What is the difference between Movement Voter Project, Movement Voter PAC, and Movement Voter Fund?

Movement Voter Project, Movement Voter PAC, and Movement Voter Fund are three legally distinct and separate organizations.

Movement Voter Project was initiated in 2015. It is a 501(c)(4) Social Welfare Organization, EIN 37-1697474. Movement Voter Project’s registration and legal filings can be found under its official corporate name, All Hands On Deck Network, a predecessor organization founded in 2012. Movement Voter Project’s 2020 IRS Form 990 can be viewed here. Movement Voter Project’s 2019 Form 990 can be viewed here.

Movement Voter PAC is a political action committee created in 2019 and registered with the Federal Election Commission (FEC ID# C00728360).

Movement Voter Fund became an independent 501(c)(3) Public Charity in the fall of 2021, when it was granted IRS approval. At this time, Movement Voter Fund processes 501(c)(3) donations and grants via a fund that has existed since 2016 at the Tides Foundation. To learn more, visit the Movement Voter Fund website.

Differences between c4, PAC, and c3

The primary differences between 501(c)(4), PAC, and 501(c)(3) organizations are summarized in the following table. Many of the groups MVP supports also have affiliates of different types with these same distinctions.

What is nonpartisan work? All c3 groups’ work (and ~60% of c4 groups’ work) must be strictly nonpartisan. This powerful work includes voter education, engagement, and turnout. It can also include issue advocacy and advocacy for or against ballot initiatives. However, it never promotes a particular political party or candidate, either directly or indirectly.

What is partisan work? Partisan work reflects the proportion of funds an entity can use to support partisan or political activity, such as explicitly endorsing candidates for office, or commenting on candidates for office. Partisan work often heats up as elections approach, and it is critical for some groups to have enough partisan political funding to compete and win.

What is FEC reporting? All Political Action Committees, including Movement Voter PAC, must report to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) the name, employer, and occupation of donors who give more than $200. This is the same FEC requirement that donors encounter when giving to House, Senate and Presidential candidates.

 

Ready to make a donation? Visit our Donation Methods page.