On September 20, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump—and some of the super-PACs that back them—reported to the Federal Election Commission how much money they raised and spent through August. Here are the latest totals in the never-ending campaign for cash.
Hillary Clinton
Campaign Raised to Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $373.3M
Spent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $304.9M
Cash on Hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $68.4M
Super-PACs Raised to Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $152.7M
Spent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $120.7M
Cash on Hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $63.4M
Total Raised . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $526M
Total Spent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $425.5M
Total Cash on Hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $131.8M
Donald Trump
Campaign Raised to Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $165.9M
Spent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $115.6M
Cash on Hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50.3M
Super-PACs Raised to Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $16.2M
Spent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $11.6M
Cash on Hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5.8M
Total Raised to Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $182.1M
Total Spent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $127.2M
Total Cash on Hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $56.1M
Clinton vs. Trump, Dollar-by-Dollar
Clinton's August fundraising haul was her largest monthly total so far. Trump's campaign is catching up, fueled mostly by small dollar donors and helped along with a few million from the candidate himself. Trump topped Clinton in donors giving $200 or less, whose support is sometimes taken as a gauge of grassroots enthusiasm.
Clinton outraised and outspent Trump in August, as her campaign continued to flood the airwaves with ads promoting her own campaign and attacking her rival.
Clinton
AUGUST
$57.9M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Raised
$48.0M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Spent
$68.4M . . . . . . . . . .Cash on Hand
Trump
AUGUST
$40.6M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Raised
$28.9M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spent
$38.4M . . . . . . . . . Cash on Hand
In August, Trump put another $2 million of his own money into the campaign. That brings his total contributions to $54 million, which includes $47.5 million in loans he made during the primaries and later forgave. Trump so far is the biggest political donor in 2016, albeit a self-interested one.
Trump Total Receipts*
Itemized (> $200)
Unitemized (< $200)
Loans, Transfers, Other
Clinton Total Receipts*
Itemized (> $200)
Unitemized (< $200)
Loans, Transfers, Other
* Includes loans and contributions from the candidate, transfers from party committees, rebates and refunds from vendors and other receipts.
Where the Money Came From
AUGUST
Clinton
Trump
Party Money
The Republican National Committee has raised $46.4 million more than its Democratic counterpart. Thus far Trump, who touted his independence from big money during the primary season, has relied heavily on the RNC as a vehicle for larger donations. Clinton and Trump have formed joint fundraising committees to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars from individual donors for their respective parties.
Clinton
Democratic National Committee
TOTALS AS OF AUGUST
$179.3M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raised
$174.7M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spent
$11.5M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash on Hand
Trump
Republican National Committee
TOTALS AS OF AUGUST
$225.1M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raised
$177.4M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spent
$57.9M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash on Hand
Joint Fundraising Committees
Hillary Victory Fund
TOTALS AS OF JUNE
$141M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raised
$99.1M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spent
$41.9M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash on Hand
Hillary Action PAC
TOTALS AS OF JUNE
$5.4M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raised
$0.6M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spent
$4.8M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash on Hand
Joint Fundraising Committees
Trump Make America Great Again Committee
TOTALS AS OF JUNE
$6.7M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raised
$0.5M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spent
$6.2M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash on Hand
Trump Victory
TOTALS AS OF JUNE
$25.4M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raised
$13.6M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spent
$13.3M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash on Hand
Outside Money
Contributions to presidential campaigns are capped at $2,700, but super-PACs can raise money in unlimited amounts. While Trump long disavowed super-PACs during the primaries, pro-Clinton groups continued to pile up cash from wealthy patrons: thus far, 39 donors have given $1 million or more to groups supporting her. Several super-PACs have been competing for big donors supporting Trump, leaving would-be donors uncertain.
Super-PACs Supporting Clinton
Priorities USA Action
TOTAL AS OF AUGUST
$130.7M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raised
$69.0M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spent
$62.1M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash on Hand
Super-PACs Supporting Trump
Make America Number 1
TOTAL AS OF AUGUST
$3.1M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raised
$1.0M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spent
$3.2M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash on Hand
Correct the Record
TOTAL AS OF JUNE
$6.4M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raised
$5.9M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spent
$0.4M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash on Hand
Great America PAC
TOTAL AS OF AUGUST
$10.6M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raised
$8.6M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spent
$2.0M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash on Hand
American Bridge 21st Century
TOTAL AS OF JUNE
$12.1M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raised
$11.6M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spent
$0.9M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash on Hand
Ready PAC
TOTAL AS OF JUNE
$3.5M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raised
$3.9M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spent
$0.0M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash on Hand
Rebuilding America Now
TOTAL AS OF JUNE
$2.2M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raised
$1.6M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spent
$0.6M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash on Hand
Committee to Restore America's Greatness
TOTAL AS OF JUNE
$0.5M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raised
$0.4M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spent
$0.1M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash on Hand
Top Individual Donors to Clinton and Trump
Wealthy donors began contributing to the super-PACs backing Clinton before she declared her candidacy. Trump too is now accepting their help in the general election.
