Isabella Carter
Crowdfunding has become an increasingly popular way to raise funds for political campaigns. GoFundMe, a popular crowdfunding platform, has been used for political fundraising and campaigning. However, it is important to note that there are specific regulations and requirements surrounding political fundraising that must be adhered to when using GoFundMe for this purpose. These include compliance with election laws and regulations, contribution limits, and financial reporting rules. Additionally, the use of AI-generated content for political fundraising communications comes with certain responsibilities, such as complying with applicable laws and not misleading users or voters. GoFundMe does not hold or process funds raised on its platform, instead relying on third-party payment processors. While GoFundMe does not solicit donations, it provides a platform for individuals and organizations to raise funds for their causes, including political campaigns.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Use of AI-generated content | Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and ensuring the accuracy and appropriateness of all AI-generated content. Users may not use AI-generated content in a manner that is intended to mislead users or voters, impersonate candidates, or otherwise deceive the public in violation of any applicable laws. |
| Compliance with regulatory requirements | The fundraiser must be compliant with all regulatory requirements for political fundraising set by the relevant electoral body. It is the organizer's responsibility to ensure compliance with all relevant election laws and regulations, including contribution limits and financial reporting rules. |
| Donor information | GoFundMe does not collect all required information from donors at checkout, so it is the organizer's responsibility to gather this information. This includes ensuring that donations are only made by individuals who can legally support the candidate and complying with any local requirements. |
| Country restrictions | US sanctions or other relevant government body sanctions may prohibit GoFundMe from supporting certain fundraisers. Fundraisers for unsupported countries must be run by a registered organization within a supported country. |
| Donation guidelines | Specific guidelines may apply, such as limits on anonymous donations, cash donations, and donations from corporate entities or individuals residing abroad. |
| Fund distribution | GoFundMe does not hold any funds raised on its platform or handle payment processing. Third-party payment processors are used to manage and process donations. |
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What You'll Learn
Political fundraising with AI-generated content
One example of this is Tech for Campaigns, an organization dedicated to helping Democrats win that conducted an AI-aided email-writing experiment. They sent a batch of 25 emails—both human-only and AI-aided versions—across four Virginia House campaigns. The AI-aided versions, aided by Google's Bard and OpenAI's ChatGPT, helped garner 3.5 to 4.4 times more dollars per work hour, respectively.
AI-generated content can also be used to create virtual avatars of candidates, interact with voters, and perform data analysis. However, it is important to note that AI systems can absorb biases present in human-generated data, leading to the potential generation of racist and sexist messages. Additionally, the use of AI in political fundraising raises concerns about voter suppression and fraud, especially with AI-generated deepfakes and messages asking for donations with invented promises.
As such, users of AI-generated content for political fundraising must comply with applicable laws, including any requirements to disclose AI-generated media. They are also responsible for ensuring the accuracy and appropriateness of the content and not using it to mislead users, impersonate candidates, or deceive the public.
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Compliance with election laws and regulations
GoFundMe can be used for political campaigns, but there are strict compliance requirements that must be met. As a US company, GoFundMe is subject to all US laws and regulations, including those set forth by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury. This means that US sanctions may prohibit the platform from supporting certain fundraisers. Similarly, GoFundMe does not solicit donations, nor does it engage in solicitation activities for itself or others, and it does not act as a professional fundraiser or fundraising counsel.
If you are financing an election campaign through GoFundMe, your fundraiser must comply with all regulatory requirements for political fundraising set by your electoral body. This includes contribution limits and financial reporting rules, which vary depending on the location of the campaign. It is the organiser's responsibility to ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations, including collecting the necessary donor information. For example, the Killian Mangan General Election Campaign Fund specifies that donations are only permitted from people living in Ireland or Irish citizens living abroad, and that anonymous donations should not exceed €100.
To ensure compliance with electoral financing requirements, GoFundMe may request additional information after a fundraiser has been created. This may include confirming that steps have been taken to ensure compliance with local laws and regulations. It is important to note that donations should only be made by individuals who can legally support the candidate, and organisers are responsible for refunding any donations that do not meet these requirements.
In addition, users of GoFundMe for political fundraising must comply with all applicable laws regarding the use of AI-generated content. This includes any requirements to disclose the use of AI in communications and prohibits users from misleading or deceiving the public in violation of any applicable laws.
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Donor limitations and financial reporting rules
Federal law puts limitations on campaign contributions to candidates for president and Congress. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) enforces the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA), which limits the amount of money individuals and political organisations can give to a candidate running for federal office.
