ActBlue is a safe and secure fundraising platform that enables millions of Americans to participate at a grassroots level in the most fundamental pillar of our society: elections. Over the last 20 years, we have become a vital part of the infrastructure of our democracy.
Since our founding, more than 28 million Americans have relied on ActBlue to make grassroots, small-dollar contributions to candidates and causes they believe in. ActBlue does not fundraise—we are a technology platform and conduit through which funds are raised and distributed, all in strict compliance with federal and state laws and regulations.
The Trump Administration’s allegations against ActBlue are completely baseless. Let’s be clear about what this is: Donald Trump and his accomplices in the Republican party are targeting ActBlue as part of their brazen attack on democracy in America. The recent escalation by the White House is further weaponization of the instruments of federal power by Donald Trump to stamp out all political, electoral, and ideological opposition.
We will continue our work undeterred and uninterrupted, providing a safe, secure fundraising platform for the millions of grassroots donors who rely on us. To correct the record, below are some of the most common myths about ActBlue and the truth behind the misinformation.
Myth: ActBlue may be forced to close because of Republican attacks.
Fact: ActBlue is stronger than ever and not backing down.
- ActBlue is not going anywhere. We will continue our mission and work undeterred and uninterrupted, providing a safe, secure fundraising platform for the millions of grassroots donors who rely on us.
- ActBlue will pursue all legal avenues to protect and defend against the Administration’s baseless claims. It is time for the entire Democratic Party and all Americans who embrace the value of civic participation to unite and create a blue wall against the oppressive use of power by this White House and their accomplices in Congress.
- During Q1 of 2025, more than $400 million was raised through ActBlue, a historic quarter for the organization. ActBlue has empowered tens of millions of grassroots donors throughout our 20+ year history and remains the leader in reliability, transparency, accountability and fraud detection efforts.
Myth: ActBlue has weak security measures that allow fraud.
Fact: Every contribution made through ActBlue is reviewed. If any fail to meet our rigorous standards, they are rejected.
- Every contribution made through ActBlue is reviewed, and if any fail to meet our rigorous standards of compliance, they are rejected.
- We use a widely trusted external fraud prevention tool to assess donations for indications of fraud. The tool uses behavioral modeling and evaluates over 140 signals such as the age of the card, card type, the issuer country, recent address changes, and proprietary signals at the individual cardholder level to help flag fraudulent behavior. These signals help detect whether a card is being used fraudulently.
- Donations that are flagged for further review by our fraud detection tool are manually reviewed by ActBlue to determine if they comply with our standards and should be accepted – or should be denied.
- Our certified credit card security program to protect donor information receives the highest ratings for compliance and payment security standards possible for merchants under the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
Myth: ActBlue allows foreign nationals to illegally contribute to campaigns.
Fact: ActBlue has strong measures in place to protect the integrity of our elections.
- ActBlue does not permit foreign nationals to contribute to U.S. political campaigns. Period.
- ActBlue takes fraud prevention extremely seriously and is constantly innovating and implementing new policies as we become aware of new ways we and similar platforms were targeted by individuals seeking to perpetrate fraud.
- ActBlue is proud to be the fundraising platform of choice for thousands of campaigns and organizations. We’ve accomplished that by making security a top priority.
- The Trump administration’s recent attacks against ActBlue have confusingly cited examples where ActBlue successfully detected and blocked potential fraud and foreign attacks as evidence that ActBlue has a problem it is failing to address. The evidence clearly shows the exact opposite is true.
- While ActBlue has always had strong measures in place that have successfully prevented illegal foreign donations, beginning in 2025 we have gone even further. We now require that Americans living abroad be physically present in the United States to make a contribution on our platform, despite campaign finance laws allowing citizens to contribute to campaigns while living abroad.
Myth: ActBlue launders money from billionaires or other sources into campaigns using straw donors.
Fact: This is a baseless conspiracy theory used to silence the voices of grassroots donors.
- ActBlue is supported by millions of grassroots donors, with the average donation on our platform being around $40.
- Bogus claims of money laundering through ActBlue are simply partisan attacks trying to stifle Democratic and progressive fundraising.
- These conspiracy theories have been repeatedly debunked by experts and have no basis in reality. Campaign finance experts, including a former FEC enforcement attorney have said these claims are unsubstantiated and the result of misreading FEC data.
- Campaign finance lawyer Brendan Fischer has described these claims as “not serious” and said he is “surprised that people who otherwise present themselves as serious are treating them as such.”
- Furthermore it is ironic that billionaire funded dark money groups are those that are attacking ActBlue.
Myth: ActBlue finances terrorism.
Fact: ActBlue supports democratic campaigns and progressive causes around the country.
- Any suggestion that ActBlue or its donors use the platform to fund terrorism is completely false and defamatory.
- ActBlue’s Account Use Policy and Terms of Service – which set the guidelines for who can use our platform – require all entities to comply with anti-terrorism laws. We take swift action to suspend or terminate access to our platform if we suspect any individual or entity to be noncompliant with such laws or the subject of U.S. sanctions.
Myth: ActBlue funds specific political movements or protests.
Fact: Donors get to decide which candidates and causes they support, ActBlue just makes it easier.
- ActBlue does not fundraise. It is a technology platform that donors use to donate directly to the candidates and causes they support – we’re the technological infrastructure that processes those donations and sends them to the recipient chosen by the donor.
- Every new entity is vetted before joining the platform to ensure mission-alignment and compliance with all applicable laws, as well as with ActBlue’s Account Use Policy, which gives ActBlue users guidelines on who is eligible to use our platform. However, ActBlue does not promote or endorse candidates, committees, or organizations using our platform.
- Groups do their own fundraising and only use ActBlue to process donations. We do not send emails or texts or fundraise on their behalf.
Myth: ActBlue is facing internal chaos and turmoil with many senior staffers resigning.
Fact: ActBlue is stable and has the right team in place to meet this moment.
- ActBlue’s leadership is stable, with reports of some natural turnover after the 2024 election cycle being overblown. We have an exceptionally talented and dedicated staff who are all committed to ActBlue’s mission and prepared to meet this moment.
- It is completely normal for political organizations such as ActBlue to experience staff turnover following the end of an election cycle, and the timing and reasons for the cited departures are unconnected and personal to each individual.
- One of ActBlue’s core strengths is our ability to take on a long-term strategic vision and provide a continuity of service irrespective of election cycles ending or specific individuals departing from the organization.
Myth: ActBlue is facing decreased donations amid partisan attacks on the platform.
Fact: President Trump’s attacks have backfired and have helped ActBlue’s donors set fundraising records.
- ActBlue set a fundraising record in the first quarter of 2025, with more than $400 million given to Democratic candidates on the platform in the first three months of the year. Since the recent attacks from President Trump and his administration, we have seen a further surge of donations.
- Small-dollar donors are the backbone of the Democratic Party, and they have proven time and time again that they are engaged, energized, and ready to meet the moment. We’re ready to continue serving as the conduit for that people-powered change.
