Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) recorded its best fundraising and largest advertising cycle during the 2014 midterms. The House Democrats' fundraising arm boasted $172 million in fundraising this election, its best cycle ever, reaching $110 million in grassroots funding with 95 percent of gifts being $50 or less. That compares to the National Republican Congressional Committee's $131 million this cycle.

The National Republican Congressional Committee edged out the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in June fundraising, bringing in $10.7 million to $10.5 million for the DCCC. It is a switch from May, when the DCCC narrowly led the NRCC.

The DCCC has outraised the NRCC so far for the cycle by nearly $10 million, but because of the debt it took on from the 2010 cycle and a higher burn rate, it trails in cash on hand. The NRCC has $41 million in the bank, while the DCCC has $32 million.

Both presidential campaigns are citing fundraising spikes following the Supreme Court's decision upholding President Barack Obama's health care law. Mitt Romney's organization said Friday morning it had raised $4.2 million online, and Obama's operation, while not revealing specific numbers, said they had surpassed Team Romney's announced total.

The fundraising arm of the Democratic Party working to elect its candidates to the U.S. House of Representatives raised $6.7 million in May, catching up and topping its Republican counterpart for the month.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee figures released on Tuesday showed the DCCC raised more in May than in April and exceeded the National Republican Congressional Committee's haul for the cycle as well.

The NRCC brought in $6 million in May, but continues to have more cash left on hand.

The political committee representing House Democrats said it has raised more than $61 million last year, giving the group a stronger financial footing heading into the November election. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's fundraising blitz leaves it with $11.6 million in cash on hand, helping to extinguish the debt the group carried through late last year.

The National Republican Congressional Committee, the Democrats' House counterpart, said it has about $15 million cash on hand.

Here are six more online fundraising communications takeaways gleaned from the 2010 elections.

Here are three online fundraising and communications best practices provided by Taryn Rosenkranz.

Between President Barack Obama's successful 2008 online campaign and the myriad tactics government nominees employed this fall, the political sphere has provided many lessons in regards to online fundraising and communications.

The American Future Fund, organized under a tax code provision that lets donors remain anonymous, is one of dozens of groups awash in money from hidden sources and spending it at an unprecedented rate, largely on behalf of Republicans. The breadth and impact of these privately financed groups have made them, and the mystery of their backers, a campaign issue in their own right.

“I think most people are very comfortable giving anonymously,” Mr. Sembler said. “They want to be able to be helpful but not be seen by the public as taking sides.”

Fueled by anonymous, unlimited contributions, nonprofit organizations have emerged as the latest weapon of choice in political advertising, rivaling congressional campaign committees in the last election cycle.