Frequently Asked Questions
Here you can find quick answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
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What is a political action committee (PAC)?
A political action committee (PAC) is an organization that is formed to raise and spend money to support specific candidates, policies, or issues. PACs are a common feature of the political landscape in the United States, and they play a significant role in the American political system.
There are two main types of PACs:
- Connected PAC: This type of PAC is established by corporations, labor unions, trade associations, or other groups associated with a specific interest or industry. Connected PACs solicit contributions from employees, members, and their families, and then use those funds to support candidates who align with the PAC’s goals or issues.
- Non-connected PAC: This type of PAC is not affiliated with corporations, labor unions, or trade associations. It can be established by any group of individuals who share a common interest or objective. Non-connected PACs raise funds from the general public and use them to support candidates or causes they believe in.
PACs can contribute directly to candidates’ campaigns, but there are limits on the amount they can donate. They can also engage in independent expenditures, which involve spending money on advertisements or other activities to support or oppose specific candidates or issues. However, independent expenditures must be done without any coordination or consultation with the candidates’ campaigns.
Why do PACs exist?
Federal political action committees (PACs) exist primarily to pool financial contributions from individuals and other PACs in order to support or oppose political candidates. These organizations serve as fundraising vehicles in the realm of politics, allowing like-minded individuals and groups to collectively contribute funds to advance their shared interests and agendas.
The key reasons for the existence of PACs include:
- Influence and Advocacy: PACs provide a way for individuals and interest groups to exert their influence on the political process. By channeling resources toward candidates who align with their beliefs and goals, PACs can support candidates who are more likely to advocate for their preferred policies and agendas.
- Fundraising Efficiency: PACs enable efficient fundraising by collecting and distributing funds on behalf of a group of contributors. This pooling of resources allows supporters to have a greater impact collectively than they might as individual donors. And as the saying goes, “there is power in numbers.”
- Electoral Support: PACs play a significant role in electoral campaigns by providing financial support to candidates and parties. This assistance can be used for advertising, organizing events, conducting research, and other campaign-related activities that increase a candidate’s chances of winning.
- Representation of Diverse Interests: PACs allow a wide range of individuals and groups to have a voice in the political process. This diversity of interests can lead to a more comprehensive and balanced representation of viewpoints in policy discussions.
- Free Speech Protection: PACs are often defended as a form of protected free speech under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The ability to contribute financially to political causes is seen as an expression of individuals’ and organizations’ political beliefs.
Are PACs regulated?
Yes, PACs in the United States are regulated by federal and state campaign finance laws. These regulations are intended to provide transparency, prevent corruption, and ensure that the political process remains fair and equitable. The regulations cover various aspects of PAC formation, fundraising, spending, reporting, and disclosure.
Do PACs report their contributions and expenditures?
Yes, PACs are required to report their contributions and expenditures to the appropriate regulatory authorities. This reporting is an essential aspect of campaign finance transparency and accountability. PACs must file regular reports that detail their financial activities, including the sources of their contributions and how they have spent their funds.
In the United States, federal PACs are required to file regular reports with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). State-level PACs must follow reporting requirements set by their respective state election agencies. The reporting schedules and deadlines can vary depending on the type of election (e.g., federal, state, local) and the jurisdiction.
How much can be donated?
The amount that can be contributed to a PAC varies depending on the type of PAC and the jurisdiction (federal or state) in which it operates. There are different limits for contributions to federal PACs and state-level PACs. Additionally, there are distinctions between individual contributions, contributions from other PACs, and contributions from corporations, labor unions, and other entities.
The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) sets limits on individual contributions to federal PACs. As of 2021, the annual limit for an individual’s contributions to a PAC was $5,000.
Learn more about the 2023-2024 federal contribution limits.
How much can be contributed to candidates, PACs, and committees?
The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) sets contribution limits for federal PACs regarding their contributions to candidates, other PACs, and political party committees. These limits are subject to change, and we recommend checking with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) or other official sources for the most up-to-date information.
Are donations tax deductible?
No, federal campaign donations are generally not tax-deductible for individual donors. Donations to political campaigns, candidates, and political action committees (PACs) are considered contributions to support political activities and are not classified as charitable contributions.
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Who can donate to FSPAC?
Individuals who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents can donate to FSPAC.
Partnerships, LLCs that do not elect corporate treatment for tax purposes, and sole-proprietorships can also make contributions to FSPAC, subject to certain rules and regulations. The contributions are attributed to individual partners or members based on their ownership share or contribution.
However, certain individuals and entities are restricted from contributing to federal political action committees (PACs) in the U.S. due to campaign finance laws and regulations. Please visit the Federal Election Commission website for more information on who can and cannot donate.
How can I donate?
Please visit FSPAC.org to make a donation or download our donor form to contribute via check.
How can I change my pledge?
Please contact FSPAC at cv.fspac@gmail.com.
Who can I contact with a billing issue?
Please contact FSPAC at cv.fspac@gmail.com.
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Is FSPAC bipartisan?
Absolutely! We help elect pro-Greek candidates to Congress who, regardless of party affiliation, understand the interfraternal world and the specific needs, interests, and concerns of Greek-letter organizations and their members.
In general, FSPAC has proportioned its giving based on the political makeup of the current Congress.
Is FSPAC a Super PAC or "dark money?"
FSPAC’s contribution account makes direct contributions to candidates and is not the same thing as a Super PAC. All of FSPAC’s activity is fully disclosed on the public record.
