Welcome to RPAC Administration

1. Welcome to RPAC Administration

2. What is RPAC?Jane SaundersSenior Field Representative

3. Raising Money for Political Purposes Requires • Imagination • Determination • Hard Work AND… • Understanding Legal & Administrative Issues OR… • Thousand of Dollars Lost to RPAC • Possible Civil Penalties of up to $50,000 • Possible Prison Time

4. How RPAC Works RPAC Fuels NAR’s Government Affairs Activities Without a successful RPAC, REALTORS will be disadvantaged… • No Participation in Political Campaigns • No Grassroots Programs • No Presence in Washington, State Capitols or City Halls

5. RPAC Structure RPAC is an Association of people who voluntarily pool financial resources to support candidates of office who understand and support the real estate industry RPAC is more than one Committee… • National RPAC • RPAC in 50 States, DC, USVI, PR & Guam • 1,700+ Local Boards

6. RPAC Structure And it’s run by hundreds of people… • State/Local RPAC Chairmen/Trustees • State/Local RPAC Treasurers/Bookeepers • Political/Government/Legislative and Legal Staff

7. RPAC Structure All RPACs Share the Same Goal, but have varying Responsibilities • Local Boards Raise Money, Collect Reporting Information and Transmit to State • State RPACs Transmit Funds to National, Forward Candidate Contribution Requests, Order Awards and Educational Materials • National RPAC supports Federal Candidates, Maintains Relationships with Federal Officeholders and Manages Grassroots Programs

8. RPAC Structure Despite this Multi-layer Structure, Federal Law Views RPAC as One Single Organization • State and Local RPACs fund National RPAC, which contributes to Federal Campaigns • A legal violation at any level can harm the entire effort

9. State & National RPAC Relationship State RPACs are Critical to Making the entire RPAC System Work • The Conduit for funds from Local to National • Ensure that contributions fall within legal requirements • Recommend which Federal, State and (sometimes) Local Candidates to Support

10. State & National RPAC Relationship Five Broad Areas Define the State and National RPAC Relationship • Cooperative Agreements • 70/30 Split • Stipulates that National RPAC will support Federal Candidates and States/Boards will support State and Local Candidates

11. State & National RPAC Relationship 2. Filing Requirements • Closely scrutinized by authorities • National RPAC files with Federal Election Commission; State RPACs comply with State Board Elections • National also files copies of RPAC FEC Reports with selected State Election Offices where Federal Candidates from those States have received RPAC Support • All Filings are public information

12. State & National RPAC Relationship 3. State RPACs as Agents of National RPAC • Most Important Duty: Timely Transmittal of Funds to National RPAC 4. Paying for Fundraising Costs • Fundraising Expenses (i.e. credit card charges) cannot be deducted before transmitting National RPACs share • Some states allow PAC costs to be covered by State and Local association dues rather than from PAC dollars

13. State & National RPAC Relationship • Transmittal of Funds • Establishing transmittal account and regular transmittal dates every week solves the problem • Major Donor contributions must be transmitted with a cover letter from State AE to RPAC…not required on an electronic transfer. Send email to RPAC Coordinator, Patricia Tarhon

14. Transmittals to RPAC Other Important Information… • All backup information must be sent to RPAC electronically • You must have NRDS ID# for all REALTORS, REALTOR Associates, Affiliates & Staff • Review the file to make sure it balances and make sure everyone has a NRDS ID# • Email to : RPACBATCHES@realtors.org • Contributions from family members

15. Compliance is in Everyone’s Best Interest! • One violation can jeopardize the entire RPAC effort • Civil and criminal penalties apply • RPAC experiences huge annual losses

16. Legal Issues in RPAC Fundraising Ralph Holmen Associate General Counsel

17. General RPACFundraising Legal Principles • Who may be solicited for RPAC contributions • Prohibited RPAC Contributors • Time limits for transmitting RPAC contributions to State PAC/Association • Dues Billing • One-third rule • Fundraising events

18. Who May Be Solicited for RPAC Contributions • Association members, and their families - including individual affiliate members • Executive and administrative employees of association • Other employees – twice yearly, in writing, at home, must use custodial arrangement • Restriction is imposed on the solicitation – not acceptance - of the contribution • Solicitation defined broadly: Any mention of RPAC coupled with need for funds, how to make a contribution

19. RPAC Solicitation Notice • Contributions are not deductible for Federal income tax purposes. Contributions to RPAC are voluntary and are used for political purposes. The amount indicated is merely a guideline and you may contribute more or less than the suggested amount. The Association will not favor or disadvantage anyone by reason of the amount of their contribution, and you may refuse to contribute without reprisal by the Association. Until your state PAC reaches its RPAC goal 30% is sent to National RPAC to support federal candidates and is charged against your limits under 2 U.S.C. 441a; after the state PAC reaches its RPAC goal it may elect to retain your entire contribution for use in supporting state and local candidates.

