PART 102—REGISTRATION, ORGANIZATION, AND RECORDKEEPING BY POLITICAL COMMITTEES (52 U.S.C. 30103) Authority: 52 U.S.C. 30102, 30103, 30104(a)(11), 30111(a)(8), and 30120. Source: 45 FR 15104, Mar. 7, 1980, unless otherwise noted. § 102.1 Registration of political committees (52 U.S.C. 30103(a)). (a) Principal campaign committees. (b) Authorized committees. (c) Separate segregated funds. (d) Other political committees. [45 FR 15104, Mar. 7, 1980, as amended at 79 FR 77845, Dec. 29, 2014; 84 FR 18699, May 2, 2019] § 102.2 Statement of organization: Forms and committee identification number (52 U.S.C. 30102(g), 30103(b), (c)). (a) Forms. (i) The name, address, and type of committee; (ii) The name, address, relationship, and type of any connected organization or affiliated committee in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section; (iii) The name, address, and committee position of the custodian of books and accounts of the committee; (iv) The name and address of the treasurer of the committee; (v) If the committee is authorized by a candidate, the name, office sought (including State and Congressional district, when applicable) and party affiliation of the candidate; and the address to which communications should be sent; (vi) A listing of all banks, safe deposit boxes, or other depositories used by the committee; (vii) The internet address of the committee's official website, if such a website exists. If the committee is required to file electronically under 11 CFR 104.18, its electronic mail address, if such an address exists; and (viii) If the committee is a principal campaign committee of a candidate for the Senate or the House of Representatives, the principal campaign committee's electronic mail address. (2) Any change or correction in the information previously filed in the Statement of Organization shall be reported no later than 10 days following the date of the change or correction by filing an amended Statement of Organization or, if the political committee is not required to file electronically under 11 CFR 104.18, by filing a letter noting the change(s). The amendment need list only the name of the political committee and the change or correction. (3) A committee shall certify to the Commission that it has satisfied the criteria for becoming a multicandidate committee set forth at 11 CFR 100.5(e)(3) by filing FEC Form 1M no later than ten (10) calendar days after qualifying for multicandidate committee status. (b) For purposes of 11 CFR 102.2(a)(1)(ii), political committees shall disclose the names of any connected organization(s) or affiliated committee(s) in accordance with 11 CFR 102.2(b) (1) and (2). (1) Affiliated committee (i) A principal campaign committee is required to disclose the names and addresses of all other authorized committees that have been authorized by its candidate. Authorized committees need only disclose the name of their principal campaign committee. (ii)(A) Political committees established by a single parent corporation, a single national or international union, a single organization or federation of national or international unions, a single national membership organization or trade association, or any other similar group of persons (other than political party organizations) are required to disclose the names and addresses of all political committees established by any subsidiary, or by any State, local, or other subordinate unit of a national or international union or federation thereof, or by any subordinate units of a national membership organization, trade association, or other group of persons (other than political party organizations). (B) Political committees established by subsidiaries, or by State, local, or other subordinate units are only required to disclose the name and address of each political committee established by their parent or superior body, e.g., parent corporation, national or international union or organization or federation of such unions, or national organization or trade association. (2) Connected organization (c) Committee identification number. [45 FR 15104, Mar. 7, 1980, as amended at 50 FR 50778, Dec. 12, 1985; 54 FR 34109, Aug. 17, 1989; 54 FR 48580, Nov. 24, 1989; 58 FR 42173, Aug. 6, 1993; 65 FR 38422, June 21, 2000; 68 FR 3995, Jan. 27, 2003; 68 FR 64516, Nov. 14, 2003; 68 FR 67018, Dec. 1, 2003; 73 FR 79601, Dec. 30, 2008; 82 FR 60853, Dec. 26, 2017; 84 FR 18699, May 2, 2019; 84 FR 35007, July 22, 2019] § 102.3 Termination of registration (52 U.S.C. 30103(d)(1)). (a)(1) A political committee (other than a principal campaign committee) may terminate only upon filing a termination report on the appropriate FEC Form or upon filing a written statement containing the same information with the Commission. Except as provided in 11 CFR 102.4(c), only a committee which will no longer receive any contributions or make any disbursements that would otherwise qualify it as a political committee may terminate, provided that such committee has no outstanding debts and obligations. In addition to the Notice, the committee shall also provide a final report of receipts and disbursements, which report shall include a