BUSINESSMAN
Total Donated
$88,737,341
Contributions
70,719
Unique Donors
1,702
Top Employer
BUSINESSMAN
Contributors who listed BUSINESSMAN on federal itemized receipts account for $88.7M, according to FEC.gov aggregates on LobbyVault. The cluster is 70,719 contributions from only 1,702 donors — a short unique-name list relative to the dollar total. BUSINESSMAN is a self-reported employer/occupation string, not a NAICS sector, and it is a gendered title that FEC software does not recode into EXECUTIVE, SELF-EMPLOYED, or a company name. Those other labels have their own rows.
Key figures
- BUSINESSMAN-labeled receipts total $88.7M.
- Only 1,702 donors produced 70,719 contribution lines.
- EXECUTIVE and named companies are separate FEC strings.
- BUSINESSMAN is self-reported form text, not a NAICS industry.
A small list, a large dollar headline
1,702 donors produced 70,719 BUSINESSMAN contribution lines totaling $88.7M. Compared with RETIRED's hundreds of thousands of donors, this is a concentrated label. Concentration here means few unique strings in the donor count, not a LobbyVault finding about wealth.
The packet does not publish a mean gift. This page therefore does not invent one. Repeat itemized receipts still explain why contribution count exceeds donor count.
Literal text, not 'business' as a NAICS group
People who typed their LLC, EXECUTIVE, or SELF-EMPLOYED are not inside $88.7M. BUSINESSMAN is the stored word. NAICS manufacturing, retail, or holding-company codes are not applied.
A gendered title also means BUSINESSWOMAN, if it appears elsewhere in the file, would be a different string. This row does not claim to be all business owners.
Full analysis: BUSINESSMAN on FEC forms: $88.7M from 1,702 donors →
Questions
- How much have BUSINESSMAN donors given federally?
- LobbyVault attributes $88.7M to the BUSINESSMAN FEC string, from 70,719 contributions and 1,702 donors. EXECUTIVE and company-name employers are separate. The label is not a NAICS sector. Figures on this answer are limited to that FEC string as indexed on LobbyVault; unitemized gifts and non-federal filings are omitted.
- Why are there only 1,702 donors but $88.7M?
- The unique-donor count is 1,702; the contribution count is 70,719. Repeat gifts and large itemized amounts can produce a high dollar total on a short list. The packet does not publish an average. Figures on this answer are limited to that FEC string as indexed on LobbyVault; unitemized gifts and non-federal filings are omitted.
- Does this include all small-business owners?
- No. Only receipts grouped under BUSINESSMAN. SELF-EMPLOYED, SELF, CONTRACTOR, and named firms are other rows. The title is also gendered and does not capture every owner. Figures on this answer are limited to that FEC string as indexed on LobbyVault; unitemized gifts and non-federal filings are omitted.
- Is BUSINESSMAN the same as EXECUTIVE?
- No. They are different free-text values with different donor counts and dollar totals. LobbyVault does not synonymize them. Figures on this answer are limited to that FEC string as indexed on LobbyVault; unitemized gifts and non-federal filings are omitted. This answer uses only the packet totals for that FEC employer/occupation string as indexed on LobbyVault from FEC.gov, with no NAICS overlay applied.
Industry labels come from FEC employer/occupation self-reports, not NAICS. Data from FEC.gov via LobbyVault.
