicuous. A disclaimer is not clear and conspicuous if it is difficult to read or hear, or if the placement is easily overlooked. 

Radio ads

All radio ads must include a spoken disclaimer that is clearly audible. It must EITHER

• Say: “Indivisible Project is responsible for the content of this advertising. Paid for by Indivisible Project (indivisible.org). Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.”  in an audio statement recorded by an Indivisible Project employee or representative OR
• Say:  “Indivisible Project and {Your Group’s Name}” are responsible for the content of this advertising. Paid for by Indivisible Project (indivisible.org). Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.” , in an audio statement recorded by a representative of your group.

All disclaimers must be clear and conspicuous. A disclaimer is not clear and conspicuous if it is difficult to read or hear, or if the placement is easily overlooked. 

For more information about TV and radio ads as well as examples, see the FEC website here.

Payment Methods

Please use the TrueLink card directly to pay for any political expenses after receiving pre-approval. Do NOT use Venmo to reimburse for these expenses made personally. Please check with the vendor early to ensure that they can take a debit card as a payment method. If they cannot, coordinate with distributed fundraising staff ASAP so that Indivisible can issue a direct payment.

Note that the TrueLink card has a daily spending limit of $5,000 so if your expense exceeds that amount Indivisible will likely need to issue a direct payment. Get in touch with distributed fundraising staff ASAP to coordinate.