We bought artistsforharris.com and would like to sell merch for campaign

August 17, 2024 5:21 PM

In 2008, Artists for Obama was a curated series of prints for Obama's 2008 run. We want to do something similar for Kamala

Taking a page from Artists for Obama in 2008, my wife and I (we are both artists/designers/art&creative directors with a combined 50 years experience) bought artistsforharris.com and would like to curate and sell a small line of prints and tees to generate proceeds we can then donate to Kamala Harris' presidential campaign.
Legally, what should we be aware of in structuring how we do this? My research online is leading me to believe we'll need to act as a kind of PAC.
Anyone with relevant experience that might give some advice?

posted by Senor Cardgage to Media & Arts (5 answers total)

Setting up your own PAC is a challenge - the legal requirements are complicate and you don't want to run afoul of the law.
It will probably be easier to run donations through ActBlue. You can poke around there or contact them for help - you can likely do what you need through a "Supporter Form."
posted by cushie at 6:52 PM on August 17 [3 favorites]

Side note, you may also want to lock down artists forharriswalz.com as well.
posted by brookeb at 7:26 PM on August 17

Response by poster: "Side note, you may also want to lock down artists forharriswalz.com as well."

We did. Last week. But thanks!
posted by Senor Cardgage at 7:38 PM on August 17 [1 favorite]

There's a guy who has been making things for years - balloons, billboards, mugs

MadDogPac

I think you should contact him!
posted by memoryindustries at 8:00 PM on August 17 [1 favorite]

Nthing that running this through an existing PAC is going to be a zillion times easier than setting up your own, especially this late in the election cycle. Do that or you're likely to spend more time over the next couple of months on figuring out legal and financial paperwork than you are on actually executing your vision.

If you think you might want to continue doing this for future elections then set up a generic PAC (e.g. "Artists for [some vague positive adjective that describes the sort of politician you're likely to support]" **after** this election so you have a year to get your shit together before it's time to start fundraising for midterms.
posted by Jacqueline at 8:31 PM on August 17