statement as to the purpose for which such residual funds will be used, including a statement as to whether such residual funds will be used to defray expenses incurred in connection with an individual's duties as a holder of federal office. (2) An authorized committee of a qualified Member, as defined at 11 CFR 113.1(f), shall comply with the requirements of 11 CFR 113.2 before any excess funds are converted to such Member's personal use. All other authorized committees shall include in their termination reports a statement signed by the treasurer, stating that no noncash committee assets will be converted to personal use. (b) Except as provided at 11 CFR 102.4, a principal campaign committee may not terminate until it has met the requirements of 11 CFR 102.3(a) and until all debts of any other authorized committee(s) of the candidate have been extinguished. [45 FR 15104, Mar. 7, 1980, as amended at 45 FR 21209, Apr. 1, 1980; 56 FR 34126, July 25, 1991; 84 FR 18699, May 2, 2019] § 102.4 Administrative termination (52 U.S.C. 30103(d)(2)). (a) The Commission, on its own initiative or upon the request of the political committee itself, may administratively terminate a political committee's reporting obligation on the basis of the following factors: (1) The committee's aggregate reported financial activity in one year is less than $5000; (2) The committee's reports disclose no receipt of contributions for the previous year; (3) The committee's last report disclosed minimal expenditures; (4) The committee's primary purpose for filing its reports has been to disclose outstanding debts and obligations; (5) The committee has failed to file reports for the previous year; (6) The committee's last report disclosed that the committee's outstanding debts and obligations do not appear to present a possible violation of the prohibitions and limitations of 11 CFR parts 110 and 114; (7) The committee's last report disclosed that the Committee does not have substantial outstanding accounts receivable; (8) The committee's outstanding debts and obligations exceed the total of the committee's reported cash on hand balance. (b) The Commission shall send a notification to the committee treasurer of its intent to administratively terminate that committee and may request the treasurer to submit information with regard to the factors set forth at 11 CFR 102.4(a). The treasurer shall respond, in writing, within 30 days of receipt of the Commission's notice or request and if the committee objects to such termination, the committee's response shall so state. (c) The Commission shall administratively terminate a committee if such committee fails to object to the Commission's action under 11 CFR 102.4(b) and the Commission determines that either: (1) The committee has complied with the debt settlement procedures set forth at 11 CFR part 116. (2) The Commission has approved the forgiveness of any loan(s) owed the committee which would have otherwise been considered a contribution under the Act in violation of 11 CFR part 110; (3) It does not appear from evidence available that a contribution in violation of 11 CFR parts 110 and 114 will result. [45 FR 15104, Mar. 7, 1980, as amended at 60 FR 64273, Dec. 14, 1995] § 102.5 Organizations financing political activity in connection with Federal and non-Federal elections, other than through transfers and joint fundraisers: Accounts and accounting. (a) Organizations that are political committees under the Act, other than national party committees. (i) Establish a separate Federal account in a depository in accordance with 11 CFR part 103. Such account shall be treated as a separate Federal political committee that must comply with the requirements of the Act including the registration and reporting requirements of 11 CFR parts 102 and 104. Only funds subject to the prohibitions and limitations of the Act shall be deposited in such separate Federal account. See (ii) Establish a political committee that shall receive only contributions subject to the prohibitions and limitations of the Act, regardless of whether such contributions are for use in connection with Federal or non-Federal elections. Such organization shall register as a political committee and comply with the requirements of the Act. (2) Only contributions meeting any of the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a)(2)(i), (ii), or (iii) of this section may be deposited in a Federal account established under paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section, see 11 CFR 103.3, or may be received by a political committee established under paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section: (i) Contributions designated for the Federal account; (ii) Contributions that result from a solicitation which expressly states that the contribution will be used in connection with a Federal election; or (iii) Contributions from contributors who are informed that all contributions are subject to the prohibitions and limitations of the Act. (3) State, district, and local party committees that intend to expend Levin funds raised pursuant to 11 CFR 300.31 for activities identified in 11 CFR 300.32(b)(1) must