Gofundme For Political Campaigns: Is It Allowed?

Crowdfunding has become an increasingly popular way to raise funds for political campaigns, with platforms like GoFundMe providing an accessible avenue for individuals and organizations to seek financial support. While GoFundMe offers a viable option for fundraising, it is important to note that certain conditions and regulations apply when using the platform for political purposes. In this paragraph, we will explore the possibilities and limitations of utilizing GoFundMe as a tool for political campaigns, considering the platform's terms of service, legal requirements, and the creative strategies employed by those seeking to fund their political aspirations.

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GoFundMe's two types of fundraisers: personal or nonprofit

GoFundMe is a crowdfunding platform that can be used for various fundraising purposes, including political campaigns. While GoFundMe does not specifically mention political campaigns in its terms of service, it does provide guidelines for two types of fundraisers: personal or nonprofit.

Personal Fundraisers

Personal fundraisers on GoFundMe allow individuals to raise funds for themselves or someone else. The funds collected through personal fundraisers can be transferred to a personal bank account or the bank account of an associated organization. It is important to note that the recipient of the funds cannot be changed after they have been sent to the designated bank account. Therefore, individuals must carefully choose who will receive the money. Additionally, if the funds are intended for multiple organizations, it is recommended to create separate fundraisers for each beneficiary.

Nonprofit Fundraisers

Nonprofit fundraisers on GoFundMe are designed for fundraising for charities or nonprofit organizations. To set up this type of fundraiser, individuals must select "Charity" during the creation process and provide the organization's information. GoFundMe emphasizes that funds cannot be redirected to another organization once they have been raised. Therefore, it is crucial to select the correct organization. If the desired organization is not listed, the individual in charge of finances at the organization must enroll with the PayPal Giving Fund.

Nonprofit fundraisers on GoFundMe can also be set up through fiscal sponsorship. This option is suitable for organizations that are not registered charities in specific countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, or Australia. Fiscal sponsorship involves partnering with an eligible nonprofit organization (the fiscal sponsor) that will collect the funds raised and then transfer them to the intended organization according to a predetermined agreement. It is important to understand the process and frequency of fund transfers to ensure a smooth collaboration with the fiscal sponsor.

While GoFundMe provides the platform for fundraising, it does not hold or process the funds directly. Instead, it utilizes third-party payment processors like PayPal to manage donations. GoFundMe also emphasizes that it does not provide professional advice, and users are solely responsible for ensuring the accuracy and appropriateness of their fundraising campaigns.

Requirements for election fundraisers

Gofundme can be used for election campaigns, but there are several requirements that must be met to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Firstly, it is the responsibility of the organiser to ensure that their fundraiser is compliant with all regulatory requirements for political fundraising set by the relevant electoral body. This includes adhering to contribution limits and financial reporting rules, as well as gathering necessary donor information.

To ensure compliance, it is recommended to include donor requirements as a disclaimer in the fundraiser story for full transparency. For example, stating any limits on individual donations, such as "This fundraiser cannot accept donations over $ X from one person and cannot take an anonymous donation of over $ X". It is also important to remind donors that they must meet local requirements to donate, and to inform them that they may be contacted after donating to confirm additional information.

When using Gofundme for election fundraising, it is crucial to only accept donations from individuals who can legally support the candidate. If there are any donations that cannot be accepted or are unclear, Gofundme's support team can assist with processing refunds. Additionally, users must not use AI-generated content in a misleading or deceptive manner, and should comply with any applicable laws and regulations regarding the use of AI in political fundraising communications.

It is important to note that Gofundme does not hold or process any funds raised on its platform. Instead, they utilise third-party payment processors to manage and process donations. Gofundme also does not charge a platform fee for using their service, and any issues with the service are not their responsibility.

Peer-to-peer fundraising

Gofundme can be used for political campaigns, but only for personal fundraisers or for nonprofit organisations. For personal fundraisers, you can transfer funds to your own bank account, and then distribute the money to the organisations of your choice. However, you must be explicit about how the funds will be distributed.

Now, here's some information about peer-to-peer fundraising:

There are three types of peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns: rolling, time-based, and giving days. Rolling campaigns do not have a time limit, whereas time-based campaigns have a clear deadline. Giving days are 24-hour fundraising periods, such as GivingTuesday, which raised $3.1 billion in donations in 2023.