Top Donors to Clinton Campaign and PACs
$13.1M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S. Donald Sussman
10.1M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Haim & Cheryl Saban
9.5M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .George Soros
9.2M . . . . . . . . . JR & Mary Kathryn Pritzker
8.0M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fred Eychaner
Top donors to Trump campaign and PACs
$5.8M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Robert Mercer & family
2.1M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Geoff Palmer
1.5M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Phil Ruffin
1.0M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cherna Moskowitz
0.95M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Papa" Doug Manchester
* Includes donations to campaign committees, joint fundraising committees and allied super-PACs.
Spending Breakdown
Clinton is running a state-of-the-art version of a traditional presidential campaign, relying on big data and analytics to guide her spending on television, radio and digital advertising and the placement of her get out the vote infrastructure. Trump has invested most of his money on his digital and social media advertising, relying on earned media (news coverage) to get his message out.
At summer's end, both Clinton and Trump had amassed more money in the bank than at any point in the campaign. Clinton's lead in fundraising allowed her to outspend Trump again in August.
82%
Clinton
TOTAL CAMPAIGN BURN RATE
70%
Trump
TOTAL CAMPAIGN BURN RATE
While Trump is the largest donor to his own campaign, he's been criticized for spending some of that money at his own businesses for events, office space and services.
Campaigns typically raise more money in the final months than at any other time, but spend it even faster.
Spending Breakdown for the Trump Campaign
TOTALS
Top Categories for Trump Campaign
AUGUST
$11.1M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Digital Consulting/Online Advertising
$5.3M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Media Placement
$4.4M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Travel
$2.1M. . . . . . . . . . . . . Hats, T-shirts, Buttons, Freight, etc.
$1.3M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Credit Card Payment
$1.0M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Field Consulting
$0.7M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Merchant Fee
$0.6M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Payroll
$0.6M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Audio Visual Services
$0.6M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Facility Rental
* Categories are approximate; Does not account for refunds
Top Vendors for Trump Campaign
AUGUST
$11.1M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Giles-Parscale
Web design and digital marketing
$4.5M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rick Reed Media
Advertising strategy and production
$2.3M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Private Jet Services
Private air transportation
$1.7M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ace Specialties
Promotional materials: hats, t-shirts, mugs, etc.
$1.3M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . American Express
Credit card payments
$0.8M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamestown Associates
Political consulting firm
$0.7M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Air Charter Team
Private air transportation
$0.5M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stripe
Payment processing technology
$0.4M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cali-Fame
Hats
$0.3M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Red Curve Solutions
Private air transportation
* Categories are approximate; Does not account for refunds
Spending Breakdown for the Clinton Campaign
TOTALS
Top Spending Categories for Clinton Campaign
AUGUST
$32.7M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Media Buy
$3.6M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Payroll & Benefits
$2.3M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Travel and Subsistence
$1.9M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Event Production
$1.8M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Payroll Taxes
$1.8M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Credit Card Payment
$1.3M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Polling
$0.9M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rent
$0.8M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Revenue Processing Fees
$0.5M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Media Production
* Categories are approximate; Does not account for refunds
Top Vendors for Clinton Campaign
AUGUST
$32.7M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .GMMB
Advertising, consulting, advocacy agency
$1.9M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ADP
Human resource, payroll services
$1.8M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Markham Productions
Private air transportation
$1.8M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Executive Fliteways
Private air transportation
$1.0M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stripe
Payment processing technology
$0.9M. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Benenson Strategy Group
Communications research and strategy
$0.7M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Financial Innovations
Merchant services and payment processing
$0.5M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Perkins Coie
Law firm
$0.4M. . . . . . . . . . . . .Grunwald Communications
Political consulting
$0.4M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aetna
Health Insurance
* Categories are approximate; Does not account for refunds