either: (i) Establish one or more separate Levin accounts pursuant to 11 CFR 300.30(c)(2); or (ii) Demonstrate through a reasonable accounting method approved by the Commission (including any method embedded in software provided or approved by the Commission) that whenever such organization makes a payment that organization has received sufficient funds subject to the limitations and prohibitions of the Act or the requirements of 11 CFR 300.30(c)(1) or (3) to make such payment. Such organization shall keep records of amounts received or expended under this paragraph and, upon request, shall make such records available for examination by the Commission. (4) Solicitations by Federal candidates and Federal officeholders for State, district, and local party committees are subject to the restrictions in 11 CFR 300.31(e) and 11 CFR part 300, subpart D. (5) State, district, and local party committees and organizations may establish one or more separate allocation accounts to be used for activities allocable pursuant to 11 CFR 106.7 and 11 CFR 300.33. (b) Organizations that are not political committees under the Act. (2) Any State, district, or local party organization that makes payments for certain Federal election activities under 11 CFR 300.32(b) must either: (i) Establish one or more Levin accounts pursuant to 11 CFR 300.30(b) into which only funds solicited pursuant to 11 CFR 300.31 may be deposited and from which payments must be made pursuant to 11 CFR 300.32 and 300.33. See 11 CFR 300.30(c)(2)(i); or (ii) Demonstrate through a reasonable accounting method approved by the Commission (including any method embedded in software provided or approved by the Commission) that whenever such organization makes a payment that organization has received sufficient funds subject to the limitations and prohibitions of the Act or the requirements of 11 CFR 300.31 to make such payment. Such organization shall keep records of amounts received or expended under this paragraph and, upon request, shall make such records available for examination by the Commission. See 11 CFR 300.30(c)(2)(ii). (3) All such party organizations shall keep records of deposits to and disbursements from such Federal and Levin accounts, and upon request, shall make such records available for examination by the Commission. (c) National party committees. [67 FR 49111, July 29, 2002, as amended at 67 FR 78680, Dec. 26, 2002; 69 FR 68067, Nov. 23, 2004] § 102.6 Transfers of funds; collecting agents. (a) Transfers of funds; registration and reporting required Who may make transfers under this section. (ii) Subject to the restrictions set forth at 11 CFR 300.10(a), 300.31 and 300.34(a) and (b), transfers of funds may be made without limit on amount between or among a national party committee, a State party committee and/or any subordinate party committee whether or not they are political committees under 11 CFR 100.5 and whether or not such committees are affiliated. (iii) Transfers of joint fundraising proceeds may be made without limit on amount between organizations or committees participating in the joint fundraising activity provided that no participating committee or organization governed by 11 CFR 102.17 received more than its allocated share of the funds raised. (iv) Transfers under paragraphs (a)(1) (i) through (iii) shall be made only from funds which are permissible under the Act. See 11 CFR parts 110, 114 and 115. (2) When registration and reporting required. (b) Fundraising by collecting agents; No reporting required Definition of collecting agent. (i) A committee, whether or not it is a political committee as defined in 11 CFR 100.5, affiliated with the separate segregated fund under 11 CFR 110.3; or (ii) The connected organization of the separate segregated fund as defined in 11 CFR 100.6; or (iii) A parent, subsidiary, branch, division, department, or local unit of the connected organization of the separate segregated fund; or (iv) A local, national or international union collecting contributions on behalf of the separate segregated fund of any federation with which the local, national or international union is affiliated. See (2) Collecting agent not required to report. (3) Who is not a collecting agent Commercial fundraising firm. (ii) Individuals. (4) Separate segregated fund may collect contributions. (c) Procedures for collecting agents Separate segregated fund responsible for acts of collecting agent. (2) Solicitation for contributions. (i) The collecting agent may pay any or all of the costs incurred in soliciting and transmitting contributions to the separate segregated fund. (ii) If the separate segregated fund pays any solicitation or other administrative expense from its own account, which expense could be paid for as an administrative expense by the collecting agent, the collecting agent may reimburse the separate segregated fund no later than 30 calendar days after the expense was paid by the separate segregated fund. (3) Combining contributions with other payments. (4) Transmittal of contributions. (i) Checks made payable to the separate segregated fund shall be transmitted by the collecting agent