NAICS 813940 Quarterly Industry Report
Political Organizations
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 813940Sector: Other Services (except Public Administration) (81)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Political Organizations (NAICS 813940) draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[4], Bureau of Labor Statistics[5], and SBA size standards database[6]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, political consulting analysts, and campaign finance researchers with current market data. All quantitative claims are sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the political organizations industry.
NAICS Sector
81
Other Services (except Public Administration)
Industry Definition & Overview
Political Organizations (NAICS 813940) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in promoting the interests of national, state, or local political parties or candidates per the U.S. Census Bureau[3]. Activities include political party operations at federal, state, and local levels, political action committee administration, campaign committee management, candidate fundraising operations, voter outreach and mobilization, and political convention planning.
This classification covers the organizational infrastructure of American electoral politics, from major national party committees to local precinct operations and single-candidate campaign organizations. Political action committees collect voluntary contributions from individuals and distribute funds to candidates and party organizations. Campaign committees manage advertising, field operations, polling, and voter contact programs during election cycles. Revenue comes from individual contributions, membership dues, event fundraising, and investment returns on accumulated funds. Per Census Bureau[4] data, roughly 2,400 establishments employ over 13,600 workers, though employment fluctuates substantially between election and off-election years as campaign organizations scale up and wind down on two-year and four-year cycles. Average hourly compensation of $35.73 per Bureau of Labor Statistics[5] data reflects the professional campaign management, fundraising, and communications expertise required during election seasons.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[6], the size standard is $14 million in average annual receipts. Under IRS[7] classification, qualifying political organizations fall under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, receiving tax-exempt status for funds used in exempt political functions. The Federal Election Commission[8] regulates campaign finance at the federal level, with state election boards overseeing state and local political organization compliance.
What's Included in This Industry
- National political party committee operations
- State and local political party organizations
- Political action committee administration
- Campaign committee management
- Candidate fundraising operations
- Voter outreach and mobilization programs
- Political convention planning and execution
- Political advertising and communications
- Ballot measure and referendum campaigns
- Political research and polling operations
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 81 |
| Subsector | Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | 813 |
| Industry Group | Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | 8139 |
| NAICS Industry | Political Organizations | 81394 |
| National Industry | Political Organizations | 813940 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 813319 | Other Social Advocacy Organizations | Other Social Advocacy Organizations conducts issue-based campaigns that intersect with political organization activities when social advocacy groups engage in voter education, ballot measure support, and legislative lobbying alongside partisan political operations |
| 813910 | Business Associations | Business Associations operates industry advocacy that parallels political organization lobbying when trade groups form affiliated PACs, coordinate legislative strategy with party committees, and mobilize member participation in electoral campaigns |
| 541820 | Public Relations Agencies | Public Relations Agencies provides media strategy and communications consulting that political organizations contract for during campaign seasons, with PR firms handling crisis communications, media placement, and public affairs messaging for candidates and party committees |
| 541910 | Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling | Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling delivers survey research and voter analysis that political organizations commission for campaign strategy, message testing, voter targeting, and election forecasting throughout campaign cycles |
| 561499 | All Other Business Support Services | All Other Business Support Services covers fundraising consulting and donor management operations that political organizations contract for when outsourcing contribution processing, donor database management, and direct mail solicitation programs |
| 561422 | Telemarketing Bureaus and Other Contact Centers | Telemarketing Bureaus and Other Contact Centers provides phone banking and voter contact services that political organizations use for fundraising calls, voter identification surveys, and get-out-the-vote operations during election campaigns |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 14.1% | 378 |
| 2 | Texas | 6.8% | 182 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | 6.8% | 182 |
| 4 | New York | 5.7% | 154 |
| 5 | Illinois | 4.8% | 130 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 4.5% | 122 |
| 7 | Washington | 4.2% | 114 |
| 8 | Oregon | 4.1% | 110 |
| 9 | Virginia | 3.6% | 97 |
| 10 | Florida | 3.0% | 80 |
% Of Establishments
0%
14%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[2]
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for political parties and PACs?
NAICS 813940 covers political organizations including political parties, political action committees, campaign committees, and candidate fundraising organizations per the U.S. Census Bureau[3].
What is the SBA size standard?
Per the SBA size standard[6], the threshold is $14 million in average annual receipts for federal small business classification of political organization entities.
How many political organizations operate in the U.S.?
Per Census Bureau[4] data, roughly 2,400 political organization establishments employ over 13,600 workers, with employment levels fluctuating between election and off-election years as campaign operations scale up and wind down.
What tax-exempt status do political organizations hold?
The IRS[7] classifies qualifying political organizations under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, providing tax-exempt status for funds raised and spent on exempt political functions including candidate support and voter mobilization.
Who regulates political organizations?
The Federal Election Commission[8] oversees federal campaign finance compliance, including contribution limits, disclosure requirements, and reporting obligations for federal candidates, party committees, and political action committees.
What is the difference between a PAC and a political party?
Political parties operate broad electoral programs across multiple candidates and offices, while PACs collect and distribute contributions to specific candidates per Census Bureau[4] classification. Both fall under NAICS 813940 as political organizations.
How are political organizations funded?
Revenue comes primarily from individual contributions subject to federal and state limits, membership dues, event fundraising proceeds, and investment returns on accumulated funds per Bureau of Labor Statistics[5] industry data.
Why does employment fluctuate in this industry?
Campaign organizations hire staff for election cycles and reduce headcount after elections conclude, creating two-year and four-year employment patterns that cause significant workforce variation between campaign and non-campaign periods across the political organization sector.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [4]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [5]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [6]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [7]IRS irs.gov
- [8]Federal Election Commission fec.gov
- [9]SBA lending programs sba.gov
- [10]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [11]504 loans sba.gov
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