What is dark money in U.S. elections?

In the context of U.S. politics, dark money refers to funds contributed to nonprofit organizations—such as social welfare groups and business leagues—that are subsequently used to influence political campaigns without the requirement to disclose the identities of the original donors.1

Unlike Super PACs, which must disclose their contributors, these nonprofit entities are excused from revealing who provides their funding. This allows individuals, corporations, and unions to spend significant sums to support or oppose candidates while maintaining anonymity.1

The landscape of campaign finance was significantly altered by the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. By ruling that independent political expenditures by corporations and unions are protected as freedom of speech, the Court invalidated previous restrictions on such spending. While this decision directly facilitated the rise of Super PACs, it also contributed to an environment where various organizations can engage in electioneering activities with limited transparency regarding their financial backers.2341