Eleanor Finch
Political campaigns can now be funded through online donations, with the help of a simple Donate button on a website, social media, or email. This allows supporters to donate quickly and easily, with the added convenience of using their credit cards. However, it is important to note that credit card processors usually charge a fee for their services, which may reduce the amount of money that actually goes to the campaign. To avoid this, donors can opt to use other payment methods such as PayPal, bank transfers, or debit cards. Additionally, to ensure the security of your donations, it is recommended to use a secure connection and visit the official website of the campaign before proceeding with any transactions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Payment Methods | Credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, bank transfers, Stripe, cash, cheque |
| Platforms | Facebook, Squarespace, Donorbox, Raise The Money, Crowdpac |
| Features | Customizable button text and fund settings, preset donation suggestions, customizable fields, secure connection |
| Fees | Processing fees (2.9-4.9%) and per-transaction fees ($0.20-$0.30) |
| Compliance | Federal Election Commission requires information on donors contributing over $200 |
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What You'll Learn
Using a credit card to donate to a political campaign
Political campaigns can easily accept donations via credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal. This can be done by adding a "Donate" button to the campaign website, which supporters can click on to progress through the donation process.
When donating to a political campaign using a credit card, it is important to be aware of the processing fees that are incurred. Credit card processors usually charge a percentage-based fee, such as 2.9%, as well as a per-transaction fee, such as $0.30. These fees are typically paid by the candidate's campaign, but in some cases, they may be passed on to the donor. Therefore, donors should be mindful that a small portion of their donation goes towards these fees and may not reach the campaign.
To ensure that your credit card donation reaches the intended recipient, it is recommended to use a trusted service like PayPal and to donate through the official website of the campaign or candidate. This helps to reduce the risk of fraud and ensures that your donation is secure.
However, it is important to be cautious and not let emotions drive you to donate more than you can afford. It is also crucial to verify the legitimacy of the organization or website soliciting donations to avoid falling victim to political scams.
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How to add a donate button to your Facebook page
Adding a donate button to your Facebook page can make it easier for supporters to contribute to your political campaign. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to add a donate button to your Facebook page:
First, ensure that you meet Facebook's eligibility criteria for adding a donate button. You must be a registered nonprofit organization with a bank account in the United States under the charity's name. Additionally, your organization must comply with Facebook's policies, which prohibit political fundraising, commercial activities disguised as fundraising, and any activities that violate Facebook's Community Standards.
Next, log into your Facebook page as the admin user. Only administrators have the ability to add buttons. Click on the "Edit Page Info" option, usually located under the cover photo. In the "General" tab, go to the Categories section and select "Nonprofit Organization" from the dropdown list. This step is crucial, as Facebook uses this information to determine which buttons to present you with.
Once you've categorized your page as a nonprofit, go back to your Facebook page. Click the "+ Add a Button" button, typically found under your cover photo. From the options presented, choose "Shop with you or make a donation." A dropdown menu will appear; select "Donate" and then click "Next."
A new menu will open where you can specify the link you want visitors to be directed to when they click the donate button. This can be either the donate page of your website or a Donorbox-hosted secure donation page.
It is worth noting that Facebook offers comprehensive reporting tools that allow nonprofits to track their donations directly from the platform. Additionally, Facebook does not charge any fees for donations made to eligible nonprofits, ensuring that 100% of the funds raised go directly to your cause.
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Using PayPal for political campaign donations
Political campaigns can benefit from using PayPal to accept donations from supporters. It is simple to set up, and there are no setup or monthly charges. PayPal has millions of active accounts, all of which are potential campaign donors.
To get started, you can add a "Donate" button to your campaign website, which will allow supporters to quickly and easily donate to your campaign. You can also customise the button to fit your needs. For example, you could change the label to "Send us a gift" if you are using the donation block for a cash registry. You can also edit the suggested donation amounts or leave the amount column blank, allowing donors to enter their desired amount.
Before completing the payment, donors can choose the amount they wish to donate and review a summary of key information. PayPal's payment forms include customisable fields, which can help campaigns comply with FEC requirements to collect donors' names, mailing addresses, occupations, and employers for contributions exceeding $200 in an election cycle.
