{"id":74392,"date":"2024-01-31T07:42:02","date_gmt":"2024-01-31T15:42:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog?p=74392"},"modified":"2026-04-17T07:51:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T14:51:51","slug":"fec-filing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/fec-filing","title":{"rendered":"Your FEC Filing Checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re raising funds as part of a political campaign in the United States, you may be required to file with the <\/span>Federal Election Commission (FEC)<\/span><\/a>. FEC filing can feel overwhelming, with several requirements in place to ensure the integrity of the federal campaign finance process.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll cover the basics of FEC filing. Plus, we’ll share ways you can make filing easier using Donorbox\u2019s FEC-compliant reporting tools and integration with ISPolitical<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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What is the Federal Election Commission?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Federal Election Commission (FEC), established in 1975, is an independent regulatory agency with a <\/span>mission<\/span><\/a> \u201cto protect the integrity of the federal campaign finance process by providing transparency and fairly enforcing and administering federal campaign finance laws.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The FEC\u2019s jurisdiction covers the financing of campaigns for the U.S. Presidency and Vice Presidency as well as the House of Representatives and the Senate. It does not have jurisdiction over laws relating to voting, voter fraud, ballot access, or election results.<\/span><\/p>\n

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FEC Filing Checklist<\/span><\/h2>\n

As part of their jurisdiction, the FEC has set forth requirements for various political organizations, committees, and campaigns to file reports and statements of their contributions received and expenditures made in a calendar year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This FEC filing checklist is a great place to start. We’ll help you determine if, when, and how you may need to file with the FEC. We do recommend that you check out the detailed information available on <\/span>FEC.gov<\/span><\/a> as well!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Do I need to file with the FEC?<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

You may need to file with the FEC if your campaign is raising or spending funds in support of a federal candidate or party, or if your committee or organization is involved in other <\/span>Federal Election Activity<\/span><\/a> (FEA).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an overview of the main types of filers:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  • Candidates and their authorized committees<\/span><\/a> – An official campaign committee designated by a candidate for President, the Senate, or the House of Representatives. An individual becomes a candidate when he or she raises or spends more than $5,000.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Political party committees<\/span><\/a> – Committees representing a political party, whether at the state, local, or national level.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Corporations and labor organizations<\/span><\/a> – Types of organizations that cannot make contributions to federal candidates but can establish and administer a separate segregated fund (SSF) to solicit and make contributions under certain conditions.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Political action committees<\/span><\/a> – Groups that fall outside of the above categories can set up a nonconnected committee, which is a type of <\/span>PAC<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Other filers<\/span><\/a> – Every person, group, or organization that makes certain communications surrounding federal political campaigns may need to file specific forms with the FEC.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Pro tip:<\/b> Are you part of a Political Action Committee? Find information about fundraising, legalities, and more regarding PACs in <\/span>this blog post<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    When do I need to file?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

    The <\/span>filing frequency<\/span><\/a> varies depending on the type of filer and the year. In 2024, filing frequencies are as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n

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    • Presidential campaign committees – Quarterly or monthly<\/span><\/li>\n
    • House and Senate campaign committees – Quarterly<\/span><\/li>\n
    • National party committees – Monthly<\/span><\/li>\n
    • State, district, and local party committees (that engage in reportable FEA) – Monthly<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Political action committees (including SSF and nonconnected PACs) – Quarterly or monthly<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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      How do I file with the FEC?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

      How you file with the FEC depends on how much your committee raises or spends (or expects to raise or spend) in a calendar year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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      Paper Filing<\/span><\/h4>\n

      All organizations or committees that do not meet the threshold for mandatory electronic filing may choose to file by <\/span>paper<\/span><\/a> or electronic submission. Note that those committees that choose to voluntarily file electronically must continue to do so for the rest of that calendar year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      Committees may choose to file by paper using first-class mail, hand delivery, or overnight mail. FEC forms filed on paper should be typed or printed legibly. They must also be original copies with original signatures.<\/span><\/p>\n

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      Electronic Filing<\/span><\/h4>\n

      Committees that receive more than $50,000 in contributions or make expenditures that exceed $50,000 in the current calendar year \u2013 or expect to do so \u2013 must file <\/span>electronically<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

      A committee is expected to exceed the $50,000 threshold if it has raised or spent more than $12,500 in the first quarter or $25,000 by halfway through the year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      Reports may be filed using electronic filing software (like <\/span>FECFile<\/span><\/a>) or by using one of a limited number of <\/span>webforms<\/span><\/a> that are available.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      Before filing electronically, you do need an FEC ID. Registration requirements change depending on the committee type (so be sure to familiarize yourself <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>) and only a committee <\/span>treasurer<\/span><\/a> or assistant treasurer may create an electronic filing password.<\/span><\/p>\n

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      What must be included when filing?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

      Information required when filing with the FEC varies depending on your type of committee. Find all registration and reporting forms \u2013 as well as specific instructions for each \u2013 on the FEC website <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      Ensuring you have all of this required information for filing with the FEC may feel daunting. Next, let\u2019s take a look at how Donorbox makes this process easier.<\/span><\/p>\n

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      Make FEC Filing Easier with Donorbox\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

      Political campaigns and committees operating in the United States have two options to streamline FEC filing while leveraging Donorbox’s intuitive suite of fundraising tools and features.<\/p>\n

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      1. Built-in Reporting Templates<\/h3>\n

      Access FEC filing-compliant reports in just a few clicks with Donorbox Reporting Templates<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      All of the information required in the Detailed Summary Page and Schedule A of FEC Form 3 is available through these two reports:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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      • FEC Donor Template<\/strong> gives a detailed breakdown about new donors.<\/li>\n
      • FEC Donation Template<\/strong> gives a breakdown of total donation count and amount for donors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Adjust the filters to get the exact data you need, then s<\/span>imply download the CSV from Donorbox, load the file directly to FECFile, and you\u2019re ready to go! The information you need will already be included and formatted properly.<\/span><\/p>\n

        Learn more about how to use these reporting templates here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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        2. Seamless Integration with ISPolitical<\/h3>\n

        Prefer to automate your filing? Use Donorbox’s native integration with ISPolitical<\/a> to sync donations and donor data directly into your ISPolitical account.<\/p>\n

        ISPolitical, a campaign accounting platform, helps U.S. political candidates, PACs, consultants, and treasurers meeting federal, state, and local compliance requirements.<\/p>\n