directly to the separate segregated fund in accordance with 11 CFR 102.8. (ii) To transfer all other contributions, a collecting agent shall either: (A) Establish a transmittal account to be used solely for the deposit and transmittal of funds collected on behalf of the separate segregated fund. Funds deposited into this account are subject to the prohibitions and limitations of the Act. If any expenditure is made from the account, other than a transfer of funds to an affiliated committee, the account shall be considered a depository of the recipient committee and all activity of that account shall be reported; or (B) Deposit the contributions collected into the collecting agent's treasury account. The collecting agent shall keep separate records of all receipts and deposits that represent contributions to the separate segregated fund and, in the case of cash contributions, the collecting agent shall make separate deposits of such funds; or (C) Deposit the contributions collected into an account otherwise established solely for State or local election activity. The collecting agent shall keep separate records of all receipts and deposits that represent contributions to the separate segregated fund; or (D) In the case of cash contributions, transmit the contributions to the separate segregated fund in the form of money orders or cashier's checks. (5) Contributor information. (6) Retention of records. (7) Reporting of funds received through collecting agents. [48 FR 26300, June 7, 1983, as amended at 68 FR 451, Jan. 3, 2003; 69 FR 63920, Nov. 3, 2004; 89 FR 215, Jan. 2, 2024] § 102.7 Organization of political committees (52 U.S.C. 30102(a)). (a) Every political committee shall have a treasurer and may designate, on the committee's Statement of Organization, an assistant treasurer who shall assume the duties and responsibilities of the treasurer in the event of a temporary or permanent vacancy in the office or in the event the treasurer is unavailable. (b) Except as provided in subsection (a), no contribution or expenditure shall be accepted or made by or on behalf of a political committee at a time when there is a vacancy in the office of the treasurer. (c) No expenditure shall be made for or on behalf of a political committee without the authorization of its treasurer or of an agent authorized orally or in writing by the treasurer. (d) Any candidate who receives a contribution, as defined at 11 CFR part 100, subparts B and D, obtains any loan or makes any disbursement in connection with his or her campaign, shall be considered as having received the contribution, obtained the loan or made the disbursement as an agent of such authorized committee(s). [45 FR 15104, Mar. 7, 1980, as amended at 67 FR 78680, Dec. 26, 2002] § 102.8 Receipt of contributions (52 U.S.C. 30102(b)). (a) Every person who receives a contribution for an authorized political committee shall, no later than 10 days after receipt, forward such contribution to the treasurer. If the amount of the contribution is in excess of $50, such person shall also forward to the treasurer the name and address of the contributor and the date of receipt of the contribution. If the amount of the contribution is in excess of $200, such person shall forward the contribution, the identification of the contributor in accordance with 11 CFR 100.12, and the date of receipt of the contribution. Date of receipt shall be the date such person obtains possession of the contribution or, for a contribution made in an electronic transaction in which the receipt of authorization precedes the receipt of funds, obtains the contributor's authorization of the transaction. (b)(1) Every person who receives a contribution of $50 or less for a political committee which is not an authorized committee shall forward such contribution to the treasurer of the political committee no later than 30 days after receipt. (2) Every person who receives a contribution in excess of $50 for a political committee which is not an authorized committee shall, no later than 10 days after receipt of the contribution, forward to the treasurer of the political committee: The contribution; the name and address of the contributor; and the date of receipt of the contribution. If the amount of the contribution is in excess of $200, such person shall forward the contribution, the identification of the contributor in accordance with 11 CFR 100.12, and the date of receipt of the contribution. Date of receipt shall be the date such person obtains possession of the contribution or, for a contribution made in an electronic transaction in which the receipt of authorization precedes the receipt of funds, obtains the contributor's authorization of the transaction. (c) The provisions of 11 CFR 102.8 concerning receipt of contributions for political committees shall also apply to earmarked contributions transmitted by an intermediary or conduit. (d) Every person whose usual and normal business involves the processing and transmission of payments and who processes a contribution to a political committee in the ordinary course of its business will satisfy the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section