Contribution and spending limits
Rules applicable to political committees and funds
Prohibited sources of contributions for general purpose committees and funds
General purpose committees and funds units may not accept money from the following:
- Corporations, including most non-profit corporations, and limited liability companies (LLCs)
- Foreign governments
- Foreign nationals (people who are not U.S. citizens and do not have a green card)
- Independent expenditure committees and funds, even if registered with the Board
- Ballot question committees and funds, even if registered with the Board
- Non-corporate associations that are not registered with the Board if the amount given by the donor is more than $200 in aggregate for the year.
- This prohibition does not apply if the donor provides specified financial disclosure to the recipient along with the contribution. Contact Board staff for assistance on this issue.
- Committees of local or federal office candidates are associations not registered with the Board and are subject to this same restriction.
Prohibited sources of contributions for Independent expenditure and ballot question committees and funds
Independent expenditure and ballot question committees and funds units may not accept money from the following:
- Foreign governments
- Foreign nationals (people who are not U.S. citizens and do not have a green card)
- Non-corporate associations that are not registered with the Board if the amount given by the donor is more than $200 in aggregate for the year.
- This prohibition does not apply if the donor provides specified financial disclosure to the recipient along with the contribution. Contact Board staff for assistance on this issue.
- Committees of local or federal office candidates are associations not registered with the Board and are subject to this same restriction.
Permissible sources of contributions - All political committees and funds
All political committees and funds units may accept unlimited contributions from the following:
- Individuals who are not foreign nationals
- General purpose committees and funds registered with the Board (does not include independent expenditure or ballot question committees and funds)
- Party units registered with the Board
Additional permissible sources of contributions - independent expenditure and ballot question political committees and funds only
In addition to the sources listed in the above section, independent expenditure and ballot question committees and funds may accept unlimited contributions from the following:
- Corporations, including nonprofit corporations and limited liability companies
- Other independent expenditure committees and funds and ballot question committees and funds
- Other associations not registered with the Board and not listed in the prohibited donors section above
Minnesota statutes specify rules for disclosure that must be provided when a corporation or an association not registered with the Board makes a contribution of more than $200. Consult the appropriate handbook or contact Board staff if you have questions about this requirement.
There is no spending limit for political committees and funds
General purpose political committees and funds may make unlimited contributions to the following:
- Other political committees and funds registered with the Board (but not candidate committees)
- Party units registered with the Board
General purpose political committees and funds may make the following contributions subject to additional restrictions:
- To candidates for state office, subject to the limit imposed on the recipient. Because the donor will not know if the recipient has received contributions from other donors included in the committee and fund aggregate limit, the donor should contact the intended recipient to determine whether the proposed contribution may be made without causing a violation for the recipient.
- To local or federal candidates or their committees, subject to applicable local and federal laws and rules. Any such laws and rules are outside the Board's jurisdiction and the Board cannot advise on them.
- To other associations not registered with the Board subject to the condition that the contribution must be for the purpose of influencing the vote in a Minnesota election. Contributions to associations not registered with the Board may be subject to laws or rules that are not under the Board's jurisdiction.