Knowing the rules of the game will help you decide how best to support your candidate. 1. The sky is not (always) the limit. Individuals may donate up to $2,500 per candidate per election (the primary and general elections are counted separately), up to $30,800 to a national political party annually, and up to $10,000 to state, district and local parties combined each year. Individual donations to issues-oriented political action committees are capped at $5,000 per year. Anyone may contribute unlimited sums to nonprofit advocacy groups — often dubbed 501(c)(4)s — and to independent-expenditure-only committees, or super-PACs.
2. Make a connection. A direct donation to a candidate’s campaign often offers the most bang for your buck, says Michael Beckel, spokesman for the Center for Responsive Politics. A contribution of, say, $1,000 might yield, depending on the district, special access to current or future elected officials, Beckel says. Campaigns prefer direct donations (even if they’re small), especially early in the race.
