Download "Hosting a House Party - Guidelines for Fund Raising - in PDF Format

Please take a moment to read the following fundraising guidelines. While a house party is fun and easy, please be aware that fundraising for a United States House of Representatives race is regulated by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). We are happy that you wish to help raise money for the campaign of John Wallace for Congress, but we need your help in ensuring we meet with FEC regulations. You can do so by following a few simple rules. By hosting a party, you agree to follow these rules, listed below. If you have any questions, please call the campaign at 518-392-7062.

RULES:

In order for you to participate, you must adhere to the following:

• As coordinator of an event, I acknowledge that I am volunteering my time and efforts, but am not otherwise affiliated with the campaign.
• I have not been authorized to act as an agent or representative of the campaign, and I am, in fact, coordinating my event independently from the campaign.
• I am not authorized to represent myself as an official of the campaign.
• If I hold a house party fundraiser, I will comply with the legal requirements pertaining to raising money, including all contributions limitations and prohibitions.
• I acknowledge that I am not authorized to raise any money on behalf of the campaign that does not comply with all federal contribution limitations and reporting requirements.
• If I spend any money to hold a campaign event, I will comply with the legal requirements pertaining to the expenditure of that money, including any applicable reporting requirements.

DISCLAIMER LANGUAGE: "Candidates are required to report the name, mailing address, employer and occupation for individuals with aggregate contributions over $200 in a calendar year. Contributions to federal candidates are not deductible for income tax purposes. Corporate checks are not acceptable for federal campaigns. Contributions are limited to $2,300 per individual for each election."

• Printed items must also include the disclaimer, "This invitation was authorized by American Citizens for John Wallace and paid for by (Host Name)."

CHECKS & CREDIT CARDS:

Checks: If you are collecting checks, please send them directly to the campaign after your party. You must report the following information to the campaign for each contribution in excess of $200:

• the contributor's name and mailing address;
• the contributor's occupation and employer;
• the amount;
• the date you received each contribution; and
• the date each contribution was forwarded to the campaign.

Credit Cards: If you are asking individuals to contribute with their own personal credit card via one of the John Wallace for Congress websites, you need not file the above-mentioned reports when the individuals contribute directly. Thus, we recommend that you have individuals contribute directly through the website so that all legal requirements regarding the acceptability of their contribution may be met.

EXEMPTIONS & IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS:

• In your home: If you are hosting an event in your own home, you may spend up to $1,000 ($2,000 per couple) for the event (food, beverage and invitations) without it counting toward your contribution amount. This is not considered an in-kind to John Wallace for Congress; it is exempt from those rules. You may still make a personal contribution of the maximum amount. However, if you exceed the house party amount of $1,000 ($2,000 per couple), you must comply with all applicable rules pertaining to in-kind contributions (visit www.fec.gov for more information).
• At your business: This exemption for events at your home does not apply to businesses or other venues that are not your personal residence.
• Other expenses: You are not authorized to pay for any other campaign expenses from your personal funds.
• Donated goods and services: Do not accept goods or services for free or at less than their usual or normal value. If you accept such goods or services (such as postage, printing, copying, or courier services), you may be accepting an illegal corporate contribution.
• Business donations: Do not use any business stationary or your business title in connection with your campaign volunteer activity.

CONTRIBUTION LIMITATIONS:

No contributions exceeding the following limits may be accepted:

• Individual: Each individual may contribute a maximum of $2,300. No individual may contribute more than $100 in cash.
• Married Couple: Each individual may contribute up to $2,300. If a check is drawn on a joint account, the contribution is attributed to the individual signing the check (unless the parties indicate in writing that it should be attributed to both account holders). If the check is signed by both parties, the contribution will be attributed to them equally.
• Business Partnership: A total of $2,300 may be accepted. Please note that no portion of a contribution by a partnership may be made from the profits of a corporation that is a partner (i.e., a professional corporation). Contributions made by a partnership with non-corporate profits counts against two limits: 1) against the partnership limit and 2) against each individual partner's limit. This means that a check written on a partnership account may not exceed $2,300 regardless of the number of partners contribution. However, the individual partners may write personal checks for any additional amount they have left in their personal $2,300 contribution limit. (For example, if the partnership check is for $2,300 and is attributed to each of four partners in the amount of $575, then each partner could also make an additional contribution from his or her personal checking account up to $1,500).

Contributions from the following persons or entities both monetary and in-kind are prohibited either by law or campaign policy:

• Corporations: No check should be accepted with the words "Inc," "Corp," "P.C.," "Ltd" or similar words suggesting a corporate account. Corporations cannot provide goods or services for free or at less than the normal and usual charge. No one may use a corporate credit card to make a contribution.
• Foreign Nationals: Foreign nationals may not contribute unless they are permanent resident aliens, i.e. individuals who are "green card" holders. Otherwise, only U.S. citizens may contribute. NOTE: John Wallace will only accept contributions from U.S. Citizens.
• Reimbursed Contributions: A person cannot make a contribution in the name of another and any contribution where the donor is reimbursed in any form for making a contribution either before or after making the contribution is prohibited. No one may use another individual's credit card to make a contribution in their own name. A person may only use their own individual credit card for which they have a personal legal obligation to pay.
• Labor Unions: No check should be accepted from a labor union account and labor unions cannot provide goods or services for free or at less than the normal and usual charge.
• Anonymous Donors: Anonymous contributions are not acceptable.
• Federal Employees: You may not solicit in person, by mail or by telephone from persons who are in a federal office building.
• SPECIAL INTEREST OR POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES: John Wallace will not accept any donations from Special Interest or Political Action Committees even though they are permittd. He will accept contributions from Individual U.S. Citizens Only!!!!!!!

Most importantly, if you have any questions, contact the campaign at 518-392-7062. We are here to make this a fun and easy process.

Paid for by American Citizens for John Wallace