Independent political expenditures
Does the company publicly disclose independent political expenditures made in direct support of or opposition to a campaign, including recipient names and amounts given?
About the data
The CPA-Zicklin Index is a leading benchmark that evaluates how publicly traded companies in the United States disclose and manage their political spending. Developed by the Center for Political Accountability (CPA) in collaboration with the Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, the Index provides investors, stakeholders, and the public with a clear view of corporate transparency and accountability in political engagement.
The Index assesses companies across multiple dimensions, including whether they disclose direct and indirect political contributions, how they oversee such spending at the board and executive levels, and the extent to which they publicly communicate policies governing political activity. By tracking trends over time, the CPA-Zicklin Index highlights best practices, identifies risks, and encourages companies to adopt greater openness in their political expenditures.
The Index assesses companies across multiple dimensions, including whether they disclose direct and indirect political contributions, how they oversee such spending at the board and executive levels, and the extent to which they publicly communicate policies governing political activity. By tracking trends over time, the CPA-Zicklin Index highlights best practices, identifies risks, and encourages companies to adopt greater openness in their political expenditures.
Methodology
Not Applicable: The company has a clear policy prohibiting independent expenditures using corporate funds.
Yes: The company discloses any direct independent expenditures made to support or oppose a candidate or ballot measure, identifying the candidate or measure being supported or opposed.
Partial: The company partially discloses (e.g., provides a list of beneficiaries but not the amount each received).
No: No disclosure is provided, or the company provides a single, aggregate amount of its political spending.
Scores are based on publicly available information, with companies receiving credit when disclosure or policy commitments are clearly documented.
The “Scoring Key” (see Appendix C) lists the 2024 indicators and the maximum points given for each. Numerical scores were assigned following a simple arithmetic system, described below.
• A response of “No” to an indicator resulted in a score of zero;
• A response of “Yes” or “Not Applicable (Not Applicable)” resulted in the maximum score; and
• A response of “Partial” resulted in half of the maximum score.
The indicators that are highlighted in the Scoring Key are considered “key performance indicators” (KPIs), which are scored more heavily than the rest.
Yes: The company discloses any direct independent expenditures made to support or oppose a candidate or ballot measure, identifying the candidate or measure being supported or opposed.
Partial: The company partially discloses (e.g., provides a list of beneficiaries but not the amount each received).
No: No disclosure is provided, or the company provides a single, aggregate amount of its political spending.
Scores are based on publicly available information, with companies receiving credit when disclosure or policy commitments are clearly documented.
The “Scoring Key” (see Appendix C) lists the 2024 indicators and the maximum points given for each. Numerical scores were assigned following a simple arithmetic system, described below.
• A response of “No” to an indicator resulted in a score of zero;
• A response of “Yes” or “Not Applicable (Not Applicable)” resulted in the maximum score; and
• A response of “Partial” resulted in half of the maximum score.
The indicators that are highlighted in the Scoring Key are considered “key performance indicators” (KPIs), which are scored more heavily than the rest.
License
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Not Applicable
Yes
Partial
No
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Company Website
, Aggregate Data Report