(a) Prohibitions. A national committee of a political party, including a national congressional campaign committee, must not solicit any funds for, or make or direct any donations of non-Federal funds to, the following organizations:

(1) An organization that is described in 26 U.S.C. 501(c) and exempt from taxation under section 26 U.S.C. 501(a) and that makes expenditures or disbursements in connection with an election for Federal office, including expenditures or disbursements for Federal election activity;

(2) An organization that has submitted an application for tax-exempt status under 26 U.S.C. 501(c) and that makes expenditures or disbursements in connection with an election for Federal office, including expenditures or disbursements for Federal election activity; or

(3) An organization described in 26 U.S.C. 527, unless the organization is:

(i) A political committee under 11 CFR 100.5;

(ii) A State, district, or local committee of a political party; or

(iii) The authorized campaign committee of a State or local candidate;

(b) Application. This section also applies to:

(1) An officer or agent acting on behalf of a national party committee, including a national congressional campaign committee;

(2) An entity that is directly or indirectly established, financed, maintained, or controlled by a national party committee, including a national congressional campaign committee, or an officer or agent acting on behalf of such an entity; or

(3) An entity that is directly or indirectly established, financed, maintained or controlled by an agent of a national committee of a political party, including a national congressional campaign committee.

(c) Determining whether a section 501(c) organization makes expenditures or disbursements in connection with Federal elections. In determining whether a section 501(c) organization is one that makes expenditures or disbursements in connection with a Federal election, including expenditures or disbursements for Federal election activity, pursuant to paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this section, a national committee of a political party, including a national congressional campaign committee, or any other person described in paragraph (b) of this section, may obtain and rely upon a certification from the organization that satisfies the criteria described in paragraph (d) of this section.

(d) Certification. A national committee of a political party, including a national congressional campaign committee, or any person described in paragraph (b) of this section, may rely upon a certification that meets all of the following criteria:

(1) The certification is a signed written statement by an officer or other authorized representative of the organization with knowledge of the organization's activities;

(2) The certification states that within the current election cycle, the organization has not made, and does not intend to make, expenditures or disbursements in connection with an election for Federal office (including for Federal election activity); and

(3) The certification states that the organization does not intend to pay debts incurred from the making of expenditures or disbursements in connection with an election for Federal office (including for Federal election activity) in a prior election cycle.

(e) If a national committee of a political party or any person described in paragraph (b) of this section has actual knowledge that the certification is false, the certification may not be relied upon.

(f) It is not prohibited for a national party or its agent to respond to a request for information about a tax-exempt group that shares the party's political or philosophical goals.

[67 FR 49120, July 29, 2002, as amended at 70 FR 12789, Mar. 16, 2005]