20. Prohibited Contributors • Corporations (LLCs OK) • Anonymous contributors • Federal contractors • Foreign nationals (no green card) • In the name of another • Cash in excess of $100 • But corporate contributions by member corporations to offset fundraising expenses OK

21. Time Limits • Transmit contributions from contributor to State PAC/association within • 10 days if greater than $50 • 30 days of $50 or less • Time period begins when contributor makes contribution and ends when it reaches the State PAC/association • Local associations must regularly and frequently (once/week) forward contributions received to the State PAC

22. Dues Billing • Federal law permits dues billing, including deposit of dues billing contributions into corporate account • State law may prohibit or limit dues billing, but only for State PAC contributions • May use local association bank account to separate dues/RPAC contribution amounts; consider using a “transmittal account” for that purpose • Always use proper solicitation notice on dues statement

23. The One-Third Rule • Applies to fundraising events where contributors receive something of more than “nominal” value for their contribution: auctions, raffles, dinner-dances, etc. • The value (not cost) of the items/entertainment provided may not exceed 1/3 of the contributions received at the event • Applies “in the aggregate” (not item by item); value of F&B excluded

24. Fundraising Events Careful and thoughtful application of the rules above regarding: • Who is invited to the event • How event costs are paid • Timely transmittal of contributions made at event • Entire price of ticket to event is a contribution

25. RPAC Dues BillingScott BrunnerAssociation ExecutiveMississippi AOR

26. Pointers on RPAC Dues Billing • Requires PLANNING plus member education • ALWAYS above the line • Always FAIR SHARE • Check YOUR state’s Fair Share amount • Higher Fair Share for brokers? • The verbiage is important • “recommended” vs. “voluntary” • Investment vs. contribution • Tax deductibility disclaimer • Expect some member phone calls and inquiries

27. Pointers on RPAC Dues Billing • Train your brokers to provide a paper trail • If they send you a single check for all agents, they should also send you a breakdown of: • who gave how much to RPAC • corporate v. non-corporate dollars • Bill new members as they join • AEs must be knowledgeable about RPAC… because those phone calls will come to you! • Technical/Legal aspects, of course • The reason RPAC matters • Victories, challenges, consequences

29. RPAC Fundraising Pointers • Institutionalize RPAC • Tie to core purpose of your organization • No hit and miss promotions • Sustained, ongoing focus on benefits and value • No bullying…just sensible pitches, measurable results • Localize RPAC • Local/State impact often more compelling • Closer to home

30. RPAC Fundraising Pointers • Focus your investment request on ISSUES, not dollars or goals • Tell war stories, and RPAC’s role • Urgent challenges • Great wins / Stunning defeats • Prospective (and very real) nightmare scenarios • Investment, not contribution • Make RPAC a prominent part of new member orientation

31. How to get major investors: • Ask them. • Forget gimmicks (IMHO) • Have the right person ask them. • The asker must have high local credibility • If you’re asking for $1000, make sure the asker has invested $1000 • If you’re pitching a prominent broker, make sure the pitcher is a peer – another prominent broker • Don’t send a salesperson to do a broker’s job • Provide abundant recognition! • The Hattiesburg experiment…

32. FUNDRAISING IDEASSPECIAL EVENTS

33. FUNDRAISING IDEASSPECIAL EVENTS • Auctions • Dinners • Casino Nights • Dances • Games • Cow Patty Poker • Ms. RPAC Contest • Pie in the Face • Dunking Booth • Drinking for Diamonds • Karaoke • Armadillo Race • Triathlon (darts, bowling, golf)

34. FUNDRAISING IDEASSPECIAL EVENTS • Polar Plunge • Pink Flamingos • Banks – RPAC Makes Cents • Bad Car Day • Murder Mystery Dinner • Moonlight Bowling • Water Pistol Contests & Duels • Jail & Bail • Chair Rotation • Colored Balloons • Ugly Ties • Road Rally • Chili Cook-Offs

35. Q & A

36. RPAC Resources RPAC Almanac: http://www.realtor.org/rpacweb.nsf 2005 RPAC Fundraising Conference January 12-13, 2005 Washington, D.C.