Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue sees $533 million 'small-donor bonanza' in first quarter

[applegrove]

Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue sees $533 million 'small-donor bonanza' in first quarter

Apr 20, 2020 5:44pm 

by Kerry Eleveld, Daily Kos Staff

https://m.dailykos.com/stories/1938960

"SNIP......

One of Democrats’ biggest fundraising weapons, the online platform ActBlue, saw a substantial increase in online fundraising during the first quarter, helping to give congressional Democrats a financial advantage in key races, according to Politico. 

More than 4.3 million donors gave $533 million using the ActBlue platform, including pushing some $162 million to Democratic presidential candidates in January and February alone. But far from the primary sucking away energy from congressional races, fundraising for Democratic congressional candidates also soared, in some cases completely crushing the overall hauls of their Republican rivals. 

Overall, ActBlue recorded a 50% increase in donations to House races compared to the same period in 2018, along with a 100% increase in Senate races compared to the first quarter of 2018. According to the ActBlue executive director, Erin Hill, the platform took in nearly two-thirds of all funds raised for Democratic House candidates.

ActBlue also reported breaking records in areas such as sign-ups for ActBlue Express, a function that primes donors to make one-click donations in the future by saving a donor's payment information. 

.....SNIP"

[DFW]

1. I hope they give rebates

If they took in $533 million, that means they pocketed $21 million for themselves (their charge is 3.95%). Since everything they do is computer-generated, I doubt their expenses were even a quarter of that. For a while, I battled their faulty software, as well as their unwillingness to fix it. Then I gave up, and just went back to sending checks. It's less convenient, but the candidates and causes got 100% of what I sent instead of 92% (after charges from Act Blue and the Credit Card companies).

If their software has been improved since I stopped using them, that still means they delivered $490 million (after the credit card companies took their cut) to Democratic candidates and causes, and that is nothing to sniff at. But if they really believe in what they are doing, I'm thinking they could rebate a couple of million, spread out among a few close races where that extra push could mean the difference.

[applegrove]

2. Did not know that. Seems quite high for a national fundraiser. nt

[DFW]

3. It took me a while to find out too

It's one of the reasons I stopped. That, and the fact that their software went on the fritz half the time. Denying CC numbers when they were good, checking "make it monthly" when I didn't, stuff like that. I just could no longer be bothered to take the time with them to get things fixed all the time. Once or twice, I can understand, but after about twenty times, I gave up.

[applegrove]

4. You would think with all that money they would have a great website.

Anyway. I'm glad to see so much enthusiasm now.

[DFW]

5. Yes, the raw numbers are encouraging

If they help get us back the majority in the Senate, especially if they help send McTurtle back inside his shell, and Trump back to the defendant's seat, I'd even overlook their high fees, because in THAT case, they'd have earned them in my eyes.

[applegrove]

6. .

[secondwind]

7. Hear, hear..... my sentiments exactly!! Woot!