Omar Bennett
Political donations are a great way to support a cause, candidate, or movement. However, with the rise of online scams, it is important to be cautious when making a donation. WinRed, a popular platform for Republican donors, charges a 3.94% fee on donations under $500. If you are looking to avoid using WinRed, there are a few alternative options to consider. You can use other crowdfunding sites such as ActBlue, which supports Democrats, or PayPal, which has no setup or monthly fees. You can also use credit cards that offer rewards or cash back on political donations, such as the Citi Double Cash® Card or the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Additionally, you can choose to support a candidate or political party by using your personal resources, such as hosting a fundraising event or engaging in internet activities, without making a monetary contribution. Being aware of potential scams and opting for alternative platforms can ensure that your donation reaches the intended recipient without any unnecessary fees or complications.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Credit Card Rewards | Using a credit card to donate can earn you reward points, but a small piece of the donation is used to pay card processing fees, which means not all of your money is going to your preferred candidate. |
| Blocking Spam | If you come across spam, you can block the number that you're receiving messages from, mark messages as "junk", or forward the spam text messages to the FCC by using the number 7726. |
| Opting Out of Future Messages | If you receive a text message, you can opt out of future messages by texting the word "stop". |
| Unsubscribing from Emails | You can request to unsubscribe from emails via a link at the bottom of the email. |
| Untraceable Donations | Individuals may use their homes and personal property for activities benefiting a candidate or political party without making a contribution, such as hosting a fundraising party or reception. |
| Uncompensated Individuals | An uncompensated individual or group of individuals may engage in internet activities for the purpose of influencing a federal election without restriction. |
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What You'll Learn
Use a credit card to donate and earn reward points
If you want to donate without using WinRed, you can use a credit card to donate and earn reward points. Many credit card companies allow you to redeem your reward points for charitable donations. For example, Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card customers can redeem Ultimate Rewards points toward donations to eligible nonprofit organizations. Citi also has similar offers, such as the Citi ThankYou Rewards program, where members can redeem their points for donations to the Red Cross. Additionally, American Express has partnered with JustGiving, a fundraising platform with over 1.5 million nonprofits, allowing cardholders to donate their Membership Rewards points to a charity of their choice.
It's important to note that when you use a credit card to donate, a small portion of your donation goes towards card processing fees. These fees are typically charged to the recipient campaign or candidate, but sometimes they are paid by the donor. Therefore, it's a good idea to check the fine print before making your donation.
Despite the processing fees, using a credit card to donate has its advantages. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection than other payment methods, and if you normally earn rewards on your credit card transactions, you can accumulate points for political donations. This way, you can support your favorite candidate or cause while also earning rewards.
To maximize your rewards, consider using a flat-rate cash-back card like the Citi Double Cash® Card, which offers unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases, or the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, which earns 2X miles per dollar spent. By consolidating your donations into larger amounts, you can also reduce the proportion of your donation that goes towards processing fees, ensuring that more of your money goes towards your intended purpose.
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Avoid scams by opting out of future messages and identifying legitimate emails
When making a donation, it's important to be vigilant and ensure that you're not falling prey to a scam. Here are some ways to avoid scams by opting out of future messages and identifying legitimate emails:
Opting Out of Future Messages:
- If you receive unsolicited messages or emails asking for donations, you have the option to opt out. For text messages, simply reply with the word "STOP". By law, you should receive a reply confirming that you've been removed from their text list.
- For email communications, look for an "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the email. Legitimate organizations will respect your choice and remove you from their mailing list.
- If you continue to receive messages or emails from the same sender after opting out, it is likely a scam. Block the number or email address and report it to the relevant authorities.
Identifying Legitimate Emails:
- Be cautious when receiving unsolicited emails requesting donations. Scammers often use emotional appeals, tugging at your heartstrings by highlighting victims of natural disasters or other tragic events.
- Pay attention to the language used in the email. Poor grammar, spelling errors, or unusual language can be a red flag.
- Do your research. Before donating, take the time to verify the legitimacy of the organization. Search for the organization's name along with keywords like "scam", "complaints", "reviews", or "ratings". Look for reviews and ratings from reputable sources.
- Be wary of high-pressure tactics. Legitimate charities do not pressure people into making immediate donations. Take your time to review the request and don't feel rushed or pressured into donating.
- Be cautious about how the donation is requested. Avoid charities that ask for donations through gift cards, wire transfers, or cash. These methods are often used by scammers as they are difficult to trace.
- Keep a record of your donations and review your statements to ensure you're only charged the amount you agreed to donate.
- Trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right about the email or the organization, it's better to err on the side of caution and choose a different charity to support.
Remember, it's always better to be cautious when it comes to your personal information and finances. By following these steps, you can help ensure that your donations reach legitimate organizations and make a positive impact.