Let’s break down the differences:
- Super PAC (Independent Expenditure-Only Committee): A Super PAC is a type of political action committee that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money from individuals, corporations, labor unions, and other sources. However, a Super PAC is prohibited from contributing directly to candidates or parties. Instead, it can engage in independent expenditures, which involve spending money on advertisements or other activities to support or oppose candidates or issues. Super PACs must operate independently from candidates’ campaigns and are subject to disclosure requirements, meaning their expenditures and sources of funding must be reported to regulatory authorities.
- “Dark Money”: “Dark money” refers to political spending by groups that do not have to disclose their donors. This term is often associated with nonprofit organizations, such as 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations, that engage in political activities but are not primarily focused on political purposes. These organizations are not required to disclose the names of their donors publicly.
What funds are used to make contributions to candidates?
FSPAC pools together the personal donations contributed by individual donors and then uses those funds to support candidate campaigns, leadership PACs, and party committees.
Per federal election law, the use of corporate funds (e.g. chapter dues, national/international organization or house corporation funds) to make such contributions is strictly prohibited.
Do any fraternity or sorority chapter dues go towards supporting candidates?
No. It would be a violation of federal campaign finance regualtions if FSPAC accepted funds from an individual fraternity or sorority chapter and then used those funds to contribute to candidates.
Are funds from fraternity/sorority national and international organizations used to contribute to candidates?
No. It would be a violation of federal campaign finance regualtions if FSPAC accepted funds from a fraternity/sorority national or international organization and then used those funds to contribute to candidates.
Are funds from house corporations used to contribute to candidates?
No. It would be a violation of federal campaign finance regualtions if FSPAC accepted funds from a house corporation and then used those funds to contribute to candidates.
What is FSPAC’s contribution criteria?
FSPAC supports candidates who support the following priorities:
- Preserve fraternities and sororities right to operate as single-sex organizations
- Protect students’ right to freedom of association
- Improve campus safety with anti-hazing legislation
- Ensure due process rights for our student members and member organizations
- Provide tax parity for donations to build or improve fraternity and sorority housing
Does a candidate’s position on issues unrelated to the Greek community factor into the contribution decision?
No. FSPAC maintains a laser-like focus on a candidate’s willingness to defend and enhance the fraternal experience and his/her track record for doing so as the sole criterion for receiving a contribution. FSPAC’s board members, like many Americans, hold strong views on many of the multitude of other issues on the congressional agenda, but the decision of whether to support any candidate is based exclusively on that candidate’s commitment and history of backing issues pertinent to Greek life.
Does FSPAC have any other guiding principle for candidate support?
Yes. FSPAC makes priority investments in women who are members of National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sororities running for Congress for the first time. NPC women are currently an under-represented group in Congress, and data has shown that early financial assistance for NPC candidates dramatically improves their odds for winning their election. In addition to those running in their initial race, every NPC alumna running for re-election in 2020 has received a contribution.
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Who serves on the FSPAC Board of Directors?
The FSPAC Board of Directors is made up of committed fraternity and sorority alumni who have a genuine appreciation for the interfraternal experience and want to ensure it’s defended and enhance for current and future students.
Our board members have a variety of leadership experience in their fraternity and sorority organizations as well as the interfraternal community.
How can I get involved?
The easiest way to get involved is to make a donation.
If you would like to join in our fundraising efforts, you can create a personal fundraising page where you can direct your friends to support FSPAC too.
What is the Independent Expenditure Account (IEA)?
The Independent Expenditure Account (IEA) is established to provide non-coordinated support for candidates or causes, research, generic voter drives, and advertising support to other PACs. The IEA cannot contribute directly to any candidate’s campaign.
U.S. individuals and corporations can donate to the IEA with no limits on the donation amount. FSPAC policies require an individual to have already given the maximum allowable amount to the Campaign Contribution Account before donating to the IEA.
Download one of these forms if you’re interested in donating to the IEA as an individual or corporation.
Is FSPAC different from the Fraternity and Sorority Action Fund?
Since its founding in 2015, donations to the Fraternity and Sorority Action Fund (FSAF) have helped pave the way for historic wins for the fraternities, sororities, and their members. From meaningful legal victories to preserve the single-sex experience at Harvard and Yale to advocating state legislatures to adopt stronger anti-hazing laws, the FSAF funds have had a direct and immediate impact on Greek life.
As continued threats press on and new ones emerge, we must implement a multidimensional, integrated, strategic plan to address the existential threat to single-sex organizations. Today, our plan supports:
- Lobbying federal and state officials to preserve a student’s right to join a single-sex organization without penalty.
- Preparing public comments with suggested changes to the regulatory framework for Title IX.
- Pursuing immediate legal action at schools violating a student’s due process and freedom of association rights.
- Conducting public opinion polling on policy issues of interest to the Greek world and research that reinforces the long-term benefits of joining single-sex organizations while in college.
- Implementing public relations and grassroots engagement campaigns designed to push back on threats and raise awareness about the benefits of the fraternity and sorority experience.
Don't Wait. Join Our Effort Today!
Supporting the Fraternity and Sorority Political Action Committee helps protect and advance the interests of the interfraternal community through political action. With your donation, we can help elect more pro-Greek candidates to Congress who can help champion freedom of association, anti-hazing, and tax parity for college housing legislation.