if such person transmits funds and contributor information to the recipient political committee within the time periods prescribed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section for forwarding contributions. [45 FR 15104, Mar. 7, 1980, as amended at 89 FR 215, Jan. 2, 2024] § 102.9 Accounting for contributions and expenditures (52 U.S.C. 30102(c)). The treasurer of a political committee or an agent authorized by the treasurer to receive contributions and make expenditures shall fulfill all recordkeeping duties as set forth at 11 CFR 102.9(a) through (f): (a) An account shall be kept by any reasonable accounting procedure of all contributions received by or on behalf of the political committee. (1) For contributions in excess of $50, such account shall include the name and address of the contributor and the date of receipt and amount of such contribution. (2) For contributions from any person whose contributions aggregate more than $200 during a calendar year, such account shall include the identification of the person, and the date of receipt and amount of such contribution. (3) For contributions from a political committee, such account shall include the identification of the political committee and the date of receipt and amount of such contribution. (4) In addition to the account to be kept under paragraph (a)(1) of this section, for contributions in excess of $50, the treasurer of a political committee or an agent authorized by the treasurer shall maintain a record of each contribution received. A record of a contribution by check or written instrument must contain an image of that instrument. A record of the receipt of a contribution must include sufficient information to associate that contribution with its deposit in the political committee's campaign depository, such as, for example, a batch number. (b)(1) An account shall be kept of all disbursements made by or on behalf of the political committee. Such account shall consist of a record of: (i) The name and address of every person to whom any disbursement is made; (ii) The date, amount, and purpose of the disbursement; and (iii) If the disbursement is made for a candidate, the name and office (including State and congressional district, if any) sought by that candidate. (iv) For purposes of 11 CFR 102.9(b)(1), purpose (2) In addition to the account to be kept under 11 CFR 102.9(b)(1), a receipt or invoice from the payee or a canceled check or record of electronic transfer to the payee shall be obtained and kept for each disbursement in excess of $200 by or on behalf of, the committee, except that credit card transactions, shall be documented in accordance with 11 CFR 102.9(b)(2)(ii) and disbursements by share draft or check drawn on a credit union account shall be documented in accordance with 11 CFR 102.9(b)(2)(iii). (i)(A) For purposes of 11 CFR 102.9(b)(2), payee (B) For any advance of $500 or less to an individual for travel and subsistence, the expense voucher or other expense account record and a canceled check or record of electronic transfer to the recipient of the advance shall be obtained and kept. (ii) For any credit card transaction, a record shall include a monthly billing statement or customer receipt for each transaction and the canceled check or record of electronic transfer used to pay the credit card account. (c) The treasurer shall preserve all records and accounts required to be kept under 11 CFR 102.9 for 3 years after the report to which such records and accounts relate is filed. (d) In performing recordkeeping duties, the treasurer or his or her authorized agent shall use his or her best efforts to obtain, maintain and submit the required information and shall keep a complete record of such efforts. If there is a showing that best efforts have been made, any records of a committee shall be deemed to be in compliance with this Act. With regard to the requirements of 11 CFR 102.9(b)(2) concerning receipts, invoices and cancelled checks, the treasurer will not be deemed to have exercised best efforts to obtain, maintain and submit the records unless he or she has made at least one written effort per transaction to obtain a duplicate copy of the invoice, receipt, or cancelled check. (e)(1) If the candidate, or his or her authorized committee(s), receives contributions that are designated for use in connection with the general election pursuant to 11 CFR 110.1(b) prior to the date of the primary election, such candidate or such committee(s) shall use an acceptable accounting method to distinguish between contributions received for the primary election and contributions received for the general election. Acceptable accounting methods include, but are not limited to: (i) The designation of separate accounts for each election, caucus or convention; or (ii) The establishment of separate books and records for each election. (2) Regardless of the method used under paragraph (e)(1) of this section, an authorized committee's records must demonstrate that, prior to the primary election, recorded cash on hand was at all times equal to or in excess of the sum of general election contributions received