Raking It In

Raking It In


in grassroots fundraising also ensures that the money keeps coming even when an individual’s own resources dry up. “There’s a limit on disposable income,” Morris says. Plus, not all contributors have the resources to donate the $2,300 maximum amount that individuals can contribute to a campaign like higher-income level supporters such as Oprah Winfrey, CEO of Harpo Inc., the BE INDUSTRIAL/SERVICE COMPANY OF THE YEAR, or David Steward, CEO of World Wide Technology Inc. (No. 1 on the 2008 BE INDUSTRIAL/SERVICE LIST
with $2.5 billion in revenues). But as Bigby discovered, a group of lower-level donors can play with the big boys.

But with the primary season nearing its end, the big question is whether Obama will continue to amass the funds needed to run the second half of the presidential campaign. Political watchers expect that he will. Not only will he be the focal point of all Democratic fundraising, but many Americans will give because it’s human nature to want to be a part of making history, Morris says. “If a black politician looks viable and looks like he’s going to get a significant amount of attention, he’ll
get significant support because people like to be on the winning side.”


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