We are the unusual organization that is more interested in your good judgment than your money. That's why we have no required membership fee. Nevertheless, as a non-profit organization, your voluntary donations are vital in our work to put practical solutions ahead of special interest and partisan politics.

In our first three years of existence, we have raised just under $18,000 in member donations. The vast majority of that has gone to developing and maintaining the website. Except for limited administrative assistance, all the work that is done for The Common Interest, including the work of Keith Allred and the board members, is done without pay. With a recently completed upgrade for the website, most donation dollars going forward will be spent on spreading the word to build membership.

We believe few organizations have a track record for accomplishing so much with financial resources that are so meager. When we go up against far better funded special interests, we usually prevail. Your donations go along way with us.

Contributions that you make go to The Common Interest, Inc., the non-profit legal entity responsible for developing our issues briefs. We're are currently seeking IRS 501(c)(3) status for this organization. While we're already a non-profit and do not have to pay taxes, donations are not tax deductable until and unless we are designated as a 501(c)(3). (The Common Interest of Idaho, Inc. is the legal entity responsible for advocating positions in the Legislature. It is a 501(c)(4) non-profit. It's work is done excusively by unpaid volunteers.)

Since one of our major goals is to reduce the influence of special interests, we want to be particularly careful that we are not influenced by them ourselves. Accordingly, we are voluntarily limiting contributions to a maximum of $250 per year. Contributions are accepted by individuals only.