Planned Parenthood: Political Campaign Contributions, Explained

can planned parenthood contribute to political campaigns

Planned Parenthood Votes is an independent expenditure-only committee, or super PAC, that can spend unlimited sums of money to campaign for or against political figures. However, it cannot contribute directly to a politician or political party. The Planned Parenthood Action Fund, on the other hand, is a non-profit, non-partisan group that advocates for reproductive rights and access to sexual healthcare. While the Action Fund operates at the national level, local Planned Parenthood organizations also engage in political activities to defend sexual and reproductive health and rights, including abortion access. Both groups have contributed to political campaigns, with Planned Parenthood Votes announcing a $45 million spending plan for the 2020 election cycle and the Action Fund engaging in grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.

Characteristics Values
Type of organization Nonprofit, non-partisan group
Number of supporters 10 million
Focus Community health and sexual education
Spending in the 2024 cycle $5,144,579
Lobbying in 2024 $1,088,902
Outside Spending in the 2024 cycle $10,544,065
Spending during the 2020 election cycle $45 million
Spending during the 2014 election cycle N/A
Spending in April 2016 $400,000

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Planned Parenthood Votes is a super PAC that can spend unlimited sums of money on campaigns

Planned Parenthood Votes, for example, spent $400,000 on a television ad campaign against U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte in 2016. The ad described Ayotte as someone who "voted to 'defund' Planned Parenthood and cut women off from essential health care like birth control and breast and cervical cancer screenings."

Planned Parenthood Votes is an independent expenditure committee registered with the Federal Election Commission. It conducts independent expenditures in federal races and engages in state elections as permitted by state campaign finance laws.

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund, on the other hand, is a non-profit, non-partisan group backed by millions of activists, donors, and supporters. It was launched in 1989 as the advocacy arm of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy, and limited electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.

While the Action Fund works at the national level, many local Planned Parenthood advocacy and political organizations are fighting to defend sexual and reproductive health and rights at the state level.

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Planned Parenthood Action Fund is a non-profit, non-partisan group backed by millions of activists, donors, and supporters

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is a non-profit, non-partisan group. It was launched in 1989 as the advocacy arm of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund has since led the Federation through the country's toughest political battles over reproductive rights. It is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(4) and engages in educational, advocacy, and limited electoral activity. This includes grassroots organising, legislative advocacy, and voter education.

The Action Fund is backed by millions of activists, donors, and supporters. It works to promote, protect, expand, and restore access to sexual healthcare and to defend reproductive rights. While the Action Fund operates at the national level, many local Planned Parenthood advocacy and political organisations are fighting to defend sexual and reproductive health and rights, including abortion access, across the country.

Planned Parenthood Votes is an independent expenditure committee registered with the Federal Election Commission. It conducts independent expenditures in federal races and engages in state elections as permitted by state campaign finance laws.

Planned Parenthood Votes is a super PAC, or political action committee. It cannot contribute directly to a politician or political party but can spend independently to campaign for or against political figures. In 2014, PPV opposed Ken Cuccinelli in his campaign for governor of Virginia. In 2016, it spent $400,000 on a television ad campaign targeting U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte. In the 2020 election cycle, it announced a plan to spend $45 million, focusing on candidates in nine states.

Planned Parenthood Federal PAC is the Action Fund's non-partisan political action committee. It collects contributions from Action Fund members and makes limited contributions to federal and state candidates in accordance with federal and state campaign finance laws.

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Planned Parenthood cannot contribute directly to a politician or political party

Planned Parenthood Votes is an independent expenditure committee registered with the Federal Election Commission. It makes independent expenditures in federal races and engages in state elections as permitted by state campaign finance laws. The Action Fund, launched in 1989, is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organisation that engages in limited electoral activity, including grassroots organising, legislative advocacy, and voter education. It is backed by millions of activists, donors, and supporters and works to promote, protect, and restore access to sexual healthcare and defend reproductive rights.