Industry ties
Cycle-over-Cycle Trend
| Cycle | Total | Contributions | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | $231,722 | 309 | 180 |
| 1982 | $107,090 | 96 | 49 |
| 1984 | $150,187 | 129 | 46 |
| 1986 | $123,200 | 102 | 51 |
| 1988 | $177,850 | 141 | 56 |
| 1990 | $122,260 | 137 | 53 |
| 1992 | $174,275 | 183 | 60 |
| 1994 | $109,340 | 137 | 48 |
| 1996 | $165,860 | 207 | 61 |
| 1998 | $127,886 | 176 | 56 |
| 2000 | $291,719 | 281 | 65 |
| 2002 | $216,028 | 246 | 52 |
| 2004 | $338,822 | 322 | 61 |
| 2006 | $399,498 | 307 | 47 |
| 2008 | $460,448 | 421 | 53 |
| 2010 | $378,223 | 328 | 46 |
| 2012 | $400,561 | 330 | 50 |
| 2014 | $412,011 | 195 | 36 |
Top Donors
| # | Name | Total | Contributions | City / State | Occupation | History |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AGNEW, DAN J | $21,000 | 15 | CENTRALIA, WA | — | 1980 |
| 2 | LYTLE, DICK | $15,500 | 11 | GRANTS PASS, OR | — | 1980 |
| 3 | COORS, PETER H | $14,200 | 11 | GOLDEN, CO | — | 1980 |
| 4 | CROWN, HENRY | $10,150 | 16 | CHICAGO, IL | — | 1980 |
| 5 | HICKS, DAVID A | $8,000 | 2 | VIENNA, VA | — | 1980 |
| 6 | DOWNE, EDWARD R JR | $6,500 | 7 | NEW YORK, NY | — | 1980 |
| 7 | COLEMAN, JOHN B | $5,350 | 6 | CHICAGO, IL | — | 1980 |
| 8 | LYTLE, DICK MR | $4,000 | 3 | GRANTS PASS, OR | — | 1980 |
| 9 | ANDERSON, W A JR | $3,492 | 3 | HOUSTON, TX | — | 1980 |
| 10 | D'HEMECOURT, ROBERT J | $3,450 | 5 | NEW ORLEANS, LA | — | 1980 |
| 11 | GOODWIN, RANDY | $3,270 | 1 | SOUTH GATE, CA | — | 1980 |
| 12 | LYTLE, DICK MRS | $3,000 | 2 | GRANTS PASS, OR | — | 1980 |
| 13 | KAISER, GEORGE B | $2,750 | 4 | TULSA, OK | — | 1980 |
| 14 | LIGHT, WALTER SCOTT | $2,750 | 3 | SAN ANTONIO, TX | — | 1980 |
| 15 | CANADAY, J D JR | $2,500 | 1 | FRESNO, CA | — | 1980 |
| 16 | ALEXANDER, R D | $2,450 | 6 | GARDNERVILLE, NV | — | 1980 |
| 17 | BERMAN, MURIEL M | $2,400 | 3 | ALLENTOWN, PA | — | 1980 |
| 18 | BEHRAKIS, GEORGE D | $2,250 | 4 | TEWKSBURY, MA | — | 1980 |
| 19 | LINDE, EDWARD H | $2,200 | 2 | WESTON, MA | — | 1980 |
| 20 | BLASI, ANGELO | $2,000 | 2 | MOOSIC, PA | — | 1980 |
| 21 | MARRIOTT, RICHARD E | $2,000 | 3 | WASHINGTON, DC | — | 1980 |
| 22 | HO, STUART | $2,000 | 2 | HONOLULU, HI | — | 1980 |
| 23 | LIMB, JOHN J | $2,000 | 2 | NEW YORK, NY | — | 1980 |
| 24 | AGNEW, DAN SR | $2,000 | 2 | CENTRALIA, WA | — | 1980 |
| 25 | AGNEW, DAN JR | $2,000 | 2 | CENTRALIA, WA | — | 1980 |
| 26 | HEILIGENSTEIN, C E | $2,000 | 2 | BELLEVILLE, IL | — | 1980 |
| 27 | MAHBOUBI-FARDI, D | $2,000 | 1 | LOS ANGELES, CA | — | 1980 |
| 28 | JACUZZI, KENNETH A | $1,750 | 3 | PARADISE BALLEY, AR | — | 1980 |
| 29 | HUNTER, JAMES H | $1,750 | 2 | WILLIAMSTOWN, MA | — | 1980 |
| 30 | ADDINGTON, ROBERT | $1,500 | 2 | CATLETTSBURG, KY | — | 1980 |
| 31 | FLOOR, EMANUEL A | $1,500 | 2 | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | — | 1980 |
| 32 | BERGEN, DAVID B | $1,500 | 2 | PALATINE, IL | — | 1980 |
| 33 | FEENEY, PAT | $1,500 | 3 | PIERRE, SD | — | 1980 |
