Protecting the Movement: Our Q1 2026 Account Use Policy Update

Announcements

By ActBlue, May 22, 2026

We’re raising our standards, expanding our tools, and cutting off bad actors before they reach donors.

When we updated our Account Use Policy last summer, we made a commitment to continue setting the standard for platform security. In the first quarter of 2026, we continued to deliver on that promise – not as a reaction to unmerited Republican attacks, but because protecting the people who give through ActBlue is a responsibility we hold dearly.

Actions speak louder than words, so read on to see exactly what we did during the first three months of the year and the impact those actions are having on donors, candidates and organizations.

Community-Enforced Accountability

Donors can flag potential violations of ActBlue’s Account Use Policy via the “Report-A-Form link” at the bottom of fundraising pages when logged into their ActBlue express accounts. Each report goes directly to our team and accelerates our review process.

(Note: To see the Report-a-Form link, a donor must be an ActBlue Express user – a returning donor with a saved email address).

Setting Clear Standards

This quarter, we published clear public standards spelling out exactly what a membership program has to look like and what it needs to offer to be considered legitimate: exclusive content, events, recognition, or tangible benefits. No vague “supporter status.” No deceptive renewal language.

We’ve already used these standards to take action against violations, and organizations that fall short are subject to enforcement.

Catching Issues Before They Reach Donors

Since August 2025, we’ve denied onboarding to 63 organizations that didn’t meet our standards before they ever sent a single fundraising email.

Our team actively monitors existing organizations for red flags and opens reviews proactively, not just when a complaint comes in. The earlier we catch a problem, the more quickly we are able to resolve it. The goal is a platform that’s safe for donors and fair to the organizations doing the right thing.

Graduated Enforcement Is Working

Throughout the first quarter, we prioritized our education-first approach, and it’s working. We have been able to work with organizations to identify and correct issues before taking stronger action. Since our last update in November 2025, we have had:

24 organizations brought into compliance through outreach and education
72 organizations on active monitoring
27 entities permanently removed

As ActBlue CEO Regina Wallace-Jones put it, “This is a process rooted in accountability that creates meaningful space for improvement, yet leaves no ambiguity about the consequences of inaction.”

The Bottom Line

Every enforcement action, every denied onboarding, every donor report acted upon is us doing exactly what we said we have committed to do.

If you’ve seen something on ActBlue that doesn’t feel right, report it. That’s how we keep this platform trustworthy. Enforcement alone can’t do this. Donors who speak up are a critical part of how this platform stays trustworthy.

NOTE: To keep you informed about our progress, we’re committing to regular transparency. We’ll continue to publish quarterly enforcement updates on this blog, sharing data on our actions, trends we’re seeing, and how we’re evolving our standards. You deserve to see the work we’re doing to protect your trust, and we’re committed to showing you – not just telling you.

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ActBlue is the infrastructure that keeps Democrats moving forward, together, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re looking to find a campaign or cause to support, ready to run for office in your community, or just making sure you’re registered to vote, we’ve built the tools — including Field Tools and Website Builder — to help you show up and make an impact.

ActBlue is a safe and secure fundraising platform that enables millions of Americans to participate at a grassroots level in the most fundamental pillar of our society: elections. It’s our priority to ensure that donors’ contributions and personal information are protected. ActBlue does not sell donor data or information. Ever.

If you believe in what ActBlue does and want to make sure this infrastructure stays strong, independent, and ready for November, please consider leaving a tip when you make your next contribution. Tips go to fund the massive technical infrastructure, fraud prevention, and cybersecurity required to process billions of dollars for thousands of Democratic candidates safely. When you leave a tip, you are ensuring that a local school board candidate or a grassroots organizer has access to the same technology as a national campaign.

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