My friend Sarah texted me last November: “Got another Forward Blue text asking for $15 with a 400% match. Obama supposedly sent it. Is this for real?”
She wasn’t alone. Thousands of Americans received similar messages during the 2024 election cycle. So let’s examine whether Forward Blue is legit.
The Numbers Tell a Complicated Story
Forward Blue is indeed a registered Political Action Committee with the Federal Election Commission under ID C00835041. According to OpenSecrets data, the organization raised $22 million during the 2023-2024 election cycle.
But here’s where things get interesting. Of that $22 million, Forward Blue spent approximately 53% on media, 31% on campaign expenses, and 8% on fundraising. Direct contributions to federal candidates? Just 0.15%—roughly $33,000 out of $22 million raised.
Their independent expenditures supporting Democratic candidates totaled $4.4 million. That’s better, but still leaves roughly $17 million unaccounted for in terms of direct electoral impact.
The Transparency Problem
Jennifer Morrison, a retired teacher from Wisconsin, donated $50 to Forward Blue in March 2024. “I wanted to support progressive candidates,” she told online forums. “But when I tried to find out who runs the organization, their website said they removed staff information due to death threats. That made me uncomfortable.”
Forward Blue’s website acknowledges removing leadership details for safety reasons. While security concerns for political operatives are legitimate, the lack of transparency raises red flags for watchdog organizations.
What Donors Are Actually Experiencing
Text messages have become Forward Blue’s calling card. Recipients report receiving messages claiming to be from prominent Democrats, offering donation matches like 400% or 500%. These tactics mirror those of organizations that campaign finance experts call “scam PACs”—entities that spend most money on fundraising rather than political work.
Marcus Chen, a software developer from California, shared: “The text said my donation would be matched 500%. When I researched it, I couldn’t find who was doing the matching. The FEC reports showed most money went to ‘media’ and ‘campaign expenses,’ which are pretty vague categories.”
Scamadviser.com gave Forward Blue’s website a “very low trust score,” flagging concerns including spam reports and a domain registrar hosting numerous low-rated websites.
Not Quite a Scam, But Not Quite Transparent
Is Forward Blue legit? Technically, yes. They’re a registered Super PAC. They did spend $4.4 million supporting Democratic candidates in 2024.
But is Forward Blue operating with the transparency donors should expect? That’s debatable.
The organization operates in murky waters between legitimate political fundraising and what critics call the “fundraising industrial complex.” When 53% of donations go to media and only 20% reaches candidates or independent expenditures supporting them, donors have legitimate questions.
What You Should Do Before Donating
If you’re considering supporting Forward Blue, here’s what experts recommend:
Visit the FEC website (fec.gov) and search for committee C00835041. Review their actual expenditures, not just marketing claims.
Verify “match” promises. Most political matches come from a small donor pool—not unlimited funds. If a PAC can’t clearly explain who’s matching your donation, that’s a warning sign.
Consider donating directly to candidates or established organizations with transparent leadership. ActBlue (not affiliated with Forward Blue) processes donations directly to campaigns with full transparency.
Trust your gut. If a text message uses language like “HUMILIATE” opponents or creates artificial urgency, that’s emotional manipulation.
The Bottom Line on Is Forward Blue Legit
Forward Blue exists in a gray zone. They’re not an outright scam, but their spending patterns, lack of transparency, and aggressive fundraising tactics suggest they’re more focused on building their own operation than efficiently channeling grassroots dollars to progressive candidates.
Roughly 80 cents of every dollar you donate goes to overhead and operations, not directly to candidates. The choice is yours—just make it an informed one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Forward Blue a registered PAC?
Yes, Forward Blue is registered with the Federal Election Commission as a Super PAC (Independent Expenditure-Only Committee) with ID C00835041, registered on March 10, 2023.
How much money has Forward Blue raised?
According to FEC filings, Forward Blue raised $22,001,726 during the 2023-2024 election cycle.
How much money from Forward Blue actually goes to candidates?
Direct contributions to federal candidates account for only 0.15% of Forward Blue’s budget. However, they spent approximately $4.4 million on independent expenditures supporting Democratic candidates, which is about 20% of funds raised.
Why did Forward Blue remove staff information from their website?
Forward Blue states they removed leadership and staff details due to credible death threats from extremist groups. While such threats are unfortunately common in modern politics, this lack of transparency concerns some donors and watchdog organizations.
Are the donation matches in Forward Blue text messages real?
The “400% match” or “500% match” claims should be viewed skeptically. These typically come from a small pool of large donors, not unlimited funds. Always verify match claims before donating.
Is donating to Forward Blue safe?
From a security standpoint, Forward Blue uses standard payment processing with SSL encryption. However, you should evaluate whether their spending priorities align with your donation goals before contributing.
What’s the difference between Forward Blue and ActBlue?
ActBlue is a nonprofit technology platform that processes donations directly to Democratic candidates and committees with full transparency. Forward Blue is a Super PAC that independently decides how to spend donated funds. They are not affiliated despite the similar names.