Thursday, November 01, 2007

3rd Quarter Fundraising

The fundraising numbers are out for the 3rd quarter. First the latest quarter:
Conservative Party
$3,152,985.38 from 32,812 contributors

Liberal Party
$793,835.78 from 7,849 contributors

NDP
$594,479.68 from 10,857 contributors

Green Party
$218,505.14 from 3,143 contributors

Bloc Quebecois
$31,520.06 from 310 contributors

Obviously, the Conservatives hold a MASSIVE advantage, approximately 4:1 compared with the Liberals. The NDP actually has more donors than the Liberals, the Greens quite respectable.

I would like to add the last two quarters for context. In the second quarter:
Conservative Party: $3.8-million from 36,800 contributors

Liberal Party: $1.3-million from 10,000 contributors

New Democratic Party: $720,000 from 11,800 contributors

Green Party: $200,000 from 2,800 contributors

Bloc Québécois: $27,900 from 360 contributors

This past result takes some of the sting out for the Liberals, because we see all the parties are down, with the exception of the Greens. That fact makes sense, given the fact the summer months occur in the third quarter.

First quarter:


The Liberals managed to raise only $531,141 from 4,365 donors, quarterly fundraising results posted Tuesday by Elections Canada show. The Conservatives raised almost $5.2-million from over 45,000 contributors, while the NDP attracted $1.2-million from nearly 15,000 donors. The Bloc Québecois, which gets money strictly from public subsidies paid to parties, raised slightly under $35,000.
The Green party, which has no representation in the House of Commons, raised almost $155,000.

What is concerning for the Liberals in the third quarter, the other parties didn't see a comparable percentage drop in the number of donors. However, it is interesting that the Conservative donor numbers have dropped in every quarter this year. Still, the numbers do show that the Liberals have a lot of work to do in re-inventing their brand, exciting the base and developing effective fundraising. Nothing in these results is surprising, but the longer things stay the same, the more it works to the Conservatives advantage.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

"However, it is interesting that the Conservative donor numbers have dropped in every quarter this year."

Could it be that most of them have maxed out on their $1100 per year contributions?

Again, the Cons are the most effective in using direct debit contributions. We are lagging behind or saving until the end of the year to do their max.

Also many donors I know have maxed out their contributions provincially in Ontario. So expect to see an uptick for the fourth quarter.

Idealistic Pragmatist said...

The Bloc only has 310 contributors? Holy crap.

Carter Apps, dabbler of stuff said...

I'd like to see the numbers compared to each parties listed membership, to see what the average donation is.

I take it the membership fee is not counted as a donation? if so it would be nice to see total membership to see which parties are showing increasing or decreasing enthusiasim by what percentage of members give.

Anonymous said...

"I take it the membership fee is not counted as a donation?"

No, it doesn't. Nor do the "pass the hat" thing that occurs at most coffee meetings or town hall gatherings.

These two forms of campaign mobilization are something the Grits are starting to use. The others are way ahead of us.

Steve V said...

"it would be nice to see total membership to see which parties are showing increasing or decreasing enthusiasim by what percentage of members give."


I read these figures in a September article:

"According to briefing notes, obtained by The Canadian Press, only 5.6 per cent of Liberal party members have donated so far this year to the party, one of its riding associations or to one of the former leadership candidates, who are struggling to pay off about $3.6 million in cumulative debt.

Only 29 per cent of Liberal MPs have donated to the party and almost none of their staff members. By contrast, 65 per cent of Liberal senators have contributed."

The MP total was laughable.

ip

"The Bloc only has 310 contributors? Holy crap."

I actually glazed over that nugget. Holy crap is right ;)

Anonymous said...

How much have we got in the pot to finance the next election campaign?

Steve V said...

ql

I can't seem to find the exact figure, but I read recently that the Liberals took out a sizeable loan for the campaign, to be paid back after the voter money comes from Elections Canada.

Greg Fingas said...

Great catch IP. Though I've heard a few times that the Bloc is able to fund pretty much everything it wants to do from its vote-based funding, so I'd be surprised if it spends as much time fund-raising as the national parties.

burlivespipe said...

This means tomorrow I get back on the monthly donation system.
And I'll work our executive -- most of whom surrender hours and cash for the cause already -- to do a drive.

Anonymous said...

"However, it is interesting that the Conservative donor numbers have dropped in every quarter this year."

Could it be that most of them have maxed out on their $1100 per year contributions? - mushroom


or the threat of an imminent election has subsided?

Gayle said...

I donate monthly to the liberals, and I am prepared to donate more, however I am held back by the constant rumours of dissent and undermining going on.

I am not prepared to fund another leadership campaign. I want them to use my money to fight and win the next election. When I am satisfied the dissenters are going to behave and get behind their leader I will max out my donation.