GUIDELINES FOR
RAISING FUNDS
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Please take
a moment to read the following fundraising guidelines. While a house party
is fun and easy, please be aware that fundraising for a United States House
of Representatives race is regulated by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
We are happy that you wish to help raise money for Congressman David Wu, but
we need your help in ensuring we meet with FEC regulations. You can do so
by following a few simple rules. By hosting a party, you agree to follow these
rules, listed below. If you have any questions, please call the campaign at
503-228-4598.
RULES:
In order
for you to participate, you must adhere to the following:
- As coordinator of an
event, I acknowledge that I am volunteering my time and
efforts, but am not otherwise affiliated with the campaign.
- I have not been authorized
to act as an agent or representative of the campaign, and I am, in fact,
coordinating my event independently from the campaign.
- I am not authorized
to represent myself as an official of the campaign.
- If I hold a house party
fundraiser, I will comply with the legal requirements pertaining
to raising money, including all contributions limitations and prohibitions.
- I acknowledge that
I am not authorized to raise any money on behalf of the campaign that does
not comply with all federal contribution limitations and reporting requirements.
- If I spend any money
to hold a campaign event, I will comply with the legal requirements
pertaining to the expenditure of that money, including any applicable
reporting requirements.
DISCLAIMER
LANGUAGE:
"Candidates
are required to report the name, mailing address, employer and occupation
for individuals with aggregate contributions over $200 in a calendar year.
Contributions to federal candidates are not deductible for income tax purposes.
Corporate checks are not acceptable for federal campaigns. Contributions are
limited to $2,000 per individual for each election."
- Printed
items must also include the disclaimer, "This invitation
was authorized by David Wu for Congress and paid for by (Host Name)."
CHECKS
& CREDIT CARDS:
Checks: If you are collecting checks, please send them directly to
the campaign after your party. You must report the following information to
the campaign for each contribution in excess of $200:
- the contributor's
name and mailing address;
- the contributor's
occupation and employer;
- the amount;
- the date
you received each contribution; and
- the date
each contribution was forwarded to the campaign.
Credit
Cards: If you are asking individuals to contribute with their own personal
credit card via the Wu website, you need not file the above-mentioned reports
when the individuals contribute directly. Thus, we recommend that you have
individuals contribute directly through the website so that all legal requirements
regarding the acceptability of their contribution may be met.
EXEMPTIONS
& IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS:
- In
your home: If you are hosting an event in your own home, you may
spend up to $1,000 ($2,000 per couple) for the event (food, beverage and
invitations) without it counting toward your contribution amount. This is
not considered an in-kind to Wu for Congress; it is exempt from those rules.
You may still make a personal contribution of the maximum amount. However,
if you exceed the house party amount of $1,000 ($2,000 per couple), you
must comply with all applicable rules pertaining to in-kind contributions
(visit http://www.fec.gov
for more information).
- At
your business: This exemption for events at your home does not
apply to businesses or other venues that are not your personal residence.
- Other
expenses: You are not authorized to pay for any other campaign
expenses from your personal funds.
- Donated
goods and services: Do not accept goods or services for free or
at less than their usual or normal value. If you accept such goods or services
(such as postage, printing, copying, or courier services), you may be accepting
an illegal corporate contribution.
- Business
donations:
Do not use any business stationary or your business title in connection
with your campaign volunteer activity.
CONTRIBUTION LIMITATIONS:
No contributions
exceeding the following limits may be accepted:
- Individual:
Each individual may contribute a maximum of $2,000. No individual may contribute
more than $100 in cash.
- Married Couple:
Each individual may contribute up to $2,000. If a check is drawn on a joint
account, the contribution is attributed to the individual signing the check
(unless the parties indicate in writing that it should be attributed to
both account holders). If the check is signed by both parties, the contribution
will be attributed to them equally.
- Business Partnership:
A total of $2,000 may be accepted. Please note that no portion of a contribution
by a partnership may be made from the profits of a corporation that is a
partner (i.e., a professional corporation). Contributions made by a partnership
with non-corporate profits counts against two limits: 1) against the partnership
limit and 2) against each individual partner's limit. This means that a
check written on a partnership account may not exceed $2,000 regardless
of the number of partners contribution. However, the individual partners
may write personal checks for any additional amount they have left in their
personal $2,000 contribution limit. (For example, if the partnership check
is for $2,000 and is attributed to each of four partners in the amount of
$500, then each partner could also make an additional contribution from
his or her personal checking account up to $1,500).
Contributions from
the following persons or entities both monetary and in-kind are prohibited
either by law or campaign policy:
- Corporations:
No check should be accepted with the words "Inc," "Corp,"
"P.C.," "Ltd" or similar words suggesting a corporate
account. Corporations cannot provide goods or services for free or at less
than the normal and usual charge. No one may use a corporate credit card
to make a contribution.
- Foreign Nationals:
Foreign nationals may not contribute unless they are permanent
resident aliens, i.e. individuals who are "green card" holders.
Otherwise, only U.S. citizens may contribute.
- Reimbursed
Contributions: A person cannot make a contribution in the name
of another and any contribution where the donor is reimbursed in any form
for making a contribution either before or after making the contribution
is prohibited. No one may use another individual's credit card to make a
contribution in their own name. A person may only use their own individual
credit card for which they have a personal legal obligation to pay.
- Labor Unions:
No check should be accepted from a labor union account and labor unions
cannot provide goods or services for free or at less than the normal and
usual charge.
- Anonymous Donors:
Anonymous contributions are not acceptable.
- Federal Employees:
You may not solicit in person, by mail or by telephone from persons
who are in a federal office building.
Most importantly, if you have any
questions, contact the campaign at 503-228-4598. We are here to make this
a fun and easy process.
| Paid
for by David Wu for Congress |
