Tutorial: Who sent me this political flyer?

What is known about third party "Kansans for an Affordable Future" that sent political flyers in a Douglas County commission primary contest in August?

Oct 09, 2024

Updated Nov. 18.

Have you received a mysterious political flyer from an unknown source? If so, please take pictures of both sides on your phone and send to: KansasMeadowlark@gmail.com .
I’ll research political flyers when time permits.

Many political flyers arrive in mailboxes and a cursory review provides little or no information about the sender, or what their intent might be.

How can a voter form an opinion based on such a flyer without any context?

This tutorial shows one approach to learn more about a one kind of flyer, but sometimes other approaches may be needed.

Flyer from Kansans for an Affordable Future

Before the August primary in Douglas County, an unknown third party named Kansans for an Affordable Future sent a political flyer to voters comparing incumbent county commissioner Shannon Reid with challenger Lisa Larsen.

Who is “Kansans for an Affordable Future”?

A mailing that says “voter for” or “vote against” a candidate (called express advocacy) would be from a political action committee (PAC). This flyer was not express advocacy. Nonprofits subject to IRS rules about issue advocacy file IRS 990s, often a year or more later.

PAC reports provide information about spending for express advocacy by PACs and candidates.

This flyer included “educational” information comparing two candidates with a request to call one of the candidates to say “thank you.” So, it’s likely from a 501(c)(4) “social welfare organization” or possibly from a 501(c)(3) “charitable” organization.

Front side

Return address enlargement

The union printer label is a clue the mailing is likely from a progressive, left-leaning organization.

Union printer labels can often be seen on on mailings from progressive organizations or candidates.

Back side

What does the web site say?

A Google search for the name or address from the flyer gives the web address for Kansans for an Affordable Future, which was not given on the flyer: https://kansansforanaffordablefuture.com/

Part of the web page gives an overview of Kansans for an Affordable Future

The web page gives background information about the group, but does not provide a street address or any information about their funding.

A link to a Facebook page is provided, but that page has not been updated since 2023. Facebook indicates this is a “political organization.”

The only new information on the web site is the name of the chair, Jason Miller.

Is this a registered business in Kansas?

The Kansas Secretary of State provides a business entity search, which is useful to find information about corporations in Kansas. Here is a search for this entity by name:

There is “one” hit that can be explored:

Google suggests the Genessee Street address is used by more than one law firm. The Armstrong street address is to the Corkhouse Law Offices. Law offices are unlikely to provide any information about clients.

The Articles of Incorporation under “View Documents” provide a description of the purpose of the business:

To educate and promote public policies and initiatives that will make the lives of all Kansans more secure, stable, sustainable, and affordable. The organization will advocate on behalf of Kansans citizens that include, but are not limited to, quality education, affordable health care, fair taxation, a clean environment, and accountable government.

What information does the IRS provide?

The IRS provides an online Tax Exempt Organization Search:

There is one hit:

Here the EIN number 93-2362019 (a tax number, an employer identification number) for the organization and its “Determination Letter” are useful. Searching the IRS site by EIN is often a better approach when names can change over time.

The IRS Determination Letter shows the organization is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization effective on July 13, 2023, as well as another address.

The address is 800 SW Jackson Street, Suite 906C in Topeka in this IRS determination letter.

Google suggests another organization is at this same address: Bluestem Foundation for Economic Freedom.

The IRS search can be used to find information about this Bluestem organization:

While the IRS site is the authoritative source for IRS 990s, often the reliable ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer has more up-to-date information (especially since COVID).

ProPublica provides an updated 2022 IRS 990, which confirms the shared the address:

The 990s shows the officers:

A separate Google search shows the list of all nonprofits at ZIP code 66612 include only these two nonprofits at this same address a the 800 SW Jackson 906C address.

The Bluestem Fund website says it is …

A joint website of Bluestem Foundation for Economic Freedom and Bluestem Fund PAC. Bluestem Foundation for Economic Freedom and Bluestem Fund PAC are separate organizations. Bluestem Foundation for Economic Freedom is a 501(c)(4) organization which primarily focuses on advocacy and education on important state issues. Bluestem Fund PAC is a state political action committee which primarily helps educate members about candidates who reflect our values through a variety of activities aimed at growing participation in elections.

Until Kansans for an Affordable Future files their IRS 990, little more will be known about this organization.

For now this group has some connection to the Bluestem Foundation. This group was highlighted in an article for having the #1 Facebook political ad spending in Kansas in a recent week.

#1 Kansas, Bluestem Kansas (Bluestem Foundation). Bluestem Foundation for Economic Freedom is a left-leaning, 501(c)(4), nonprofit with directors including Howard Bauleke (originally from Lawrence, former Chief of Staff for Democratic Congressman Dennis Moore, former administrative assistant for Democratic Congressman Jim Slattery ), Paul Davis (former Kansas Democratic House Minority Leader; Candidate for governor against Sam Brownback in 2014; Congressional Candidate in 2018), and Vicki Buening (former personal staff of Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as her Director of Constituent Services).