less the sum of general election disbursements made. (3) If a candidate is not a candidate in the general election, any contributions made for the general election shall be refunded to the contributors, redesignated in accordance with 11 CFR 110.1(b)(5) or 110.2(b)(5), or reattributed in accordance with 11 CFR 110.1(k)(3), as appropriate. (f) The treasurer shall maintain the records required by 11 CFR 110.1(l), concerning designations, redesignations, reattributions, and the dates of contributions. If the treasurer does not maintain these records, 11 CFR 110.1(l)(5) shall apply. [45 FR 15104, Mar. 7, 1980, as amended at 52 FR 773, Jan. 9, 1987; 67 FR 69946, Nov. 19, 2002;79 FR 16663, Mar. 26, 2014; 89 FR 215, Jan. 2, 2024] § 102.10 Disbursement by check (52 U.S.C. 30102 (h)(1)). All disbursements by a political committee, except for disbursements from the petty cash fund under 11 CFR 102.11, shall be made by check or similar draft, including electronic transfer, from account(s) established at the committee's campaign depository or depositories under 11 CFR part 103. [45 FR 15104, Mar. 7, 1980, as amended at 89 FR 215, Jan. 2, 2024] § 102.11 Petty cash fund (52 U.S.C. 30102(h)(2)). A political committee may maintain a petty cash fund out of which it may make expenditures not in excess of $100 to any person per purchase or transaction. If a petty cash fund is maintained, it shall be the duty of the treasurer of the political committee to keep and maintain a written record of all disbursements. This written record shall include the name and address of every person to whom any disbursement is made, as well as the date, amount, and purpose of such disbursement. In addition, if any disbursement is made for a candidate, the record shall include the name of that candidate and the office (including State and Congressional district) sought by such candidate. [45 FR 15104, Mar. 7, 1980, as amended at 89 FR 215, Jan. 2, 2024] § 102.12 Designation of principal campaign committee (52 U.S.C. 30102(e)(1) and (3)). (a) Each candidate for Federal office (other than a nominee of a political party to the Office of Vice President) shall designate in writing a political committee to serve as his or her principal campaign committee in accordance with 11 CFR 101.1(a) no later than 15 days after becoming a candidate. Each principal campaign committee shall register, designate a depository and report in accordance with 11 CFR parts 102, 103 and 104. (b) No political committee may be designated as the principal campaign committee of more than one candidate. (c)(1) No political committee which supports or has supported more than one candidate may be designated as a principal campaign committee, except that, after nomination, a candidate for the office of President of the United States nominated by a political party may designate the national committee of such political party as his or her principal campaign committee. A national committee which is so designated shall maintain separate books of account with respect to its function as a principal campaign committee. (2) For purposes of 11 CFR 102.12(c), the term support [45 FR 15104, Mar. 7, 1980, as amended at 71 FR 54899, Sept. 20, 2006] § 102.13 Authorization of political committees (52 U.S.C. 30102(e)(1) and (3)). (a)(1) Any political committee authorized by a candidate to receive contributions or make expenditures shall be authorized in writing by the candidate. Such authorization must be filed with the principal campaign committee in accordance with 11 CFR 102.1(b). (2) If an individual fails to disavow activity pursuant to 11 CFR 100.3(a)(3) and is therefore a candidate upon notice by the Commission, he or she shall authorize the committee in writing. (b) A candidate is not required to authorize a national, State or subordinate State party committee which solicits funds to be expended on the candidate's behalf pursuant to 11 CFR part 109, subpart D. (c)(1) No political committee which supports or has supported more than one candidate may be designated as an authorized committee, except that two or more candidates may designate a political committee established solely for the purpose of joint fundraising by such candidates as an authorized committee. (2) For purposes of 11 CFR 102.13(c), the term support [45 FR 15104, Mar. 7, 1980, as amended at 67 FR 78680, Dec. 26, 2002; 71 FR 54899, Sept. 20, 2006] § 102.14 Names of political committees (52 U.S.C. 30102(e)(4) and (5)). (a) The name of each authorized committee shall include the name of the candidate who authorized such committee. