Our response to the accusations


Stronger Together is a grassroots organization led by Orem residents. We rely on volunteers and small donations to support efforts that we believe will improve our community. Many voters in Orem view Stronger Together as a trusted voice supporting school issues and candidates in non-partisan local politics.


Since we organized in 2022, a small but very vocal and well-funded group has sought to discredit our members and organization. Once again these detractors are accusing Stronger Together of improper behavior – purporting, with zero evidence, that Stronger Together is using money from unidentified sources to adversely influence our community.

This is categorically untrue.

The basic facts


  1. Stronger Together Community is the 501(c)(4) arm of the Stronger Together movement.


    2.  Stronger Together Community has never given money to any candidate or PAC.


    3.  Stronger Together Community has never put money into any Orem campaign.


    4.  The only money Stronger Together Community ever spent on a political campaign was in 2024 to PICs working in Lehi and Saratoga Springs opposing an Alpine District 3-way split. This was less than $1200.


    5.  Stronger Together Community is committed to this practice and will never donate to candidates, PACs or future PICs.


 

Orem residents may ask, “But Stronger Together is certainly involved in this campaign! How can you say that you are not supporting candidates?”


Our Current Organization


"Stronger Together" is the umbrella name for all our grassroots efforts. We currently exist as two properly organized entities:


  • Stronger Together Community is a Utah non-profit corporation registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(4). Its purpose is to support and strengthen our public schools and foster greater public participation in local government.


  • Stronger Orem is a registered Utah PAC. Its purpose is to support exceptional candidates running for public office who will make positive, lasting contributions to our schools and community. 


The roles of the two organizations are distinct. They have separate funding, separate bank accounts and separate reporting. This is standard practice. Non-profits like AARP, Faith and Family Coalition, National Rifle Association, National Organization for Women, Sierra Club, and virtually every other non-profit, are organized the same way. Even for-profit corporations like Utah Power or the Utah Jazz set up multiple entities - a non-profit to work in areas of social good and a PAC to work in the political arena.


Stronger Orem engages in political races and support candidates.


Stronger Together Community does not.


Why did you create Stronger Together Community?


Because of Prop 2, Stronger Together brought together some great people who care about our schools and community. Many hoped that we could continue to share our knowledge, passions and collective capacities to contribute in ways that weren't part of a political campaign. We wanted to build an on-going organization to do good.


Through research and discussions with similar groups, we learned that the right kind of entity to accomplish this is called a "social welfare non-profit." The IRS name for for a social welfare non-profit is a 501(c)(4).


We created Stronger Together Community in May 2024 with the stated purpose of supporting and strengthening our public schools and fostering greater participation in our local government.


 
What is Stronger Together Community doing?


Frankly - not much.


Everyone has been very busy and it seems our extra time is always pulled into the political stuff that relies on Stronger Orem.


In addition, Stronger Together Community has little money.  So far this year we have raised $168 and our bank balance is just over $3000.


You can see that we find it very funny that some people think that our 501(c)(4) is somehow corrupting Orem politics with untold amounts of dark money.

This is it in a nutshell:


Stronger Orem PAC supports candidates. All contributions and expenditures are fully disclosed as required by Utah law.


Stronger Together Community 501(c)(4) is not engaged in campaigning and has not made any contributions to any candidates.


There is NO dark money entering Orem campaigns from our 501(c)(4).




You can learn more below about other relevant political organization structures, Stronger Together's full history, and a transparent explanation of how our money is reported.



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