The FECA requires candidates for president, Senate, and the House of Representatives to report the names of the individuals and political organisations contributing to their campaigns, as well as the amounts. Candidates must also report how they spend the money they receive and the amounts. The FEC sets campaign contribution limits for individuals and groups and oversees public funding used in presidential elections.
The FEC also provides guidelines for electronic contributions, in-kind contributions, and undesignated contributions. For electronic contributions via credit card or another electronic payment platform, the treasurer should retain a record of the receipt, including information associating the contribution with its deposit in the political committee's campaign depository. The date of receipt for an in-kind contribution is the date the goods or services are provided to the committee, even if the bill is paid at a later date. Undesignated contributions made on or before election day count against the donor's limit for that election, while those made after an election counts against the donor's limit for the candidate's next election.
In addition to federal regulations, local candidates and committees should be aware of any additional local requirements and restrictions, such as contribution limits, as many cities and counties have adopted local campaign ordinances.
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Use of crowdfunding to amplify disinformation
Crowdfunding platforms, including GoFundMe, have become increasingly popular for financing entrepreneurial initiatives. However, they are susceptible to exploitation for disinformation campaigns. This is particularly true for platforms that operate on a donation-based or reward-based model, as they heavily rely on the integrity of campaign creators to fulfil their commitments without requiring comprehensive financial disclosures.
Fraud on these platforms can take the form of either the failure to deliver projects as promised or the misappropriation of funds. For instance, a $25 million campaign on GoFundMe for Steve Bannon's border wall was described as having "gone bad". Additionally, during the 2020 U.S. election, peer-to-peer texting and hidden messages were used to spread disinformation about election fraud and 5G, with crowdfunding sites earning thousands from COVID disinformation.
Furthermore, foreign governments, such as Russia, have been known to utilize crowdfunding platforms to amplify disinformation and interfere in elections. In 2024, the Russian government and Russian-sponsored actors were found to have created websites to disseminate propaganda and influence voters in the United States and other countries. These websites were designed to mimic legitimate news media organizations, obscuring the true source of the content.
To address these issues, platforms like GoFundMe have implemented terms of service that prohibit users from employing AI-generated content in a misleading or deceptive manner. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and are encouraged to exercise discretion when using AI-generated content in their campaigns.
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The role of non-party campaigners in election campaigning
While GoFundMe can be used for a variety of fundraising purposes, it is important to note that, as a US company, it is subject to US laws and regulations, including those set by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury. This means that US sanctions may prohibit the use of GoFundMe for certain causes, including political campaigns.
Non-party campaigners play a significant role in election campaigning, offering a unique perspective on the electoral process and the concerns of the public and elected officials. They can work for various organizations, including umbrella party organizations such as the Democratic National Committee or Republican National Committee, or blanket campaign organizations like the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) or Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). Non-party campaigners can also work for independent political entities, such as unions, trade organizations, or issue-oriented nonprofits. Additionally, they may be involved with PACs, SuperPACs, or other "527" organizations, campaign vendors, law firms with an election focus, or nonpartisan nonprofits that address electoral issues.
Working on political campaigns requires self-management skills and the ability to work with timelines. The work may not always be glamorous or paid, especially for short-term volunteers who often take on administrative tasks, respond to campaign correspondence, and contact constituents. However, campaign work can lead to valuable connections and experiences that may enhance job applications, particularly for positions with elected officials or on Capitol Hill.
It is important to note that GoFundMe does not solicit donations and does not engage in solicitation activities for itself or others on its platform. The platform also does not control or endorse any user, fundraiser, or cause, and it does not guarantee the success of any fundraiser. As such, donors must use their discretion to decide if a cause is worth contributing to. While GoFundMe can be a tool for fundraising, it is the responsibility of the user to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, especially when it comes to political fundraising.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, GoFundMe can be used for political campaigns. However, the fundraiser must be compliant with all regulatory requirements for political fundraising set by the respective electoral body. It is the organizer's responsibility to ensure compliance with all relevant election laws and regulations, including contribution limits and financial reporting rules.
Electoral fundraising often has specific requirements surrounding what can be accepted and requires specific data from donors. It is important to note that GoFundMe does not necessarily collect all the information required from a donor at checkout, so the organizer must ensure they gather this information. Additionally, donations should only be made by individuals who can legally support the candidate.
Yes, GoFundMe has certain restrictions in place. Electoral fundraising is only permitted if the fundraiser is directly managed by the candidate or their committee. Additionally, election fundraisers in unsupported countries are not allowed unless run by a registered organization within a supported country. GoFundMe is subject to US laws and regulations, including those set by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). US sanctions may prohibit the support of certain fundraisers.
