Isabella Carter
Kamala Harris' campaign fundraising efforts have been bolstered by donations from major companies and individuals. Harris' campaign raised over $1 billion, with 41% of that coming from small donors. Notable donors include Google, Microsoft, Brown & Brown, Johnson & Johnson, Future Forward USA Action, Majority Forward, and the Fund for Policy Reform, which is linked to billionaire George Soros. Billionaires such as Jeff Bezos and Ken Griffin have also prominently backed Harris, and it was reported that Bill Gates donated $50 million to a non-profit wing of a Democratic political action committee supporting Harris.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total amount raised | $1 billion-plus |
| Amount raised from January 2023 to August 31, 2024 | $678.2 million |
| Amount raised in August 2024 | $189.6 million |
| Top donors | Google, Microsoft, Brown & Brown, Johnson & Johnson, Future Forward USA Action, Majority Forward, Fund for Policy Reform, Michael Bloomberg, Dustin Moskovitz, League of Conservation Voters, American Bridge, Reid Hoffman & Michelle Yee, Fred Eychaner |
| Notable individual donors | Bill Gates ($50 million), Jeff Bezos, Ken Griffin, Michael Bloomberg ($47.4 million initially, recently increased to $97.4 million), Dustin Moskovitz ($38.9 million), Reid Hoffman & Michelle Yee ($34.8 million), Fred Eychaner ($32.7 million) |
| Number of billionaire backers | 83 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Billionaires backing Kamala Harris
The 2024 US presidential election saw Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party raise over $1 billion for her campaign. Forbes reported that by the end of August 2024, Harris had over $100 million more than former president Donald Trump. Harris' top donors included Google ($1,464,292), Microsoft ($743,045), Brown & Brown ($324,568), and Johnson & Johnson ($239,394).
Harris had the backing of numerous billionaires, with 83 billionaires supporting her campaign, compared to 52 supporting Trump. Notable billionaire backers include Jeff Bezos, Ken Griffin, and Michael Bloomberg. Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York City, donated a total of $97.4 million. Other prominent backers include George Soros, Dustin Moskovitz, Reid Hoffman, and Fred Eychaner.
Bill Gates also reportedly donated $50 million to a non-profit wing of a Democratic political action committee supporting Harris. This went against his history of public nonpartisanship, although he did not confirm the donation. Gates hinted at his support for Harris, stating that he supports "candidates who demonstrate a clear commitment to improving healthcare, reducing poverty, and fighting climate change."
Harris' campaign also received significant financial support from non-profits and organisations aligned with Democratic values, such as Future Forward USA Action, Majority Forward, and the League of Conservation Voters.
Green Card Holders: Political Campaign Donations Explained
You may want to see also
Tech industry support
Tech industry workers have been overwhelmingly supportive of Kamala Harris' 2024 presidential campaign, with employees from Alphabet (including Google, Waymo, and YouTube), Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Apple donating millions of dollars to her campaign. As of August 21, 2024, Harris' campaign committee had received a combined $3.8 million from workers at Apple, Meta, and Alphabet and their families. Alphabet employees contributed the most to either Harris or Trump's campaign, with donations totalling $2.2 million. Meta and Apple employees have also donated significantly more to Harris than to Trump, with Meta employees donating $25,000 to Trump compared with $835,000 to Harris, and Apple employees donating $44,000 to Trump compared with $861,000 to Harris.
Harris has also received endorsements and donations from prominent figures in the tech industry, including Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, longtime Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, philanthropist Melinda French Gates, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, IAC chair Barry Diller, and Silicon Valley venture capitalist Ron Conway. Hoffman and Diller have been criticised for their demands to remove Federal Trade Commission (FTC) chair Lina Khan while donating heavily to Harris. Hastings donated $7 million to a pro-Harris Super PAC within days of her becoming the presumptive nominee.
Harris' supporters in the tech industry represent a contrast to the contingent of (mostly) men in tech who have endorsed former President Donald Trump's White House bid, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, venture capitalists Marc Andreessen and Peter Thiel, and executives like Ben Horowitz. Tech workers have also demonstrated progressive energy in recent years, with Bernie Sanders receiving nearly twice as much in donations from tech workers than any other presidential candidate during the 2020 primaries.
While corporations themselves cannot directly donate to federal campaigns, their employees can, and tech employees are overwhelmingly giving to Harris. This support from tech workers may be due in part to Harris' efforts to defend progressive causes, such as action on climate change and protecting reproductive rights, as well as her long and friendly relationship with many top executives in the tech world.
Harris' Florida Win: What's the Strategy?
You may want to see also
Google, Microsoft and other corporate donors
Google, Microsoft, and other corporate donors have been instrumental in Kamala Harris' fundraising efforts, with the campaign raising over $1 billion in total. As of September 2024, Google was Harris' top corporate donor, contributing a substantial $1,464,292, followed closely by Microsoft at $743,045. These tech giants were joined by other prominent companies, such as Brown & Brown ($324,568) and Johnson & Johnson ($239,394).
