What's the difference between affiliated Bus Project organizations?
The Bus Project is comprised of three separate legal entities: the 501(c)(4) New Progressive Network (doing business as the Bus Project), the 501(c)(3) Oregon Progress Forum (doing business as the Bus Project Foundation), and the BusPAC political committee. Having three separate but affiliated organizations allows the Bus to do a wider variety of work.
The New Progressive Network (NPN) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization committed to citizen and social engagement for the public good. Donations to the NPN, including monthly membership donations, are not tax-deductible. The NPN is the operational core of the Bus family of organizations. The NPN may participate in a limited amount of electoral/political work as long as that is not its primary purpose.
The Bus Project Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that conducts nonpartisan activities. Donations to the Bus Project Foundation are tax-deductible. Programs conducted under the Bus Project Fondation include Building Votes, Candidates Gone Wild, and Trick or Vote. The Bus Project Foundation is the DBA for the registered 501(c)(3)
The BusPAC political committee engages in electoral activities, working directly to elect progressive candidates in Oregon. Donations to the BusPAC are not tax-deductible, and are reported to the Secretary of State in accordance with Elections Division regulations. The BusPAC organizes candidate Bus Trips to swing districts in election years, supporting candidates for state and local office but not candidates for Federal office.
There is some overlap between these organizations—including shared staff, limited board overlap, and shared office space and overhead costs—but there are some activities that are appropriate for only the (c)(3) Bus Project Foundation and other activities that can only be done by the BusPAC political committee. As such, there is no overlap between the Bus Project Foundation and BusPAC. Each organization uses only the funds contributed directly to it for the specific activities it conducts.