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no unauthorized committee shall include the name of any candidate in its name. For purposes of this paragraph, “name” includes any name under which a committee conducts activities, such as solicitations or other communications, including a special project name or other designation. (b)(1) A delegate committee, as defined at 11 CFR 100.5(e)(5), shall include the word delegate(s) (2) A political committee established solely to draft an individual or to encourage him or her to become a candidate may include the name of such individual in the name of the committee provided the committee's name clearly indicates that it is a draft committee. (3) An unauthorized political committee may include the name of a candidate in the title of a special project name or other communication if the title clearly and unambiguously shows opposition to the named candidate. (c) The name of a separate segregated fund established pursuant to 11 CFR 102.1(c) shall include the full name of its connected organization. Such fund may also use a clearly recognized abbreviation or acronym by which the connected organization is commonly known. Both the full name and such abbreviation or acronym shall be included on the fund's Statement of Organization, on all reports filed by the fund, and in all notices required by 11 CFR 109.11 and 110.11. The fund may make contributions using its acronym or abbreviated name. A fund established by a corporation which has a number of subsidiaries need not include the name of each subsidiary in its name. Similarly, a separate segregated fund established by a subsidiary need not include in its name the name of its parent or another subsidiary of its parent. [45 FR 15104, Mar. 7, 1980, as amended at 45 FR 21209, Apr. 1, 1980; 57 FR 31426, July 15, 1992; 59 FR 17269, Apr. 12, 1994; 59 FR 35785, July 13, 1994; 67 FR 78680, Dec. 26, 2002] § 102.15 Commingled funds (52 U.S.C. 30102(b)(3)). All funds of a political committee shall be segregated from, and may not be commingled with, any personal funds of officers, members or associates of that committee, or with the personal funds of any other individual. See also 11 CFR 103.3 and part 114 and 52 U.S.C. 30118. [45 FR 15104, Mar. 7, 1980, as amended at 79 FR 77846, Dec. 29, 2014] § 102.16 Notice: Solicitation of contributions (52 U.S.C. 30120). Each political committee shall comply with the notice requirements for solicitation of contributions set forth at 11 CFR 110.11. § 102.17 Joint fundraising by committees other than separate segregated funds. (a) General. (1)(i) Political committees may engage in joint fundraising with other political committees or with unregistered committees or organizations. The participants in a joint fundraising effort under this section shall either establish a separate committee or select a participating committee, to act as fundraising representative for all participants. The fundraising representative shall be a reporting political committee and an authorized committee of each candidate for federal office participating in the joint fundraising activity. If the participants establish a separate committee to act as the fundraising representative, the separate committee shall not be a participant in any other joint fundraising effort, but the separate committee may conduct more than one joint fundraising effort for the participants. (ii) The participants may hire a commercial fundraising firm or other agent to assist in conducting the joint fundraising activity. In that case, however, the fundraising representative shall still be responsible for ensuring that the recordkeeping and reporting requirements set forth in this section are met. (2) The procedures in 11 CFR 102.17(c) will govern all joint fundraising activity conducted under this section. The participants in joint fundraising activity may include political party committees (whether or not they are political committees under 11 CFR 100.5), candidate committees, multicandidate committees, and unregistered organizations which do not qualify as collecting agents under 11 CFR 102.6(b). (3) A fundraising representative conducting joint fundraising under this section is distinguished from an unregistered organization acting as a collecting agent under 11 CFR 102.6(b). If a separate segregated fund or an unregistered organization qualifies and acts as a collecting agent under 11 CFR 102.6(b), the provisions of 11 CFR 102.17 will not apply to that fundraising activity. (b) Fundraising representatives Separate fundraising committee as fundraising representative. (2) Participating committee as fundraising representative. (3) Funds advanced for fundraising costs. (ii) A participant may advance more than its proportionate share of the fundraising costs, however, the amount advanced which is in excess of the participant's proportionate share shall not exceed the amount that participant could legally contribute to the remaining participants. See (iii) If all the participants are affiliated under 11 CFR 110.3 or if the participants are all party committees of the same political party, there is no limit on the amount a participant may advance for fundraising costs on behalf of the other participants. (c) Joint fundraising procedures. (1) Written agreement. (2) Fundraising notice. (i) This notice shall include the following information: (A) The names of all committees participating in the joint fundraising activity whether or not such committees are political committees under 11 CFR 100.5; and (B) The allocation formula to be used for distributing joint fundraising proceeds; and (C) A statement informing contributors that, notwithstanding the stated allocation formula, they may designate their contributions