Real-Time Federal Campaign Finance
Top Dark Money groups by Independent Expenditures, 2013/14 Cycle
All numbers are for the entire two-year cycle, beginning Jan. 1, 2013 through 1:02 p.m., May 14, 2015.
Dark Money Totals
Dark money groups are entities—typically 501(c)(4)s, but sometimes corporations, LLC's or individuals—that haven't registered as political groups with the FEC because they do not consider politics to be their "primary purpose". As such, these groups aren't required to report their donors, but do report their independent expenditures. These groups, it should be noted, are not required to report "issue ads" they run supporting or criticizing candidates more than 60 days before a general election or 30 days before a general election if the ads are not considered "express advocacy".
Top Dark Money groups, by Independent expenditures
This is just a listing of the top 50 Dark Money groups by independent expenditures. For a more complete list that's sortable, filterable and downloadable, see here.
| Committee Name | Total outside spending | Major Activity |
|---|---|---|
| US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | $32,061,421 | supporting Republicans |
| CROSSROADS GRASSROOTS POLICY STRATEGIES | $26,015,173 | attacking Democrats |
| NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION | $11,508,212 | attacking Democrats |
| PATRIOT MAJORITY USA | $10,652,313 | attacking Republicans |
| LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS INC | $9,490,102 | supporting Democrats |
| KENTUCKY OPPORTUNITY COALITION | $8,209,238 | attacking Democrats |
| AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY | $8,124,494 | attacking Democrats |
| AMERICAN ACTION NETWORK INC | $7,028,288 | attacking Democrats |
| ENDING SPENDING INC. | $4,203,835 | attacking Democrats |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE ACTION FUND | $2,682,257 | attacking Republicans |
| AMERICAN FUTURE FUND | $2,528,491 | attacking Democrats |
| VOTEVETS.ORG ACTION FUND | $2,355,414 | supporting Democrats |
| WORKING AMERICA | $1,863,487 | supporting Democrats |
| AMERICAN CHEMISTRY COUNCIL, INC | $1,774,579 | supporting Republicans |
| YG NETWORK INC. | $1,597,689 | attacking Democrats |
| CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS INC. | $1,512,168 | supporting Republicans |
| OKLAHOMANS FOR A CONSERVATIVE FUTURE INC | $1,296,466 | supporting Republicans |
| EMERGENCY COMMITTEE FOR ISRAEL | $1,277,188 | supporting Republicans |
| HUMANE SOCIETY LEGISLATIVE FUND | $1,151,716 | supporting Democrats |
| AMERICA INC. | $954,114 | attacking Republicans |
| INDEPENDENT WOMEN'S VOICE | $940,801 | supporting Republicans |
| Planned Parenthood Action Fund Inc. | $889,728 | attacking Republicans |
| FOCUS ON THE FAMILY ACTION | $742,452 | supporting Republicans |
| COUNCIL FOR AMERICAN JOB GROWTH | $719,526 | supporting Democrats |
| CENTER FORWARD | $663,365 | attacking Republicans |
| AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION | $555,824 | attacking Democrats |
| THE 60 PLUS ASSOCIATION | $492,275 | attacking Republicans |
| CLUB FOR GROWTH | $481,776 | attacking Republicans |
| SUSAN B ANTHONY LIST INC | $469,961 | attacking Democrats |
| ALLIANCE FOR A FREE SOCIETY INC. | $450,082 | supporting Republicans |
| AFT SOLIDARITY | $445,806 | attacking Republicans |
| NARAL PROCHOICE COLORADO IE COMMITTEE | $423,465 | attacking Republicans |
| MICHIGAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | $401,367 | supporting Republicans |
| MAIN STREET ADVOCACY | $360,000 | supporting Republicans |
| PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY | $339,877 | attacking Republicans |
| EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY ACTION FUND | $334,829 | supporting Democrats |
| LEGACY FOUNDATION ACTION FUND | $327,370 | supporting Republicans |
| LATINO VICTORY PROJECT | $326,655 | attacking Republicans |
| FUELS AMERICA | $274,366 | supporting Democrats |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD ACTION FUND OF THE PACIFIC SOUTHWEST | $265,430 | supporting Democrats |
| ILLINOIS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | $238,750 | supporting Republicans |
| FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY INC. | $231,624 | supporting Republicans |
| INDIAN AMERICANS FOR FREEDOM NFPC | $226,664 | supporting Republicans |
| OCEAN CHAMPIONS | $221,579 | attacking Republicans |
| MICHIGAN FOR ALL | $198,331 | supporting Democrats |
| AMERICAN COMMITMENT | $196,204 | supporting Republicans |
| NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MARRIAGE | $176,669 | supporting Republicans |
| FREEDOM VOTE | $174,608 | supporting Republicans |
| GUN OWNERS OF AMERICA, INC. | $174,357 | supporting Republicans |
| REVITALIZE ARIZONA | $165,930 | supporting Democrats |