Once a donor clicks "Donate" and completes the payment, the funds are transferred to the campaign's PayPal account within minutes. From there, you can choose to automatically transfer the money to a linked bank account daily or manually schedule transfers.
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Customising your donate button
Choose a payment processor
First, decide on a payment processor that suits your needs. Popular options include PayPal, Stripe, and Squarespace Payments. These platforms allow you to securely accept donations through your website and often have mobile-optimised features for quick and easy contributions.
Design your button
Customise the style and layout of your donate button to make it visually appealing and aligned with your campaign's branding. You can change the button's colour, alignment (left, centre, or right), and text. Consider using a catchy and personalised label for your button, such as "Support Us" or "Join the Movement", instead of the default "Donate".
Streamline the donation process
Make donating as easy as possible for your supporters. Remove unnecessary steps and suggested donation amounts to create a seamless experience. Squarespace's UltraSwift™ checkout, for example, reduces donor drop-off by requiring less personal information and speeding up the checkout process.
Provide useful information
While keeping the process straightforward, ensure donors have access to relevant information about your campaign and their contribution. You can include a description during checkout that provides details about your cause, and even prompt donors to specify what their donations are for by adding a custom form.
Stay compliant
Remember to comply with any relevant regulations, such as those set by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) in the US. For example, PayPal's customisable fields can help you gather the required information from donors, such as their name, mailing address, occupation, and employer, for compliance with FEC requirements.
By following these steps, you can create a customised donate button that is engaging, user-friendly, and compliant, helping to maximise the success of your political campaign's fundraising efforts.
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Safely accepting political campaign donations
Political campaigns can receive donations from various sources, including individuals, partnerships, PACs, and trusts. However, it is important to note that there are strict regulations on who can contribute to federal candidates, with prohibitions on corporations, labor organizations, federal government contractors, and foreign nationals, among others. Campaigns must also be transparent about the sources of their donations and comply with FEC requirements.
To safely accept political campaign donations, campaigns can utilize online payment platforms such as PayPal, which offer a secure and convenient way to collect contributions. PayPal's customizable fields help gather information about donors, ensuring compliance with FEC requirements. Additionally, PayPal charges no setup or monthly fees, and funds are typically available in the campaign's account within minutes.
Another option is to use a website builder platform like Squarespace, which offers donation blocks that can be easily added to a campaign website. Squarespace provides options to connect with payment processors such as Squarespace Payments, Stripe, or PayPal. Customization options are available to edit the button text and fund settings to align with the campaign's needs.
It is important to note that campaigns should only accept contributions from trusts that meet specific criteria. The committee must not have control over the trust corpus or interest amount, and the contribution should be reported as coming from the beneficial owner rather than the trust itself. Additionally, special requirements apply to contributions from trusts to presidential campaigns eligible for federal matching payments.
For unincorporated tribal entities, it is worth noting that they may be considered "persons" under the Federal Election Campaign Act, making them subject to contribution prohibitions and limitations. This means that they need to comply with the same regulations as other entities when contributing to political campaigns.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several platforms that allow you to set up a donate button for a political campaign, including PayPal, Squarespace, Donorbox, and Raise The Money. These platforms offer different features, such as customizable fields, no setup or monthly fees, and integrated email management.
You should include a "Donate" button, which can be customized to fit your needs. For example, you could change the label to "Send us a gift". You may also want to include preset donation suggestions to make giving easy for your supporters. It is also important to ensure that your donation page is secure, with a valid SSL certificate.
There are several payment processors to choose from, including PayPal, Stripe, and Square. When choosing a payment processor, consider the fees associated with each transaction. Credit card processors, for example, usually charge a percentage-based processing fee and a per-transaction fee.
To ensure the security of your donors' information, use a secure connection ("https") and only donate through the official website of the campaign or candidate. Keep track of your spending and regularly check your card statements to identify any unauthorized charges. Additionally, be transparent with your donors about any fees that may be deducted from their contributions.
