The Political Is Profitable
Political Controversy and Litigation Crowdfunding Outcomes
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6445397 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Jeremy Snyder (0000-0002-8236-2923, Simon Fraser University, corresponding author), Claire Wilson (0000-0003-1054-4928, Simon Fraser University) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 53 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Publication date | 2025-06-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Politics & Policy (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1555-5623 • E-ISSN: 1747-1346 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/polp.70049 |
| OpenAlex | W4411237762 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 30 |
Little research has been conducted on litigation crowdfunding, including how links to politically controversial causes may influence fundraising success. This study collected 500 crowdfunding campaigns for legal expenses initiated between December 27, 2022, and June 1, 2023, and 50 litigation campaigns with the highest fundraising totals on the GiveSendGo crowdfunding platform. These campaigns were categorized into politically controversial and non‐politically controversial categories. 236 (47.2%) politically controversial fundraisers received median of $579 of $30,000 requested from 8 donations. Two hundred sixty‐four (52.8%) non‐politically controversial campaigns requested median of $10,000 and raised median of $0 from 0 donations. Forty‐six of 50 campaigns with the highest fundraising totals were for politically controversial issues. The relative success of politically controversial litigation campaigns suggests that they benefit from this connection, and campaigners may be motivated to stress politically controversial elements in their campaigns. Non‐politically controversial campaigns with litigation needs may find it relatively difficult to support their needs through crowdfunding. Related Articles Brogan, M. J., and J. Mendilow. 2012. “The Telescoping Effects of Public Campaign Funding: Evaluating the Impact of Clean Elections in Arizona, Maine, and New Jersey.” Politics & Policy 40, no. 3: 492–518. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2012.00353.x . Jäckle, S., and T. Metz. 2017. “Beauty Contest Revisited: The Effects of Perceived Attractiveness, Competence, and Likability on the Electoral Success of German MPs.” Politics & Policy 45, no. 4: 495–534. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12209 . Pompl, S., and S. Gherghina. 2019. “Messages and Familiar Faces: Crowdfunding in the 2017 U.K. Electoral Campaign.” Politics & Policy 47, no. 3: 436–463. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12301
Business · Economics · Law and economics · Political economy · Political science · Politics · FinTech, Crowdfunding, Digital Finance · Law · Microfinance and Financial Inclusion · Sharing Economy and Platforms
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| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |