Aristotle Changes Political Fundraising by Introducing Square to Campaigns and PACs

WASHINGTON, July 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Aristotle International, the leading nonpartisan political technology and data provider in the U.S., announced today that it will help campaigns and PACs at all levels to collect credit and debit card donations using Square Card Reader. The tiny white Square Card Reader device (www.aristotle.com/square), about the size of a postage stamp, is a valuable addition to Aristotle's suite of mobile campaign management tools, empowering canvassers and other field staff to quickly and easily accept credit and debit card payments when going door-to-door or at campaign events or rallies.

"Square is THE innovation in political fundraising for 2012," says Nancy Bocskor, professor at George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management and Democracy Coach. "Making the decision to contribute money is based more on emotion than reason -- and Square gives you the ability to collect money immediately.

"From the administrative side of fundraising, this will eliminate bounced checks and the common excuse, 'Oops, I can't contribute tonight because I left my checkbook at home.'" 

The Obama and Romney campaigns' recent adoption of Square to assist with campaign fundraising is kick-starting a trend that will impact even the smallest campaigns where money can be more easily raised by payment cards. By working with Square, Aristotle is the first political technology company to complete the circle when it comes to political fundraising. Beginning immediately, fundraisers will be able to use Aristotle's robust data files to identify potential donors, reach out to those donors, process contributions, and follow up with them with information or for future contributions, while ensuring the transaction complies with all state and Federal Election Commission reporting requirements. 

The full-service campaign suite now available for the first time will slash fees paid by campaigns to card processors, saving campaigns both money and time processing donations, while giving field staff greater flexibility. Square Card Readers are free and the processing fee is a simple, transparent 2.75% per swipe.

Campaigns and party committees can sign up at www.aristotle.com/square. After signing up, campaigns can obtain free Square Card Readers in the mail, which can immediately be plugged into the headphone jacks of iPhone, iPad or Android devices. Fundraisers then download a free app and can immediately begin accepting credit or debit cards on behalf of their campaigns. With Aristotle, they can additionally obtain voter files, integrated compliance software and up-to-date permission-based emails of registered voters. 

"It's very simple.  Square makes fundraising much easier," said Aristotle CEO John Aristotle Phillips. "Our mission at Aristotle has always been to provide data, technology and services on a non-partisan basis.  We facilitate the democratic process and help people run the very best campaigns they can.  These free devices and low processing charges perfectly complement the campaign tools available only from Aristotle."

"This is going to impact campaigns top to bottom, from President Obama to candidates running for mayor or state legislature," said Bulldog Finance Group Founder & CEO Scott Dworkin. "We're showing all of our clients how to take advantage of this. With Aristotle and Square, we can empower every volunteer and campaign worker to enlist supporters and collect donations at events or door-to-door, and have that information reported to the campaign's central database correctly."  

About Aristotle
For more than 25 years, every occupant of the White House -- Democrat and Republican -- has used Aristotle products and services, in addition to many U.S. Senators, members of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Democratic and Republican state party organizations.  Aristotle provides updated voter data and emails at www.voterlistsonline.com. 

SOURCE Aristotle International