Contributing to the Presidential Transition/Inaugural Committees

November 2008

With the election results now in, planning for the presidential transition and inaugural day festivities has begun. Before making any financial contributions toward these efforts, there are a couple of key points to remember:

• The Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) is responsible for organizing and financing most of the events, including the parade and inaugural balls. U.S. corporations, citizens, and green card holders may contribute to the PIC without limit. By law, the inaugural committee must report all contributions of $200 or greater that it receives. Registered federal lobbyists and their employers must list any donations to the PIC on their semi-annual LD-203 reports.
• Separate from the PIC's event planning activities, the presidential transition organization (PTO) is working to facilitate the transition of the day-to-day operations of government from one administration to the next. Although the presidential transition organization receives some public funding for its activities, individuals and corporations may contribute up to $5,000 toward the transition. Such contributions are not reportable on the LD-203 reports.
• The Obama-Biden transition has imposed a ban on contributions from federal lobbyists. The PIC may impose similar rules, although nothing has yet been announced.