The Biden-Harris campaign's success in fundraising is evident when compared to their competitors. From January 2023 to August 31, 2024, the Biden-Harris campaign raised $678.2 million, while the Trump campaign committee garnered $309.2 million during the same period. This significant disparity in funds gave the Democrats a commanding lead. By the end of August 2024, Harris had a substantial advantage, with $235.5 million in cash on hand compared to Trump's $134.6 million.
The support for Harris extended beyond just corporate donations, with a notable number of billionaires and influential individuals also backing her campaign. Forbes reported that 83 billionaires were supporting Harris, compared to 52 backing Trump. This included prominent figures such as Jeff Bezos and Ken Griffin. Additionally, the co-founder of Facebook, Dustin Moskovitz, contributed a significant $38.9 million, showcasing further support from the tech sector.
The Harris campaign also received substantial support from non-profit organizations. Future Forward USA Action, a Democratic-aligned non-profit, emerged as a key financial backer, contributing an impressive $138.5 million. Majority Forward, another non-profit aligned with Democratic values, donated $113.2 million. The Fund for Policy Reform, linked to billionaire George Soros, provided a substantial $60 million. These contributions reflect the strong alignment between Harris' campaign and various non-profit organizations.
The diverse range of corporate donors, influential individuals, and non-profit organizations that supported Harris' campaign demonstrates her broad appeal and the effectiveness of her fundraising strategies. Despite ultimately losing the election to Trump, Harris' campaign raised a significant amount of funding, showcasing the strong financial backing she garnered during the 2024 presidential race.
A Simple Guide to Removing Your Number from Democratic Party Lists
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Small donors and volunteers
Kamala Harris' campaign has attracted a large number of small donors and volunteers, demonstrating strong grassroots support. While major companies and individuals have made significant contributions to her campaign, small-dollar donors have also played a crucial role in her fundraising efforts.
Harris' campaign committee, in conjunction with Joe Biden, raised an impressive $678.2 million from January 2023 to August 31, 2024, with a Forbes report indicating that she had over $100 million more in cash compared to her competitor, Donald Trump. This significant financial advantage is a testament to the support Harris garnered from donors of all backgrounds.
The Democratic Party's robust fundraising operation, in combination with Harris' own efforts, played a pivotal role in raising more than $1 billion for her campaign. This impressive sum showcases the extensive network of supporters who contributed to her political ambitions.
Despite her loss to Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, Harris continues to pursue donors for additional financial support. These appeals to donors, including small-dollar donors, are aimed at covering potential debts and funding challenges facing the Democratic Party in countering the Trump administration.
The dedication of small donors and volunteers to Kamala Harris' campaign underscores the enthusiasm and engagement of individuals who believe in her vision and values. Their contributions, no matter the amount, reflect a commitment to her political endeavours and the causes she champions.
Campaign Strategies: Working Together for Success
You may want to see also
Post-election fundraising
Kamala Harris' campaign and affiliated groups raised over $1 billion since she entered the race. Despite this, Harris still lost to Donald Trump in the 2024 election. Harris and the Democratic Party are now sending persistent appeals to donors for more money. The "Harris Fight Fund" is a post-election label for the "Harris Victory Fund", which is the joint fundraising operation of Harris' campaign, the DNC, and state Democratic parties. The party is sending near-daily appeals to small-dollar donors, while also making individual calls to larger donors.
The post-election financial scramble reflects the cost of a high-stakes campaign and the urgency for Democrats to regroup. While Harris and the Democratic Party contend with immediate challenges, the focus remains on countering Trump's policies and preparing for the 2026 midterm elections.
Adrian Hemond, a Democratic strategist from Michigan, said: "The Harris campaign certainly spent more than they raised and is now busy trying to fundraise." Hemond was asked by the campaign to help with fundraising after its loss to Trump.
Despite the language in the recent appeals, most rank-and-file donors' contributions would be routed to the national party, unless a donor specified that they wanted their money to go directly to Harris or a state party. The first $41,300 from an individual and the first $15,000 from a political action committee would be allocated to the DNC. The next $3,300 from an individual or $5,000 from a PAC would go to the Harris for President "Recount Account". Anything beyond that, up to maximum contribution limits, would be spread across state parties.
Political Donations: Power, Influence, and Change
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
As of September 2024, Kamala Harris' top donors are Google ($1,464,292), Microsoft ($743,045), Brown & Brown ($324,568) and Johnson & Johnson ($239,394).
Notable billionaires who have backed Kamala Harris include Jeff Bezos, Ken Griffin, and Bill Gates, who donated $50 million to a non-profit wing of a Democratic political action committee supporting Harris.
Notable companies that have donated to Kamala Harris' campaign include Future Forward USA Action ($138.5 million), Majority Forward ($113.2 million), and the Fund for Policy Reform ($60 million).
Kamala Harris raised over $1 billion for her campaign.
