Guidelines for Raising and
Spending COPA Funds

Giving to COPA is a very effective way for APWU members to make our voice heard in Congress.

Through COPA, our union’s 345,000 active and retired members can pool our resources to help elect legislators who will stand up for postal workers and retirees. This is especially important in protecting postal jobs, wages and benefits amid the ongoing postal “reform” debate.

COPA dollars also help elect politicians who will defend Social Security, Family and Medical Leave Act benefits, and collective bargaining rights for working people everywhere.

In addition to urging APWU members to become regular contributors through small weekly payroll deductions using PostalEase, many locals make giving fun through contests, drawings, and special social events.

There are many ways to run an effective COPA campaign, but there are a few guidelines we need to follow to comply with the law. Here is a brief list of a few “Dos” and “Don’ts.”

You Must:

• You must document all income and expenditures from raffles or other events. Send copies of receipts and other documentation to APWU COPA, P.O. Box 96542, Washington, DC 20077-7120.
  
  
• You must record the name, address, union local number and the amount received from each COPA contributor, Send this information and all funds raised to APWU national headquarters.
  
  
• You must print the following message on the front of all COPA solicitation materials: “A copy of the COPA Committee report is filed with the Federal Election Commission and is available for purchase from the Federal Election Commission, Washington, DC.”
  
  
• You must make clear that all donations are voluntary and that they will be used to support candidates for federal office.

You Can:

• You can use local dues or treasury money as “seed money” to help raise COPA contributions provided that your costs do not exceed 33 cents for every dollar raised.
  
  
• You can spend union dues money to print and distribute literature that educates your membership on the candidates’ positions on the issues.
  
  
• You can loan paid union staff to work in a campaign.
  
  
• You can use dues money for non-partisan voter registration and “Get Out The Vote” drives aimed at APWU members and their families.
  
  
• You can have APWU Auxiliary members and retirees as well as active APWU members conduct phone banks to raise contributions and/or pledges for COPA.

You Cannot:

• You cannot raise money from, or sell tickets to, non-APWU members.
  
  
• You cannot mix COPA funds with local treasury or personal funds. A separate COPA account should be set up, and all COPA funds raised should be sent to national headquarters.
  
  
• You cannot send the COPA money you raise directly to a candidate. All contributions must be made through the union’s national COPA account.
  
  
• You cannot accept free merchandise from a corporation to be used as prizes in a COPA campaign.
  
  
• You cannot accept anonymous or unidentified cash contributions over $50.

This COPA soliciation is paid for by the American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO, 1300 L St., N.W., Washington, D.C. (202) 842-4200; it is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. Contributions or gifts to COPA are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. COPA will use the contributions it receives for political purposes, including making contributions to candidates for federal, state and local offices, and addressing political issues of public importance. Contributions to COPA are voluntary. More or less than the suggested amount may be given, and the amount given or the refusal to give will not benefit or disadvantage the person being solicited. Federal law requires political action committees to report the name, mailing address, occupation, and employer for each individual whose contributions aggregate in excess of $200 in a calendar year.

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