Donald Trump's transition team, under New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's leadership, has grown to more than 100 people as it compensates for the campaign's lack of policy staff. | Getty Trump transition trying to raise $100,000 A former Heritage Foundation president is hosting a breakfast with Christie next week.

Donald Trump's transition team is trying to raise money from Beltway insiders, even as the Republican nominee's chances to win the White House fade and he’s stopped sending money to the party.

Ed Feulner, a former president of conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, is asking $5,000 a person to attend an information session with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie next week at the Metropolitan Club, according to an invitation obtained by POLITICO.


At Christie’s request, Feulner is trying to raise $100,000 for transition costs that aren’t covered by federal funding, he wrote in an email to supporters on Tuesday. Feulner said he's volunteering to help the transition on issues including government regulation, school choice, health care reform, energy deregulation, welfare and food stamp reforms.

The Trump transition team, under Christie’s leadership, has grown to more than 100 people as it compensates for the campaign’s lack of policy staff. The effort has brought on Cam Henderson, who had been the finance director for a super PAC supporting Christie’s own presidential bid, to help supplement the government funding.

“The need for a modest cash budget has become a priority,” Feulner wrote in an email. “I remain convinced that the contest is much closer than the so-called Main Stream Media would have us believe.”

The solicitation comes at an awkward time in the campaign, with Trump lagging in national and battleground polls and, according to Reuters, directing campaign staff to focus on winning the White House instead of preparations to take office. Trump has also stopped putting on big-dollar fundraisers that benefit his campaign as well as the Republican National Committee and state parties, The Washington Post reported.

One person on the transition team said its has work slowed as it looks less likely Trump will win the election. Others close to the transition team insisted the staff are back to work after a period of “shell shock” after this month’s release of the 2005 recording of Trump bragging about groping women. They are continuing to write policy memos, develop plans for federal agencies and shortlisting political appointees.

“We are all pretty much keeping our heads down and our minds on the work,” one person on the team said.

The Trump transition has organized a 501(c)(4) nonprofit to raise money with a maximum individual contribution of $5,000, separate from any donations to the campaign or allied super PACs.

Andrew Restuccia contributed to this report.