To set up a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign, you will need to set a fundraising goal and create a main campaign page. You will then need to recruit volunteers to set up their own individual fundraising pages, which they will share with their personal networks. It is important to provide these volunteers with the resources they need to promote their pages effectively.

There are many ways to host a peer-to-peer fundraiser, including virtual campaigns, DIY fundraisers, network fundraisers, and events. For example, bake sales are a popular way to raise funds, but you could make the event stand out by having attendees "vote" for their favourite treat by donating to the baker's campaign. You could also encourage participants to raise funds by completing a certain task or activity, such as the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

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Rubber duck races and other fundraising events

Gofundme offers two types of fundraisers: personal or nonprofit. For personal fundraisers, you can transfer funds to your own bank account and then distribute the money to the organizations of your choice. However, you must be explicit about how the funds will be distributed. Nonprofit fundraisers are for registered charities, and the funds are transferred directly to the organization. Gofundme does not hold any raised funds on the platform; instead, they use third-party payment processors to manage and process donations.

Now, let's focus on rubber duck races and other creative fundraising events.

Rubber duck races are a unique and fun way to raise funds and engage your community. Here are some steps to organize a successful rubber duck race:

• Planning: Start planning at least 7-9 months before the race date. This gives you enough time to secure sponsorships, recruit volunteers, and promote the event effectively.
• Volunteers: A dedicated team of volunteers is crucial to the success of the event. They can help with various tasks, including duck adoptions, logistics support, and pre-race preparations.
• Sponsorships: Securing sponsorships is essential to maximizing your fundraising potential. Aim to ensure that 100% of each duck adoption goes directly to your organization or cause.
• Logistics: You don't necessarily need a water source for the race. While rivers and lakes are traditional options, you can also get creative with other types of raceways.
• Promotions: Utilize social media to create a buzz around the event. You can also partner with organizations like GAME, which provides mobile-friendly software specifically designed for duck races and offers ongoing support to ensure a smooth planning process.

In addition to rubber duck races, here are some other creative fundraising event ideas:

• Peer-to-peer fundraising: This approach empowers your existing donors to reach out to their networks and ask for donations on your behalf. Each supporter creates their own donation page linked to your main fundraising page, helping you expand your donor base.
• Family fun picnic: Organize a community picnic as a fun way to bring your supporters together. You can give a speech, answer questions, and explain your platform and policies.
• Text-to-give campaigns: Choose a user-friendly platform that makes it easy for constituents and campaign staff to donate. Promote the campaign at events, rallies, and speeches, and through digital and physical communications.

Remember, these events are not just about raising funds but also about building community engagement and awareness for your cause.

Using AI-generated content for political fundraising

Political campaigns have historically evolved in tandem with new media platforms, from the rise of radio broadcasting in the 1920s to the internet and social media in the 21st century. In recent years, data analytics and microtargeting tools have become the cornerstone of modern campaigning, with campaigns relying on large data sets to gain insights into citizens' behaviours, interests, and locations. As the 2024 US elections gain momentum, political campaigns and advertising agencies are turning to a new ally: artificial intelligence (AI).

AI-powered tools can generate new text, images, videos, and speeches from a single prompt, which can then be woven into campaign messages. AI software can even compose campaign emails and fundraising solicitations. AI is helping political candidates raise more money more efficiently, freeing up time for other work such as engaging with voters. For instance, Google's Bard helped generate 3.5 times more dollars per work hour, while OpenAI's ChatGPT achieved 4.4 times more dollars per work hour.

However, the use of AI in political messaging has raised several alarms among experts, as there are currently no federal rules regarding AI-generated content in political material. Peter Loge, the director of the GW School of Media and Public Affairs, highlights that AI is being used to write fundraising emails, generate scripts and speeches, and create fake news stories. Loge emphasizes the ethical concerns surrounding AI in campaigns, stating that campaigns should aim to persuade and inform, not deceive and divide.

AI-generated content for political fundraising communications must comply with all applicable laws, including any requirements to disclose AI-generated media. Users are responsible for reviewing, editing, and ensuring the accuracy and appropriateness of AI-generated content before incorporating it into their campaigns. GOFUNDME, for example, allows users to create personal or nonprofit fundraisers. While it does not endorse any fundraiser, it leverages a combination of business rules, machine learning, and human review to identify and remediate violations of its Terms of Service.

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