Foreign Nationals - Legal Contribute to Share the Message of Liberty

[ashevillejerry]

Why a New Thread

Discussion of this issue has been riddled with misinformation. Valid information is buried in with unhelpful and confusing posts.


What Foreign Nationals Cannot Do

Direct or indirect influence by foreigners in US elections is illegal. Contributions to ChipIns, PAC's, 527's, or other funds where the money will be used to influence elections are not allowed, nor is contributing through somebody else.


Can We Cheat on These Laws and Regulations?

A key reason for creating this new thread was because other threads contained way too many of these kinds of posts. Posts of this nature on this thread will be flagged for deletion.


What Is the Focus of This Thread?

First, to show legal ways of contributing to those for whom the normal channels are not available.

Secondly, to encourage people to spread the word and share this info, particularly to donors who are capable of making large contributions.


What Kinds of Donations May Foreign Nationals Legally Make?

Donations to fund certain educational activity (http://www.ronpaulmax.com/foreign_nationals.html) is allowed. There is even legal precedent to support this.


How Can Educational Contributions Help?

Only certain ones will make any timely difference. Those are the only ones that are listed. If you know any others, please submit them (http://www.ronpaulmax.com/submit_website.html) for listing.


Who Posted This?

I know election law well. I am a paralegal (http://www.inspirationparalegal.com) who, among other things, manages attorneys (http://www.inspirationparalegal.com/legal_services_management.html).

I was also the chair of the bylaws committee of the Libertarian Party of California during a time when the party was regularly in court against the State of California on election law issues. The state wanted the party to be governed by the election code; the party wanted its bylaws to govern its affairs.


What is RonPaulMax.com (http://www.ronpaulmax.com)?

Besides being a resource network for U.S. individuals (http://www.ronpaulmax.com/individuals.html) who have already given the legal limit to Ron Paul's campaign, RonPaulMax.com also has resources for U.S. corporations (http://www.ronpaulmax.com/corporations.html) and foreign nationals (http://www.ronpaulmax.com/foreign_nationals.html) who wish to contribute to share the message of liberty.

Resources are evaluated for their legal eligibility and the immediate effectiveness of how contributions will be used.


Please Pass the Word

Please pass the word about these resources, even if you are not one of the people who need them. Even one large donor who finds out about them because of you could make a substantial difference.

[angrydragon]

Would lewrockwell.com count?

[ashevillejerry]

Would lewrockwell.com count?

Several key questions before it would be listed?


1. What kind of org is it?


2. What specifically would it do with the money?


3. How soon?

[Man from La Mancha]

Interesting website, how does this liberty527.org supposedly help Ron specifically.

.

[angrydragon]

Well that's what I'm asking...

http://www.lewrockwell.com/about.html

LewRockwell.com is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit educational organization under section 501(c)(4) of the internal revenue code.

https://securecommanders.com/lewrw/lrdonate.asp

[ashevillejerry]

Interesting website, how does this liberty527.org supposedly help Ron specifically.



As a soft money fund, it cannot do express advocacy. It can, however, do issue advocacy. Check out the videos wanted page (http://www.liberty527.org/videos_wanted.html) to get an idea of the themes it would promote.

Clarification: 527's cannot accept money from foreign nationals.

[ashevillejerry]

Well that's what I'm asking...

Ahhh... I thought you were recommending it.



http://www.lewrockwell.com/about.html

LewRockwell.com is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit educational organization under section 501(c)(4) of the internal revenue code.

https://securecommanders.com/lewrw/lrdonate.asp

Depending upon how they would use the money, it would probably be legal, but I do not see any program where money donated today would go to immediate and direct education of voters. If you find a link describing such a program, please post it here (http://www.ronpaulmax.com/submit_website.html).

[Elijah]

Thanks for putting this up here for those who want to help out across the world.

[evadmurd]

How, then, will all the Europeans organizing their own tea party be able to help Ron Paul?

[Corydoras]

How, then, will all the Europeans organizing their own tea party be able to help Ron Paul?

Here are just three ideas.

You can assemble a fund to run series of ads in non-American newspapers that are known to have large numbers of American readers. A small ad every week in one paper will have a big impact. What about the International Herald-Tribune, I've never read a physical copy of it, does it take ads? Does the (U.S.) Army Times have overseas editions?

