America's Impact

What is your relationship to the previous America’s Impact?

America’s Impact was originally founded in 2002 by Karen Mulhauser as a political committee to elect members of Congress with responsible foreign policy positions. Following the 2008 election, leadership of the organization passed to Foreign Policy Professionals for Obama (FPPfO), an independent grassroots organization of foreign policy professionals devoted to sharing and discussing Senator Obama's foreign policy programs and advancing his national security credentials. America’s Impact has re-launched with the blessing of the previous Board of Directors and is committed to promoting similar ideas and values to those of the original America’s Impact.

What happened to Foreign Policy Professionals for Obama?

As a grassroots organization dedicated to the historic 2008 election, FPPfO’s work ended with the President Obama’s election. The organization will be dormant until the presidential election cycle in 2012, where we hope it will play an active roll in the re-election of President Obama.

While America’s Impact is a distinct organization from Foreign Policy Professionals for Obama, members of FPPfO will recognize a lot about AI. We’re very similar in scope and programming, but dedicated to promoting the foreign policy ideas that made the election of 2008 so important for the United States and the world.

In other words: the success of FPPfO means that our work now turns to the US Congress, where Democrats, Republicans, and Independents can all help turn good ideas for America into a reality.

Why do I need to pay to join America’s Impact? Why must I join to contribute to the PAC?

America’s Impact is incorporated as a 501(c)(4) organization. The AI Member Fund is an affiliated political action committee (or PAC). The Federal Election Commission requires that a affiliated PAC like ours may only solicit funds from the membership of the 501(c)(4). Not only may we not solicit funds from the general public or non-members, there must be a formal process (including dues) to become a member. So in order to contribute to the PAC you must be a dues-paying member of America’s Impact.

I work for the federal government. May I join America’s Impact?

Yes! In general, federal employees are permitted actively participate in partisan political management and partisan political campaigns. This means you may join and contribute to a political organization such as America’s Impact. You may also take part in America’s Impact events or campaign activities.

There are, however, exceptions. For example, employees of the following federal agencies are subject to more extensive restrictions on their political activity:

• Administrative Law Judges (positions described at 5 U.S.C. §5372)
• Central Imagery Office
• Central Intelligence Agency
• Contract Appeals Boards (positions described at 5 U.S.C. §5372a)
• Criminal Division (Department of Justice)
• Defense Intelligence Agency
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Federal Elections Commission
• Merit Systems Protection Board
• National Security Agency
• National Security Council
• Office of Criminal Investigation (Internal Revenue Service)
• Office of Investigative Programs (Customs Service)
• Office of Law Enforcement (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms)
• Office of Special Counsel
• Secret Service
• Senior Executive Service (career positions described at 5 U.S.C. § 3132(a)(4))

Employees of these agencies may still join and contribute to America’s Impact. However, they may not hold office in the organization and cannot participate directly in the organizing or promoting of campaign events, including the selling of event tickets or distribution of campaign material. Please see US Office of Special Counsel’s page on the Hatch Act for more information.

We advise anyone with questions about joining America’s Impact to consult with the proper authorities within their employing federal agency (in most cases, the General Counsel’s office). If you need information or have any further questions about your involvement with America’s Impact, feel free to email us.

I am not a US citizen or naturalized resident of the United States. May I join America’s Impact?

Yes! There are no citizenship limitations to involvement with any 501(c)(4) organization. Whether you are a US citizen or a foreign national, you are welcome to join and donate money to America’s Impact.

However, US federal election law prohibits foreign nationals from making any contributions or expenditures in connection with any election in the United States. This includes donations to PACs. US law does not limit your participation with America’s Impact, but it prohibits you from donating to the AI Member Fund.

Please note: green card holders (individuals lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States) are not considered to be “foreign nationals” by the US government. As a result, green card holders are allowed to contribute to US elections.

How do I get more involved? Can I help host an event?

If you are interested in becoming more involved with the leadership and management of America’s Impact, or if you have an idea for a foreign policy event you would like to help host on behalf of America’s Impact, please email us.