Simone Lawson
AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that claims to be non-partisan and does not endorse or contribute to any political candidates, parties, or campaigns. While AARP does not have any record of direct contributions to political parties or candidates, its executives and employees can make political donations in their personal capacity, and donations from donors listing AARP as their employer have primarily gone to Democratic candidates in recent years. AARP's role in politics is to provide voters with information on where candidates stand on issues important to its members, such as Medicare, Social Security, and prescription drugs, so they can make informed decisions on Election Day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| AARP's nature of involvement in political campaigns | Non-partisan |
| AARP's contribution to political campaigns | $0 in the 2024 election cycle |
| AARP's contribution to candidates or political parties | No record of direct contributions |
| AARP's employees' contribution to political parties | Employees have donated primarily to Democratic candidates |
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What You'll Learn
AARP is a non-profit organisation
AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is a non-profit organisation with a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt status. This means that while donations to AARP are not tax-deductible, the organisation itself is exempt from federal income tax.
AARP has a long history of advocating for older Americans on a variety of federal health and fiscal issues, such as Medicare and Social Security. They have also been active in fighting age discrimination in the workforce, lobbying for lower prescription drug prices, and educating seniors about consumer fraud through initiatives like the AARP Fraud Watch Network.
The organisation has a stated commitment to nonpartisanship and does not endorse or contribute to any political candidates, parties, or campaigns. Instead, it provides voters with information on where candidates stand on issues important to its members, such as healthcare, Social Security, prescription drugs, and caregiving, so that they can make informed decisions on Election Day.
AARP has come under criticism, however, with some alleging that it is a lobbying group masquerading as a non-profit, charging high membership fees and selling expensive private healthcare plans. Despite this, AARP maintains its non-profit status and continues to work towards protecting and advocating for the rights and interests of older Americans.
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AARP does not endorse or contribute to political campaigns
AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is a nonprofit organization with a stated mission of addressing issues affecting older Americans. Despite its involvement in politics, AARP maintains that it does not endorse or contribute to political campaigns or candidates.
As a 501(c)(4) organization, AARP is exempt from federal income tax. While this status permits political lobbying and campaign activities, AARP asserts that it does not provide financial support to any political party or candidate. The organization claims to be nonpartisan, focusing on ensuring that every candidate is aware of the issues that matter to its members, such as protecting Social Security and Medicare and lowering prescription drug prices.
AARP has a history of non-partisan voter engagement, providing voters with information on where candidates stand on various issues. It urges candidates to address voters' concerns on topics like Medicare, Social Security, prescription drug prices, Medicaid, and caregiving. AARP encourages its members and all Americans to ask questions and understand the candidates' positions to make informed choices on Election Day.
While AARP itself does not contribute to political campaigns, its officers and employees can make personal political donations. According to Anna Massoglia, a researcher for The Center for Responsive Politics, AARP's executives and employees have made political donations as individuals, with the majority of these contributions going to Democratic candidates in recent years. However, these individual donations are separate from the organization's activities, and AARP maintains its non-partisan stance in its official capacity.
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AARP provides information on political candidates
AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization. As such, it is legally prohibited from contributing to or endorsing any political candidates or campaigns. AARP has a proud history of non-partisan voter engagement, and it does not have any record of direct contributions to political parties or candidates.
However, AARP does provide information on political candidates to help voters make informed decisions. They sponsor debates and candidate forums and offer information on major races, including where the candidates stand on issues important to AARP members and their families, such as Medicare, Social Security, prescription drug prices, and caregiving. AARP also encourages its members to ask questions and understand the candidates' positions on these and other important issues to choose the candidates that best reflect their views and values.
While AARP itself does not contribute to political campaigns, its officers and employees can make political donations in their personal capacity. According to OpenSecrets, individual donors associated with AARP contributed a total of $96,381 in the 2020 federal election cycle, with the majority (87.45%) going to Democratic candidates. It is important to note that these are individual donations and not organizational contributions.
AARP also engages in lobbying activities, which are permitted by its 501(c)(4) status. In 2024, AARP reported spending $19,940,000 on lobbying efforts. This includes advocating for causes that affect people aged 50 and older, such as healthcare and Social Security.
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AARP spent $23 million on lobbying in 2006
AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is a non-profit organisation with a focus on issues affecting those aged 50 and older. It is a nonpartisan 501(c)(4) organisation, which means it is exempt from federal income tax and can engage in political lobbying and campaign activities.
AARP's total revenue for 2006 was approximately $1 billion, and it spent $23 million on lobbying. This is a significant sum, and it is worth noting that AARP has a history of aggressive opposition to policies it does not support. For example, in 2005, AARP's zealous opposition was credited with derailing President Bush's Social Security reform agenda.
AARP has a large membership base, with over 38 million members as of 2018, and a headquarters in Washington, D.C. that spans an entire city block. The organisation offers a range of products and services to its members, including Medicare supplemental insurance, member discounts on travel and leisure, and life event services such as legal and financial services.
AARP's lobbying efforts are a key part of its activities, and it has been described as "'America's Most Powerful Lobby.' The organisation lobbies at the state and national levels on issues such as Medicare, Social Security, prescription drug prices, and community healthcare services. It also lobbies against age discrimination in the workforce and educates seniors about consumer fraud through the AARP Fraud Watch Network.
In addition to its lobbying activities, AARP has a history of engaging in ballot initiative campaigns. It has supported and opposed various propositions in California, for example, demonstrating its active involvement in the political process.
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AARP's 501(c)(4) status permits lobbying
AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization. Its 501(c) status refers to a section of the U.S. federal income tax code concerning social welfare organizations. Organizations granted 501(c)(4) status by the IRS are exempt from federal income tax.
The 501(c)(4) status permits AARP to engage in lobbying and political campaign activities. This includes donations to political committees that support or oppose ballot measures, bond issues, recalls, or referenda. However, it is important to note that AARP claims to be nonpartisan and does not endorse or contribute to any political campaigns or candidates. Instead, they provide voters with information on where the candidates stand on issues important to their members, allowing them to make their own decisions.
Being a 501(c)(4) organization, AARP can accept unlimited corporate and personal donations. These donations are not tax-deductible for the contributors. While 501(c)(4) organizations are allowed to engage in political activities, they are not allowed to make this their primary activity. In other words, they cannot primarily focus on influencing elections for federal, state, or local offices.
To maintain compliance, organizations with 501(c)(4) status must ensure that their activities primarily serve a social welfare interest. In a minority of jurisdictions, such as New York and Connecticut, 501(c)(4) organizations may be required to publicly disclose their donors if they engage in lobbying or make political expenditures. This can lead to "dark money" issues, where the source of funding for certain activities becomes unclear. To mitigate these risks, it is important to separate the 501(c)(4) organization from the establishing company or other funding sources.
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Frequently asked questions
No, AARP does not contribute to political campaigns or candidates. It is a non-partisan, federally approved non-profit organization that is legally prohibited from being involved in any political campaign in favor or against any candidate.
While AARP officers and employees can make political donations in a personal capacity, AARP policy prohibits them from engaging in any personal political activity using AARP resources or during work hours.
AARP is a non-partisan organization and does not endorse any political party or candidate. However, according to campaign finance data, individual donors associated with AARP have made political contributions, with the majority (87.45%) of those donations going to Democratic candidates.
