A campaign contribution is anything of value given, loaned, or advanced to influence a federal election. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) regulates contributions to candidates for president, the US Senate, and the US House. Contributions include money, loans, and in-kind goods or services given free or below market value.
A campaign may not take money from a corporation, labor organization, or national bank's own funds, though those groups may set up a separate political action committee (PAC) that can make contributions. Campaigns also may not take money from federal government contractors or foreign nationals, and no one may give using another person's name.