| 34 | HOWARD, JACKSON | $1,500 | 3 | PROVO, UT | — | 1980 |
| 35 | LEVIN, MORTON H | $1,450 | 3 | ATLANTIC BEACH, NY | — | 1980 |
| 36 | LUFFEY, GEORGE L | $1,250 | 3 | MONROE, LA | — | 1980 |
| 37 | EAKINS, J L MR | $1,250 | 2 | MIAMI, FL | — | 1980 |
| 38 | LITTLE, MILES | $1,050 | 2 | BENTON, PA | — | 1980 |
| 39 | BROWN, H O | $1,000 | 1 | MAGNOLIA, AR | — | 1980 |
| 40 | FLEISHER, BERNARD | $1,000 | 2 | BROOKLYN, NY | — | 1980 |
| 41 | MUSE, WILLIS H SR | $1,000 | 1 | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | — | 1980 |
| 42 | FAY, THOMAS T | $1,000 | 1 | WESTPORT, CT | — | 1980 |
| 43 | DUGGER, EDWARD L | $1,000 | 1 | GAINESVILLE, FL | — | 1980 |
| 44 | HAYCOCK, S H | $1,000 | 1 | PLEASANT GROVE, UT | — | 1980 |
| 45 | AMASTAGNI, PHILIP | $1,000 | 1 | MODESTO, CA | — | 1980 |
| 46 | DALTON, EUGENE | $1,000 | 1 | KANAB, UT | — | 1980 |
| 47 | GUEST, CALVIN | $1,000 | 1 | BRYAN, TX | — | 1980 |
| 48 | CADY, PHILLIP B | $1,000 | 1 | ST LOUIS, MO | — | 1980 |
| 49 | BALSAM, E G MR | $1,000 | 1 | MILES CITY, MT | — | 1980 |
| 50 | BEIDLER, FRANCES MR II | $1,000 | 1 | LAKE FOREST, IL | — | 1980 |
Top Recipients
| # | Committee | Total | Contributions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ACTBLUEC00401224 | $389,320 | 52 |
| 2 | DSCCC00042366 | $290,243 | 34 |
| 3 | IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTYC00035600 | $163,000 | 2 |
| 4 | REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEEC00003418 | $162,295 | 46 |
| 5 | WINREDC00694323 | $157,709 | 34 |
| 6 | NRSCC00027466 | $112,887 | 44 |
| 7 | AMERICAN CROSSROADSC00487363 | $101,000 | 12 |
| 8 | TAKE BACK THE HOUSE 2022C00766782 | $100,000 | 11 |
| 9 | NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEEC00303339 | $91,500 | 5 |
| 10 | DNC SERVICES CORP / DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEEC00010603 | $79,853 | 28 |
| 11 | COLORADO REPUBLICAN COMMITTEEC00033134 | $74,000 | 12 |
| 12 | DCCCC00000935 | $72,863 | 34 |
| 13 | HOST MARRIOTT SERVICES CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEEC00109413 | $65,140 | 3 |
| 14 | FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE PACC00703975 | $62,232 | 31 |
| 15 | REPUBLICAN PARTY OF KENTUCKYC00156810 | $58,400 | 4 |
| 16 | OBAMA VICTORY FUND 2012C00494740 | $58,093 | 13 |
| 17 | BOK FINANCIAL CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEEC00351924 | $55,500 | 4 |
| 18 | OBAMA FOR AMERICAC00431445 | $53,858 | 25 |
| 19 | SENATE GEORGIA BATTLEGROUND FUNDC00736967 | $51,100 | 4 |
| 20 | MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEEC00284810 | $50,420 | 5 |
| 21 | JOHN BOLTON SUPER PACC00542464 | $50,000 | 11 |
| 22 | PUT ALASKA FIRSTC00544346 | $50,000 | 1 |
| 23 | MISSISSIPPI REPUBLICAN PARTYC00084368 | $46,775 | 1 |
| 24 | GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (GENERAL DYNAMICS EMPLOYEE PAC)C00078451 | $45,000 | 16 |
| 25 | ANDEAVOR LLC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEEC00358366 | $41,670 | 1 |