Some helpful definitions

  • Political Action Committees or PACs

    • A PAC is an organization formed to support (or oppose) a political candidate.
    • Federal law governs how PACs operate for federal elections. However, that law does not apply to elections for state and local offices. Utah Code defines how PACs must operate for local elections. State code defines what a PAC can do, how money needs to be reported and so on.
    • In Utah, an individual may support a candidate however they choose, but if that person wants to raise money to support a candidate he/she MUST FORM A PAC. It is illegal to collect money from multiple individuals to support candidates without forming a PAC.
    • There is no limit to how many candidates a PAC may support and it may support different candidates across multiple election cycles.
    • PACs can give money to candidates, other PACs, or to PICs. 

  • Political Issues Committee or PIC

    • A PIC is like a PAC but organized to support (or oppose) a political issue rather than a candidate.
    • A PIC is pretty much a Utah thing with its own name and few unique rules. In other states and at the national level they are usually considered a kind of PAC.
    • Utah Code defines how PICs operate including what they can do, how money is reported, etc. 
    • PICs are formed to address a single issue.
    • PICs cannot give money to candidates or to PACs.

  • Non-profits

    • This term covers a broad range of entities which have a purpose other than generating profits for its owners or members. Just a few examples: Schools, Charities, Homeowner associations (HOAs), Religious organizations, Business associations, Political parties
    • There are both state and federal laws defining what non-profits are and how they must operate to qualify for that status. 
    • Generally, non-profits will file with the IRS to be tax exempt. This means that although they bring in money, because there is not a profit goal like a business, they are exempted from paying taxes on the money they raise.
    • The IRS has restrictions on how an entity can use its money and still be tax exempt. An entity may have a portion of its activities which are tax exempt while another portion of its activities are taxable.
    • While most non-profits are tax exempt, donations to them may not be tax deductible. Tax deductions are only given if the organization further qualifies as charitable, religious, or educational. 

  • 501(c)(3)

    • 501(c)(3) is the IRS name (section of the tax code) for charitable organizations.
    • They are tax exempt and donations to them are tax deductible.
    • Historically, they may NOT seek to influence legislation or promote candidates. The Trump administration has recently changed some of these long-standing rules. 

  • 501(c)(4)

    • 501(c)(4) is the IRS name (section of the tax code) for social welfare organizations.
    • They are tax exempt but are NOT tax deductible.
    • They must be “operated exclusively to promote social welfare. [A 501(c)(4)] must operate primarily to further the common good and general welfare of the people of the community.”
    • “Seeking legislation germane to the organization's programs is a permissible means of attaining social welfare purposes.”
    • However, their primary activity may not be political as in supporting (or opposing) candidates.

  • Dark Money

    • One of the primary objectives of campaign finance law is to ensure that the public can know where donations to a particular candidate or cause comes from.
    • “Dark money” is a contribution where the source is not revealed.
    • In Utah, a candidate, PAC, or PIC publicly reports the donor name and address for any contribution over $50.
    • A candidate may receive up to $1000 from a PAC and will just show the name and address of the PAC. However, one can still look up the PAC and find out who their donors are.
    • 501(c)(4)s, like other non-profits, are not required to disclose their donors. 
    • When a candidate receives a donation from a 501(c)(4) it will show the name and address of the 501(c)(4). However, since a 501(c)(4)s does not list or report its donors, the public cannot find out where the funds originated - hence, “dark money.”

Stronger Together's organizational history


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).
  • Stronger Orem is a registered Utah PAC.


The roles of the two organizations are distinct. They have separate funding, separate bank accounts and separate reporting.


Three other PICs (Stronger Together, Stronger Together 11 and Stronger Together 14) were created for past issues but are now dissolved since those issues no longer exist.


Our entities are listed below. The links for the PAC and PICs take you to the Lt Governor’s website where you can view our organization documents along with each disclosure filing detailing donations and expenditures.


Stronger Together - PIC

  • Stronger Together was organized in May 2022.
  • It was formed to oppose the Orem-only school district promoted by Mayor Dave Young and council members LaNae Millett, Dave Spencer and Terry Peterson.
  • The PIC was dissolved in Sep 2023.


Stronger Orem - PAC

  • Stronger Orem (SO) was organized in Feb? 2023.
  • It was formed as a PAC so it could support candidates in any number of local political races.
  • SO actively supported candidates in the 2023 Orem municipal race, the 2024 state school board race, and in the current 2025 Orem municipal race.
  • SO is still active.
  • Bank balance as of 24 July 2025: $10,126


Stronger Together Community - 501(c)(4)

  • Stronger Together Community (STC) was organized in May 2024.
  • STC’s purpose is to support and strengthen our public schools and foster greater public participation in local government.
  • STC is still active but the majority of Stronger Together efforts are in the PAC.
  • STC income thus far in 2025 is $168
  • Bank balance as of 24 July 2025: $3046
  • Click to view Utah State business registration and annual tax filing


Stronger Together 11 and  Stronger Together 14 - PICs

  • Stronger Together supported a district-led proposal for a two-way split of Alpine School District.
  • In July 2024, when certain communities promoted a three-way split, Stronger Together formed ST 11 and ST 14 PICs opposing the initiatives.
  • The PICs were dissolved in January 2025