Planned Parenthood organisations focus on community health and sexual education, with varying degrees of participation in politics. For example, in 2020, Planned Parenthood Votes announced a $45 million spending plan for the election cycle, focusing on supporting candidates in several states, including Arizona, Colorado, and Florida. The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is the advocacy arm of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and it fights against anti-abortion rights politicians and policies.

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Planned Parenthood Federal PAC is a traditional federal PAC that makes limited contributions to federal candidates

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund, launched in 1989, is a non-profit, non-partisan group backed by millions of activists, donors, and supporters. It is the advocacy arm of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund has been at the forefront of the Federation's battles over reproductive rights, advocating to protect, expand, and restore abortion access.

Planned Parenthood Votes is an independent expenditure committee that conducts independent expenditures in federal races and engages in state elections as permitted by state campaign finance laws. It is a super PAC, which means it can spend unlimited sums of money but cannot contribute directly to a politician or political party. Instead, it spends money independently to campaign for or against political figures.

Planned Parenthood Federal PAC, on the other hand, is a traditional federal PAC. It is the Action Fund's non-partisan political action committee, registered with the Federal Election Commission. It collects contributions from Action Fund members and makes limited contributions to federal candidates, adhering to federal campaign finance laws. The PAC also supports state candidates as allowed by state laws.

While Planned Parenthood Federal PAC makes limited contributions to federal candidates, the specific amounts and recipients of these contributions are not readily available. However, OpenSecrets, an organization that tracks money in American politics, provides some insights into the financial activities of Planned Parenthood. According to OpenSecrets, Planned Parenthood's contributions in the 2024 cycle totaled $5,144,579, with lobbying efforts amounting to $1,088,902, and outside spending in the same cycle reaching $10,544,065.

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Planned Parenthood spent $400,000 on a TV ad campaign against U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte in 2016

Planned Parenthood Votes is a super PAC, or a political action committee. As a super PAC, it can spend unlimited sums of money on campaigns for or against political figures, but it cannot contribute directly to a politician or political party. In April 2016, Planned Parenthood Votes spent $400,000 on a television ad campaign against U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.). The ad, called "Lifetime," focused on Ayotte's opposition to reproductive health, including her previous votes to "defund" Planned Parenthood, her attempts to end safe and legal abortion, and her objection to equal pay legislation.

The ad was Planned Parenthood's first buy in a Senate race in 2016 and ran on broadcast and cable in New Hampshire for 10 days. It was also the committee's first time going on air for a senate race in the 2016 cycle, although they had previously gone on-air in the 2016 presidential election with a seven-figure ad campaign boosting Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Deirdre Schifeling, the executive director of Planned Parenthood Votes, stated:

> "Kelly Ayotte may try to paint herself as pro-woman, but her record tells a very different story. Every chance she’s gotten she’s voted to 'defund' Planned Parenthood and cut women off from essential health care like birth control and breast and cervical cancer screenings."

In response to the ad, Ayotte's spokeswoman said that Ayotte "intends to support the Republican nominee" for U.S. president but did not plan to make an endorsement. Ayotte lost her seat to Hassan by 1,017 votes.

Money Behind Political Ads: Who Pays?

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Frequently asked questions

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is a non-profit, non-partisan group backed by millions of activists, donors, and supporters. It was launched in 1989 as the advocacy arm of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy, and limited electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.

Planned Parenthood Votes is a super PAC, which is a political committee that can spend unlimited sums of money. However, it cannot contribute directly to a politician or political party. Instead, it can spend money independently to campaign for or against political figures. The Planned Parenthood Federal PAC is a traditional federal PAC that collects contributions from Action Fund members and makes limited contributions to federal and state candidates in accordance with campaign finance laws.

According to OpenSecrets, a group that tracks money in U.S. politics, Planned Parenthood contributed $5,144,579 during the 2024 cycle. They also engaged in lobbying efforts totaling $1,088,902 and had outside spending in the 2024 cycle of $10,544,065.

Planned Parenthood organizations focus on community health and sexual education, and the degree to which they participate in politics varies. They generally support candidates who advocate for reproductive rights and access to sexual health care, and oppose those who seek to defund Planned Parenthood or restrict access to reproductive healthcare services.

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