Simone Lawson
Planned Parenthood is a nonprofit organization that has promoted a commonsense approach to sexual and reproductive health and well-being for 100 years. The organization respects each individual's right to make informed, independent decisions about health, sex, and family planning. While Planned Parenthood does not contribute directly to political campaigns, it is affiliated with political action committees (PACs) and super PACs, which are independent expenditure-only committees that can spend unlimited sums of money. These PACs and super PACs receive donations from various industries and organizations, which they use to lobby Congress and federal agencies, and spend on political campaigns.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can Planned Parenthood donate to political campaigns? | No, Planned Parenthood cannot contribute to candidates and party committees directly. |
| How does Planned Parenthood contribute to political campaigns? | Through Political Action Committees (PACs) and Super PACs. |
| What is a Super PAC? | A political committee that can solicit and spend unlimited sums of money. A super PAC cannot contribute directly to a politician or political party, but it can spend independently to campaign for or against political figures. |
| Example of a Super PAC used by Planned Parenthood | Planned Parenthood Votes (PPV) |
| Example of a contribution by PPV | In April 2016, PPV spent $400,000 on a television ad campaign to target U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.). |
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What You'll Learn
Planned Parenthood cannot contribute directly to political campaigns
Planned Parenthood, as an organization, cannot contribute directly to political campaigns or candidates. However, Planned Parenthood Votes, a super PAC, can spend money independently to campaign for or against political figures.
A super PAC is a political committee that can solicit and spend unlimited sums of money. Although it cannot contribute directly to a politician or political party, it can be used to support or oppose political campaigns. These committees are also called independent expenditure-only committees and are regulated under rules separate from those governing traditional political action committees (PACs).
Planned Parenthood Votes is a super PAC that has been used to oppose politicians and campaigns that seek to restrict access to abortion. For example, during the 2014 election cycle, Planned Parenthood Votes opposed Ken Cuccinelli in his campaign for governor of Virginia. In 2016, the group spent $400,000 on a television ad campaign targeting U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte, who had a record of voting to 'defund' Planned Parenthood and cut women off from essential healthcare services.
In 2024, ahead of the November elections, Planned Parenthood announced it would spend $40 million to support Democrats who advocate for abortion rights. This included national efforts as well as local advocacy campaigns in states such as California, Florida, Michigan, and Nevada. The organization aimed to harness anger towards Republican-led efforts to restrict abortion access to influence key races across the country.
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Planned Parenthood affiliates can donate to political campaigns
Now, let's discuss how these affiliates can contribute to political campaigns. According to sources, Planned Parenthood affiliates have their own political action committees (PACs). A PAC is a group that can raise and spend money to influence political campaigns and support candidates who align with their interests. The affiliates' PACs are likely funded by donations from individuals and organizations that support Planned Parenthood's mission.
It is important to note that organizations themselves, including Planned Parenthood as a whole, cannot contribute directly to candidates and party committees. However, their affiliated PACs can engage in political spending. This spending may include funding advertising campaigns, such as the one targeting US Senator Kelly Ayotte in 2016, where PPV (presumably a Planned Parenthood-affiliated PAC) spent $400,000 on television ads.
Additionally, Planned Parenthood affiliates may also be involved with super PACs. Super PACs are a type of political committee that can raise and spend unlimited sums of money. However, they are not allowed to contribute directly to politicians or political parties. Instead, they can spend independently to campaign for or against political figures. For example, during the 2014 election cycle, PPV, a super PAC, opposed Ken Cuccinelli in his campaign for governor of Virginia.
In conclusion, Planned Parenthood affiliates can and do participate in political campaigns through their affiliated PACs and possibly super PACs. They can raise funds, spend money on advertising, and support or oppose political candidates, all while adhering to the regulations that govern such activities.
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Planned Parenthood is a super PAC
Planned Parenthood Votes is a super PAC. A super PAC is a political committee that can solicit and spend unlimited sums of money. While a super PAC cannot contribute directly to a politician or political party, it can spend independently to campaign for or against political figures. These committees are also called independent expenditure-only committees.
Planned Parenthood Votes is not legally considered a political action committee (PAC) and is regulated under separate rules. In 2016, Planned Parenthood Votes spent $400,000 on a television ad campaign targeting U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte. The ad campaign aimed to highlight Senator Ayotte's record of voting to defund Planned Parenthood and cut women off from essential health care services.
Planned Parenthood Votes has also been involved in opposing political campaigns, such as Ken Cuccinelli's 2014 campaign for governor of Virginia. The organization has been known to utilize television and print media for its advocacy efforts, with ad purchases in The New York Times and other publications.
Planned Parenthood Votes, as a super PAC, plays a significant role in influencing political discourse and shaping public opinion through its ability to raise and spend substantial financial resources.
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OpenSecrets tracks money in US politics
OpenSecrets is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., that tracks and publishes data on campaign finance and lobbying. It was created from the merger of the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) and the National Institute on Money in Politics (NIMP), both of which were organizations that tracked data on campaign finance and advocated for stricter regulation and disclosure of political donations.
OpenSecrets' mission is to track the flow of money in American politics and provide data and analysis to strengthen democracy. The organization compiles data on campaign contributions and lobbying activity from thousands of corporations, trade associations, labor unions, nonprofits, and other advocacy groups. It also offers industry profiles that uncover the influence of entire industries and economic sectors.
OpenSecrets allows users to search for a state or federal candidate to see their donors and supporting industries. It also provides information on political action committees (PACs) and "dark money" groups, which spend millions on elections without revealing their sources. The website includes a revolving door database, documenting individuals with potential conflicts of interest due to their work in both the public sector and lobbying firms.
The organization is funded by donations, with its largest donors since 2020 including the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Democracy Fund, the Gaia Fund, Google, and the Hewlett Foundation, among others. OpenSecrets has a wide reach, with 7.5 million annual visitors, and it offers a newsletter to help track money's influence on U.S. elections and policy.
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Planned Parenthood lobbies Congress and federal agencies
Planned Parenthood Votes (PPV) is a super PAC, or political action committee, that operates independently and spends money on political campaigns and advertising. Super PACs are not allowed to contribute directly to politicians or political parties, but they can spend money to campaign for or against political figures.
In 2016, PPV spent $400,000 on a television ad campaign targeting U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte, who had voted to defund Planned Parenthood and cut women off from essential health care services. During the 2014 election cycle, PPV opposed Ken Cuccinelli in his campaign for governor of Virginia.
Planned Parenthood's mission is to promote a commonsense approach to sexual and reproductive health and well-being, based on respect for each individual's right to make informed, independent decisions about health, sex, and family planning. The organization has been involved in campaigns that advance and protect women's rights and health, including access to reproductive care, STD testing, birth control, and abortion services.
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Frequently asked questions
You can donate to Planned Parenthood by mailing a check or credit card donation, or by calling 1 (800) 430-4907 to make a secure donation.
Yes, you can donate in honor or in memory of someone. Planned Parenthood will send a card to the address you specify.
Yes, Planned Parenthood accepts gifts of stock.
Yes, you and your employer can support the fight to ensure everyone has access to the reproductive care they need.
Yes, you can cancel your monthly donation at any time by contacting Planned Parenthood. Please be prepared to provide the full name, email address, and billing address used when setting up the monthly donation.