You can ask shopkeepers near military bases and tourist spots to advertise Ron Paul to their customers (for example, a stack of slim jims on a windowsill near the door, or even a sign in the window). You can explain that Ron Paul is the fastest way to get America out of Iraq and the rest of the world.

I know there are American theme restaurants serving uniquely American foods (no, I don't mean McDonald's). See if the owners can be converted to Ron Paul support. Have them put a pile of Slim Jims in the waiting area, or give them a batch of placemats with Ron Paul information.

[ashevillejerry]

How, then, will all the Europeans organizing their own tea party be able to help Ron Paul?

http://www.ronpaulmax.com/foreign_nationals.html

[JHUK]

This is from the site http://www.ronpaulblimp.com/


Disclaimer: Please donate to the official campaign if you have not already reached your maximum donation limit of $2,300.
If you have reached this limit then please donate to the blimp fund and by all means if you are not in the United States
and want to help make this happen then this is your opportunity!!

What do you think? Is it legal?

[ashevillejerry]

This is from the site http://www.ronpaulblimp.com/

What do you think? Is it legal?

I can take no credit for coming up with the idea, Trevor Lyman did that. I am now part of the project, and I will make sure it is 100% legal before we take in a dime.

However, we will not be able to accept anything from foreign nationals. That is a mistake that will be taken out tomorrow. I am not the webmaster.

[sidcrowe]

By "influence," you mean money, right? Is everything else okay? I mean, what about that vid of Europeans for Ron Paul? Can I pester Americans in Canada to vote for him and donate?

[Mark]

I can't access the RonPaulmax.com (http://www.ronpaulmax.com/) site.

Is it down temporarily?

Foreign Nationals can donate to Churches/ Charities, correct??

And a Church that isn't 501-C3 can spend donations toward voter education.

I have a, Legally Incorporated in North Carolina,

Non-Profit Tax-Exempt Religious Organization. (Church)


Are there any problems you know of with Foreign Nationals donating to support a church?

Thanks

[ashevillejerry]

Foreign Nationals can donate to Churches/ Charities, correct??

And a Church that isn't 501-C3 can spend donations toward voter education.

I have a, Legally Incorporated in North Carolina,

Non-Profit Tax-Exempt Religious Organization. (Church)

Are there any problems you know of with Foreign Nationals donating to support a church?

Thanks

My understanding is that churches are automatically 501(c)(3) organizations unless they do something to lose it.

Do you have a link for your project so it can be reviewed? How will it impact the upcoming election?

[IamVoting4RonPaul]

I read recently that in the last election, it was estimated that between 3 and 6 million Americans lived overseas (we're not counted in any US census and have no representation -- but still taxed! Hmm, another issue). American expats were called "an untapped goldmine" if a candidate could gain their support.

Helping out the "foreign" Ron Paul Meetup groups is a great way to be involved. Every major city in the world has US-expats and you are free to target them with as much money as you like. The European Tea Party would welcome all the support it could get -- the more people, the more free media.

Our Canadian friends are free (I think?) to border-hop for sign waving, rallies, door knocking, etc. Just don't buy the "Ron Paul 2008" signs. Buying coffee or beers, however, would probably be okay.

Good luck to us all,

Lisa C.
www.ronpaulinternational.com

[Storm3]

Thanks for putting this up, Jerry.

Not great news, but nice that someone is finally addressing this.

But the question remains... what do i do with my money?

[Mark]

My understanding is that churches are automatically 501(c)(3) organizations unless they do something to lose it.

Do you have a link for your project so it can be reviewed?

How will it impact the upcoming election?



Automatic 501(c)3 Status? No not at all.

A church Organization is just like any other Organization.

If they want the ability to offer tax deductions to their supporters,
they have to fill out an application and pay an application fee.

However, when a Charitable Organization is granted 501(c)3 status,
they, in effect, become under control of the Federal Gov in terms of
rules and regulations such as not being able to endorse a specific candidate.

They essentially become an entity of the State, thus for all intents and purposes,
relinquish the Constitutional right of separation of Church and State.

Basically, for the "carrot" of being able to offer tax deductible receipts
to their donors, they allow the State the right to control their freedom of speech.