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Host a fundraising party or reception at home
Hosting a fundraising party or reception at home is a great way to raise funds and awareness for a cause or organization you care about. Here are some steps to help you plan and host a successful event:
Choose a Theme and Create a Budget
Select a theme that aligns with your target audience and the cause you are supporting. Some ideas include a dinner party, a BBQ, a wine tasting, or a coffee morning. Once you have a theme, create a simple budget to outline the costs of the event. You can use funds from the organization's fundraising program to cover expenses, and co-hosts may also be willing to contribute food or drinks.
Prepare the Guest List and Invitations
Focus your guest list on individuals with the capacity and interest in donating to and supporting your cause. Encourage attendees to bring a friend or associate to broaden your prospective donor base. When sending out invitations, use sites like Evite or Punchbowl, and clearly state that the event is a fundraiser so guests are primed to consider donating.
Plan the Logistics
If your event requires catering, decide whether you will hire a caterer, prepare the food yourself, or organize a potluck-style gathering. Ensure you have adequate parking and clear directions to your venue. If you plan to accept donations at the event, remember to have internet access to process them.
Match Donations
Consider asking a co-host or attendee to agree ahead of time to match donations made at the party, up to a certain amount. This strategy can encourage guests to feel that their impact is doubled.
Follow Up and Debrief
After the event, follow up with a debrief session with your host committee to assess how well your event achieved its goals. Analyze the attendance, feedback, funds raised, and new contacts made. Use these insights to improve and build upon the success of your next fundraising party.
By following these steps, you can effectively host a fundraising party or reception at home, engaging donors, raising awareness, and supporting your chosen cause or organization.
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Use crowdfunding sites like Crowdpac or platforms like ActBlue
If you are looking to make a political donation without using WinRed, you can use crowdfunding sites like Crowdpac or platforms like ActBlue. Crowdpac is a for-profit website founded in 2014 to help unknown Democratic political outsiders raise money and run for office. The platform is currently only open for fundraising to select political ideologies. In May 2018, Crowdpac stopped fundraising for Republican candidates due to issues with hate speech and racial animosity. The site was acquired by Prytany and relaunched in November 2019.
ActBlue, on the other hand, is a nonprofit platform that does not endorse individual candidates. It is open to Democratic and progressive campaigns, candidates, committees, and 501(c)4 organizations. 501(c)3 organizations can use the platform through ActBlue Charities. ActBlue has been used by prominent Democratic figures such as Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Bernie Sanders. In the 2018 midterm elections, Democratic candidates raised $1.6 billion through ActBlue, and the platform has broken several fundraising records since then.
Both Crowdpac and ActBlue allow you to donate to candidates or causes that you support without using WinRed. These platforms provide an alternative way to contribute to political campaigns and can be a convenient option for first-time donors.
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Pay via PayPal for quick fund transfers
If you're looking to make a political donation without using WinRed, PayPal is a great option for quick fund transfers. It is a trusted global brand and a popular choice for donors and campaigns alike. PayPal has millions of active accounts, all of which are potential donors for political campaigns.
PayPal makes accepting political donations via credit cards, debit cards, and bank transfers fast, easy, and secure. It offers customizable fields that help campaigns comply with FEC requirements, such as collecting the name, mailing address, occupation, and employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in an election cycle. Additionally, PayPal has no setup or monthly charges; you only pay a fee when you receive a donation. The standard fee for PayPal is 2.89% + $0.49 per transaction, but for registered charities, PayPal offers a discounted fee of 1.99% + $0.49.
Donors can stay logged in to their PayPal accounts to quickly complete their donations, and they can give by credit or debit card even if they don't have a PayPal account. PayPal also offers the PayPal Giving Fund, which helps charities reach new donors on PayPal, eBay, and other technology platforms.
One thing to keep in mind is that when using PayPal, you will need to transfer donations from your PayPal account to your bank account manually. This is an extra step compared to some other services, such as Donorbox, which sends donations directly to your organization's bank account. However, PayPal does offer the convenience of being able to automatically or manually schedule transfers to your linked bank account, so you can choose when the funds are transferred.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use a credit card to donate to a political campaign. However, donors should be aware that a small piece of their donation will be used to pay card processing fees, which means not all of their money will go to their chosen candidate.
You can use other electronic payment platforms such as PayPal, which charges a processing fee of 2.9%, plus $0.30 per transaction. You can also use crowdfunding sites like Crowdpac, which has donors pay the credit card fees of 2.9%, plus $0.30 per transaction.
Using a credit card can be more convenient than other payment methods, and you may be able to earn rewards on your transactions. Credit cards also have stronger fraud protections than debit cards.
Yes, when you use a credit card to donate, a portion of your donation will go towards processing fees, which means your chosen recipient may not receive 100% of your intended contribution.
Yes, individuals can use their homes and personal property for activities that benefit a candidate or political party without making a monetary contribution. For example, you could hold a fundraising party or reception in your home, as long as the costs remain under certain limits. You can also engage in uncompensated internet activities, such as creating or maintaining a website, to influence a federal election without restriction.
