No matter what your political persuasion, or whether
you're running for the DNC in Boston this month or
the RNC in New York City next month, don't assume
that political contributions, or contributions to
non-profits that fit your political worldview, are
tax-deductible charitable donations.

The Internal Revenue Service is very clear: You
cannot take a charitable deduction for money or
property you give to political groups or candidates
for public office; groups that attempt to lobby for
law changes as a substantial part of their
activities; or labor unions and chambers of commerce
(although you may be able to deduct union dues as a
miscellaneous itemized deduction or chamber dues as
a business expense).

For more information see IRS Publication 526,
"Charitable Contributions" at
www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p526.pdf. And if you're
involved in running a charity, the IRS warns you to
be careful in any efforts to educate voters in a
presidential election-year advisory at
www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=122887,00.html