My Church wants no part of that.

Sure, our donations suffer to a VERY great extent due to donations to us not being tax deductible,
however, we feel that our right of free speech,and our complete separation from the State and their rule,
as guaranteed by The Constitution, is completely more important
than receiving vastly greater donations because the donors can deduct the gift from their taxes.


.
As far as a "project" goes, we're a Christian Church,
our "projects" reflect what you would find in most, if not all, Christian Churches.

There are a lot of things we would like to do, however, a Church needs resources to do them like any other charitable group.

The donations have to come in before we can spend money for projects,
and as I wrote earlier, people tend not to give as much if they can't take the donation off of their taxes.

So, we have to use our own money for whatever we need or want to do.

In the nine years since our inception, we have never received a single penny from anyone outside of the Church.

And no one in the Church is rich, so, like many, we just try to survive month to month.

In fact, in the 9 years since our Incorporation,
we have NEVER even asked anyone from outside the Church for even a single penny in donations.


.
It's just that now, we're offering our unique position as a non 501(c)3 Religious Organization
to the general public as a means to help inform potential voters
about the 2008 Presidential election and their choices in the election.

.
You see, if someone, or many someones, donated a million dollars to our Church,
we could use that money in our Missions.

One of which is voter awareness.

And, unlike a 501(c)3 Organization,
we are completely free to even endorse a particular candidate like Dr Paul.

.
For example, I believe someone posted about needing more campaign materials for the grassroots workers in NH.

And, if we had the funds, we as a Church could purchase Campaign materials and offer them to the volunteers in NH.

.
But, few seem to notice, even fewer seem to care.

The ability to support our Church with unlimited amounts of Capital
in order to allow us to support the grassroots, just seems to escape people.

Or, they just like to say that they would give if they had a way, because,
when we offered them a way, no one stepped up to honor their words.

At least so far.

.
We hope that changes, and changes in a big way,

while there's still time for us to help.

Foreign Nationals, maxed out donors, all who have no other way to donate to the campaign,

can easily follow this link:

http://toomchurch.chipin.com/please-help-our-church

and donate unlimited amounts to our Church

so that we can utilize those donations to help spread the word about Dr Paul.

.
I hope that answers your questions.

If there's anything else you or anyone else needs to know,
please, by all means, feel completely free to ask.

[Mark]

My understanding is that churches are automatically 501(c)(3) organizations unless they do something to lose it.


Time for me to eat some crow.

Donations to my Church ARE tax deductible.

Jerry was correct, and for nine years I didn't know this.

I called the FEC and the IRS a few times Monday to ask questions concerning a Tax exempt Nonprofit Religious Organization's ability to do a few things.

My second call to the IRS provided information that in the 9 years since I Incorporated my Organization I never knew.

Apparently, exactly like Jerry said, Churches are automatically granted 501(c)3 Status even without applying to the IRS for it.

Applying to the IRS for 501(c)3 only puts the Church on the IRS's official list database.

It seems that I can give a tax deductible receipt for donations already.

However, if my Church/Org promotes Dr Paul by name, I'd lose the ability to offer tax deduction receipts.

i.e. Someone donates $1000 to my church, I send them a receipt, and they can deduct the $1000 from their taxes.

Also, per the FEC, I can't solicit Foreign Nationals to support any efforts to promote Dr Paul by name.
As per FEC and IRS regulations, I can still do ads for informing voters on the issues.
For example, listing election issues and each candidate's stances on them.



One learns something new everyday.

I now have a EIN (employer's identification number) too. Amazing what asking a few simple questions can reveal.

Jerry's most likely too busy with the blimp right now to read this, so I emailed him with apologies for doubting his knowledge.

Thanks Jerry! You da man!!

Suggestions on how to best prepare and serve "Crow" will be greatly appreciated. :cool:

[idiom]

Americans travel, communicate to them outside of America, outside of election law.

If you are near a U.S. Foreign Base put up Ron Paul signs. If you are near an international Airport buy ads and leaflet there. If you are near a tourist resort or any major city then proseltize the yankee tourists.

[virek]

Wouldn't it be legal to sell items on ebay at inflated prices for international 'donors'?

For example:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300182689839