# Is there an easy way for me to donate ANONYMOUSLY to a SuperPAC? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 16, 2024, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-for-me-to-donate-anonymously-to-a-superpac/1005792 "2024-08-16T14:50:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gozu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gozu/32/6615_2.png) [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-for-me-to-donate-anonymously-to-a-superpac/1005792/1 "2024-08-16T14:50:09Z")
Hi folks, I know I cannot donate anonymously to candidates, and it is a pity for me because I am the type of donor who donates a large amount of money once. So instead of donating $50 ten times, I would just donate $500 and not donate again until the next elections. Once and done. This also ensures less money is wasted on multiple credit card fees going to Visa instead of the candidate. My issue is that after my donation, **a big chunk of my donation inevitably gets WASTED** on dozens of fancy **expensive** letters and postage by dozens of well-meaning orgs trying to get me to donate more. Which I never do, but I’m sure it works on most people since they keep doing it. I hate the waste so much that it deters me from donating, which is a damn shame! I read that I can donate to super-pacs anonymously. Is there a way I can do that? Or is it only practical for rich people somehow? Cheers! ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-for-me-to-donate-anonymously-to-a-superpac/1005792/2 "2024-08-16T14:53:54Z")
> [@Gozu](#): > > My issue is that after my donation, **a big chunk of my donation inevitably gets WASTED** on dozens of fancy **expensive** letters and postage by dozens of well-meaning orgs trying to get me to donate more. What exactly do you think they use the money for? They’re not just sending those letters to you. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gozu/32/6615_2.png) [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-for-me-to-donate-anonymously-to-a-superpac/1005792/3 "2024-08-16T15:00:15Z")
I know it works, it just doesn’t work on me, and I would like my money to not be spent on sending **me** letters asking for more donations. I’m happy for them to do whatever they need to maximize turnout and voter registrations. So, to get back to my actual question: Is there an easy way for me to donate anonymously to a SuperPAC? Today? Or no? Your answer was not clear on that. ps: maybe I should clarify that this is not academical I’d like to find the URL of a superPAC or a physical address I can send cash to make the donation. I have failed to find anything when googling anonymous super-pac donation. I am shocked. Surely there must be some people like me who want to donate anonymously and not get it traced back to them? Spouses of people with different political affiliations immediately come to mind. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-for-me-to-donate-anonymously-to-a-superpac/1005792/4 "2024-08-16T15:04:02Z")
Sorry I didn’t see what forum we’re in. Anyways, to answer your actual question, [according to this article](https://www.politicallawbriefing.com/2012/12/is-my-donation-really-anonymous/) you’d need to find an organization with a 501(c)(4) arm that supports your candidate or ballot measure, and donate the money to them. That still doesn’t ensure anonymity, but there are questions to ask at the bottom to determine whether or not your identity will be disclosed. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-for-me-to-donate-anonymously-to-a-superpac/1005792/5 "2024-08-16T15:08:21Z")
Not an answer to your question, but when I donate, I immediately write an email directing the recipient not to email, mail, or call me, or distribute my contact information. I’m the only one in my family who doesn’t get repeated solicitations from ACT BLUE. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gozu/32/6615_2.png) [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-for-me-to-donate-anonymously-to-a-superpac/1005792/6 "2024-08-16T15:11:25Z")
I did say that to the ACLU when I donated. Heck, I even wrote it on the check. It did me zero good. SO you donate and then you write an email to… [contact@actblue.com](mailto:contact@actblue.com) (?) and tell them your name and ask them not to mail you or distribute your contact info? And it really worked? That is great! ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-for-me-to-donate-anonymously-to-a-superpac/1005792/7 "2024-08-16T15:14:16Z")
Yes, but with the big entities (like ACT BLUE), do it immediately, because they distribute your name to other entities quickly. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-for-me-to-donate-anonymously-to-a-superpac/1005792/8 "2024-08-16T15:23:12Z")
Could you mail a money order to the organization? You might be able to get a money order without specifying personal information on it. I’ve forgotten how money orders work since I haven’t used them in a long time. I also wish that there was a way to donate without getting flooded with additional fundraising requests. I’ve learned to not provide my main email/phone so that the requests don’t go to those. But I’d still rather not have them sent in the first place and also not sent to my home address. I don’t trust that a followup request to not be added to the fundraising list would be respected. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-for-me-to-donate-anonymously-to-a-superpac/1005792/9 "2024-08-16T15:42:23Z")
Another possible solution: I donate publicly, directly to candidates, but I give as my email address “[voter@puzzlegal.com](mailto:voter@puzzlegal.com)” (that’s not a real address, as far as I know, but an address of that general form.) And I’ve set things up so that email doesn’t go to my phone, and gets funneled into one folder on my laptop. So I never see the spam, except when I need to check for an expected reply in that folder. And I never give out my cell phone number. Maybe because I don’t live in a “swing state”, I don’t get a ton of snail mail from candidates. I sometimes do from charities. I either complain and get them to stop, or stop giving to them when that happens. I accept 3-4 times a year as normal, though. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gozu/32/6615_2.png) [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-for-me-to-donate-anonymously-to-a-superpac/1005792/10 "2024-08-16T15:44:51Z")
I am only worried about expensive physical mail. Emails and texts don’t waste my donation because they are so cheap to send. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-for-me-to-donate-anonymously-to-a-superpac/1005792/11 "2024-08-16T15:56:35Z")
In 2008, my gf felt it was very important to get Obama into the White House, so she made a very large (IMO) donation to his campaign. It worked, he won. There was no way around having her name/address collected. It was nice that xmas getting a card from the first family, but she is still inundated with requests. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-for-me-to-donate-anonymously-to-a-superpac/1005792/12 "2024-08-16T16:50:12Z")
I don’t know how it works with political organizations, but when I give to charities (by check always) I include a note that it you solicit me again this year, you will _permanently_ removed from the list of charities I donate to. It mostly works. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-for-me-to-donate-anonymously-to-a-superpac/1005792/13 "2024-08-16T16:56:29Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I donate publicly, directly to candidates, but I give as my email address “[voter@puzzlegal.com](mailto:voter@puzzlegal.com)” (that’s not a real address, as far as I know, but an address of that general form.) And I’ve set things up so that email doesn’t go to my phone, and gets funneled into one folder on my laptop. So I never see the spam, except when I need to check for an expected reply in that folder. How much are you giving? Because I believe that [individual contributions to candidates are limited](https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/candidate-taking-receipts/contribution-limits/) to $3,300 so they need to know exactly who you are. That page does say that you can give up to fifty bucks anonymously. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gozu/32/6615_2.png) [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-for-me-to-donate-anonymously-to-a-superpac/1005792/14 "2024-08-16T17:10:47Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > [individual contributions to candidates are limited](https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/candidate-taking-receipts/contribution-limits/) to $3,300 so they need to know exactly who you are. That page does say that you can give up to fifty bucks anonymously. Oh, now that is very interesting! Thanks!!! So that means that if I mail $50 in cash to a campaign, they can use it legally? This leads me to the question: What if a month from now I send another $50 in cash? I am still well under the $3300 limit. The campaign doesn’t know who the cash is coming from so it follows that they can also legally accept the second $50. If so, I could legally send 10 letters with $50 bills in each without putting my address or name on the envelope. If that is correct, then this is a great solution for me! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-for-me-to-donate-anonymously-to-a-superpac/1005792/15 "2024-08-16T17:13:34Z")
I am not a lawyer but I believe it would be illegal for you to send them more than fifty bucks so if it’s eventually determined you attempted to avoid disclosure, you might be prosecuted. I would recommend instead sending fifty dollar contributions to many _different_ candidates. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-for-me-to-donate-anonymously-to-a-superpac/1005792/16 "2024-08-16T17:14:58Z")
I give less than the legal maximum. And i give true information about myself: i give a politics-only email address and a landline. I’m pretty sure I’m in compliance with applicable laws, if that’s what you are asking. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-for-me-to-donate-anonymously-to-a-superpac/1005792/17 "2024-08-16T17:16:00Z")
Thanks for that. Does this approach avoid physical mail from candidates and organizations? ---
**Author:** ![Gozu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gozu/32/6615_2.png) [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-for-me-to-donate-anonymously-to-a-superpac/1005792/18 "2024-08-16T17:16:02Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I am not a lawyer but I believe it would be illegal for you to send them more than fifty bucks so if it’s eventually determined you attempted to avoid disclosure, you might be prosecuted. I would recommend instead sending fifty dollar contributions to many _different_ candidates. Illegal eh? Well then the law sounds bad. I don’t see who is harmed here. If I send more than $3300 then sure, I have broken the law but less? ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-for-me-to-donate-anonymously-to-a-superpac/1005792/19 "2024-08-16T17:16:56Z")
> [@Gozu](#): > > So that means that if I mail $50 in cash to a campaign, they can use it legally? A risk with sending cash is that there’s a good chance it will actually end up being a donation to the pocket of whoever opens the letter. Are you legally required to supply a phone number or email with a contribution? I would assume not, since not everyone has those. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gozu/32/6615_2.png) [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-for-me-to-donate-anonymously-to-a-superpac/1005792/20 "2024-08-16T17:17:41Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I give less than the legal maximum. And i give true information about myself: i give a politics-only email address and a landline. I’m pretty sure I’m in compliance with applicable laws, if that’s what you are asking. Thanks for the clarification! If I don’t currently have a landline, can I give a cellphone # instead? > [@filmore](#): > > A risk with sending cash is that there’s a good chance it will actually end up being a donation to the pocket of whoever opens the letter. > > Are you legally required to supply a phone number or email with a contribution? I would assume not, since not everyone has those. I did think about that. I choose to have faith in people. I can’t live my life in “defensive driving” mode, we all trust someone sometime, our dentist, the person doing surgery on us, our coworkers, the police, etc. One more person to trust isn’t going to make a dent. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-for-me-to-donate-anonymously-to-a-superpac/1005792.md?page=2)