for a particular participant or participants; and (D) A statement informing contributors that the allocation formula may change if a contributor makes a contribution which would exceed the amount that contributor may give to any participant. (ii) In the following situations, the notice shall include the following additional information: (A) If one or more participants engage in the joint fundraising activity solely to satisfy outstanding debts, a statement informing contributors that the allocation formula may change if a participant receives sufficient funds to pay its outstanding debts; and (B) If one or more participants can lawfully accept contributions that are prohibited under the Act, a statement informing contributors that contributions from prohibited sources will be distributed only to those participants that can accept them. (3) Separate depository account. (ii) The fundraising representative shall deposit all joint fundraising proceeds in the separate depository account within ten days of receipt as required by 11 CFR 103.3. The fundraising representative may delay distribution of the fundraising proceeds to the participants until all contributions are received and all expenses are paid. (iii) For contribution reporting and limitation purposes, the date of receipt of a contribution by a participating political committee is the date that the contribution is received by the fundraising representative. The fundraising representative shall report contributions in the reporting period in which they are received. Participating political committees shall report joint fundraising proceeds in accordance with 11 CFR 102.17(c)(8) when such funds are received from the fundraising representative. (4) Recordkeeping requirements. (ii) The fundraising representative shall collect and retain contributor information with regard to gross proceeds as required under 11 CFR 102.8 and shall also forward such information to participating political committees. The fundraising representative shall also keep a record of the total amount of contributions received from prohibited sources, if any, and of all transfers of prohibited contributions to participants that can accept them. (iii) The fundraising representative shall retain the records required under 11 CFR 102.9 regarding fundraising disbursements for a period of three years. Commercial fundraising firms or agents shall forward such information to the fundraising representative. (5) Contribution limitations. (6) Allocation of gross proceeds. (ii) Designated contributions which exceed the contributor's limit to the designated participant under 11 CFR part 110 may not be reallocated by the fundraising representative absent the prior written permission of the contributor. (iii) If any participants can lawfully accept contributions from sources prohibited under the Act, any such contributions that are received are not required to be distributed according to the allocation formula. (7) Allocation of expenses and distribution of net proceeds. (A) After gross contributions are allocated among the participants under 11 CFR 102.17(c)(6), the fundraising representative shall calculate each participant's share of expenses based on the percentage of the total receipts each participant had been allocated. If contributions from sources prohibited under the Act have been received and distributed under 11 CFR 102.17(c)(6)(iii), those contributions need not be included in the total receipts for the purpose of allocating expenses under this section. To calculate each participant's net proceeds, the fundraising representative shall subtract the participant's share of expenses from the amount that participant has been allocated from gross proceeds. (B) A participant may only pay expenses on behalf of another participant subject to the contribution limits of 11 CFR part 110. (C) The expenses from a series of fundraising events or activities shall be allocated among the participants on a per-event basis regardless of whether the participants change or remain the same throughout the series. (ii) If participating committees are affiliated as defined in 11 CFR 110.3 prior to the joint fundraising activity or if participants are party committees of the same political party, expenses need not be allocated among those participants. Payment of such expenses by an unregistered committee or organization on behalf of an affiliated political committee may cause the unregistered organization to become a political committee. (iii) Payment of expenses may be made from gross proceeds by the fundraising representative. (8) Reporting of receipts and disbursements Reporting receipts. (B) After distribution of net proceeds, each participating political committee shall report its share of net proceeds received as a transfer-in from the fundraising representative. Each participating political committee shall also file a memo Schedule A itemizing its share of gross receipts as contributions from original contributors to the extent required under 11 CFR 104.3(a). (ii) Reporting disbursements. [48 FR 26301, June 7, 1983, as amended at 56 FR 35909, July 29, 1991; 67 FR 49112, July 29, 2002]