Use this structured template to create a compliant political campaign donation and disclosure page aligned with core U.S. federal and state campaign finance rules.
Overview
This template helps U.S. political campaigns draft a donation policy and compliance disclosure page that aligns with core federal and state campaign finance requirements. It is a starting point only and must be reviewed by qualified counsel and updated for your specific jurisdiction before publication.
How to Use This Template
Replace all bracketed placeholders (for example, [Candidate Name]) with your campaign’s details. Confirm current federal and state rules, then have legal counsel review the final text before it goes live.
Donation Policy & Compliance Disclosure Template
1. Campaign Identification
Campaign: [Candidate Name] for [Office Sought]
Committee Name: [Committee Name]
State / Jurisdiction: [State]
Compliance Contact: [Compliance Contact] ([Compliance Email] | [Compliance Phone])
2. Contribution Limits
Contributions to [Committee Name] are subject to applicable federal and state campaign finance laws, including per-election limits and aggregate caps where applicable. For this campaign:
- Per-Election Limit: [Contribution Limits] per individual, per election (primary, runoff, general counted separately, if allowed).
- Designating Your Contribution: Unless you indicate otherwise, contributions will be applied to the next upcoming election (e.g., primary, then general).
- In-Kind Contributions: Non-monetary contributions are counted toward these limits at their fair market value.
Federal campaigns should align these limits with current Federal Election Commission (FEC) guidance, which is periodically adjusted for inflation. Source
3. Required Contributor Certifications
By clicking “Donate,” you certify that:
- You are a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted permanent resident (green card holder).
- You are at least 18 years old.
- This contribution is made from your own personal funds, and not provided to you by another person or entity for the purpose of making this contribution.
- You are making this contribution with your own personal credit card, debit card, or bank account, and not with a corporate, business, or other prohibited source card or account.
- You are not a federal contractor (if applicable to federal campaigns).
- You are not making this contribution on behalf of any other person, and you will not be reimbursed by any other person or entity.
These statements reflect core federal eligibility requirements; campaigns should confirm any additional state-specific certifications that may be required. Source
4. Prohibited and Restricted Contributions
- Corporate, labor union, and national bank contributions may be prohibited or restricted, depending on the jurisdiction and campaign type.
- Contributions from foreign nationals (non–green card holders) are prohibited in federal elections and many state and local elections.
- Contributions made in the name of another person are prohibited.
- Cash contributions and money orders may be limited to specific maximum amounts.
Review your state’s campaign finance authority guidance to confirm which entities may contribute and under what conditions. Source
5. Required Donor Information & Reporting Thresholds
Campaigns must collect certain information from donors once contributions exceed specific thresholds so they can file accurate public reports.
For this campaign, if you contribute more than [Reporting Threshold, e.g., $200] in the aggregate during the election cycle, we are required to report:
- Your full name
- Mailing address
- Occupation
- Employer (or principal place of business)
These data points align with common federal reporting requirements; confirm your exact thresholds and data fields with your state or local filing authority. Source
6. Allocation Between Primary, Runoff, and General Elections
When you donate, you may designate your contribution for a specific election:
- Primary Election: [Designation Rules]
- Runoff Election (if applicable): [Designation Rules]
- General Election: [Designation Rules]
If you do not specify an election, contributions may be applied to the next upcoming election, subject to legal limits. If you have already reached the limit for one election, excess funds may be reattributed or redesignated as allowed by law, or refunded.
7. Refunds, Excessive, and Unlawful Contributions
[Committee Name] will review contributions for compliance. If a contribution is determined to be excessive or otherwise unlawful, the campaign will:
- Refund the unlawful portion to the contributor, or
- Seek written authorization to reattribute or redesignate the contribution, where permitted by law.
Refunds will generally be processed using the original payment method within [X] business days after the issue is identified.
8. Recurring Donations Authorization
If you choose a recurring donation option, you authorize [Committee Name] to automatically charge your selected payment method in the amount and on the schedule you select (e.g., monthly) until you cancel or until the end of the election cycle, whichever comes first.
You may cancel or change your recurring donation at any time by contacting [Compliance Contact] at [Compliance Email] or through your donation receipt link. All recurring charges remain subject to contribution limits and eligibility rules.
9. Privacy, Data Use, and Payment Security
We collect and store your personal information to comply with campaign finance reporting laws and to communicate with you about [Candidate Name] and related political activities.
- Your payment information is processed securely by our payment processor, [Payment Processor], using industry-standard encryption.
- We do not sell your personal information, but we may share it as required by law in public campaign finance reports.
- We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your data from unauthorized access or disclosure.
For additional guidance on secure handling of payment and personal data, review best practices for web security and encryption. Source
10. Text Message (SMS) Opt-In Compliance (If Applicable)
If you provide your mobile number and opt in to receive text messages, you agree to receive recurring campaign updates and fundraising messages from [Committee Name]. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency may vary.
- You can reply STOP to cancel at any time.
- Reply HELP for help.
- Consent to receive texts is not a condition of any contribution.
Campaigns should align SMS consent language with current U.S. communications and privacy regulations and their messaging provider’s requirements. Source
11. “Paid for by” Disclaimer
Include a clear disclaimer at the bottom of the page and on all solicitations, such as:
“Paid for by [Committee Name], [Committee Address]. Not authorized by any other candidate or candidate’s committee.”
Federal campaigns must follow FEC disclaimer rules; state and local campaigns must follow their jurisdiction’s disclaimer and attribution requirements. Source
12. Verifying Current Federal and State Rules
Campaign finance rules change over time and vary by jurisdiction. Before publishing this policy:
- Confirm current federal rules (if applicable) using official FEC resources.
- Check your state or local election authority’s website for contribution limits, prohibited sources, reporting thresholds, and disclaimer language.
- Consult with a qualified campaign finance attorney or compliance professional to review your final donation page and internal procedures.
Document the date of your last legal review and schedule periodic updates, especially after new legislation, regulatory changes, or court decisions affecting campaign finance.
What You Should See on Your Final Donation Page
Once implemented on your website or donation platform, your donation page should clearly show:
- Candidate and committee identification, including office sought and state.
- Contribution limits and election designations (primary, general, etc.).
- Eligibility certifications with checkboxes or clear consent language.
- Required donor information fields (name, address, occupation, employer).
- Privacy and payment security statements.
- Recurring donation terms, if offered.
- SMS opt-in language and instructions, if applicable.
- A visible “Paid for by [Committee Name]” disclaimer.
AI Drafting Prompt for Your Campaign
Use the following prompt with ChatGPT (or a similar AI assistant) to generate a customized, legally structured donation page draft:
“You are a U.S. campaign finance compliance assistant. Ask me for and then use the following details to draft a complete political campaign donation and compliance disclosure page: candidate name, office sought, state or jurisdiction, committee name, contribution limits per election (primary, runoff, general), reporting thresholds for donor disclosure, payment processor name, whether the campaign is federal, state, or local, whether recurring donations and SMS updates will be offered, and any specific disclaimer or compliance language provided by our attorney. Then generate a structured donation page with clear headings covering: contribution eligibility certifications, U.S. citizenship and age requirements, personal funds declaration, federal contractor and corporate contribution restrictions (as applicable), contribution limits and election designations, required donor information, refund and reattribution procedures, privacy and payment security, recurring donation authorization, SMS opt-in terms (if used), and a compliant ‘Paid for by’ disclaimer. Use plain language suitable for voters, but keep all legal requirements accurate. Remind me to have counsel review the final text before publication.”
