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The Michigan Democratic Party (headquarters pictured left) and Michigan Republican Party (headquarters pictured right) each raise money from corporations using accounts that do not disclose donors or expenditures.

(Emily Lawler | MLive.com)

LANSING, MI -- The Michigan Republican Party and Michigan Democratic Party are channeling millions through little-heard-of accounts that don't even have to publicly disclose their existence.

In a joint investigation of politically-connected nonprofit and 527 groups, MLive and the Michigan Campaign Finance Network found that more than a third of lawmakers were connected to these funds. But so, too, were both major political parties.

The Michigan Republican Party Administrative Account took in $2.09 million in traceable donations between 2013 and 2015. The Michigan Democratic Party's 21st Century Fund took in $491,250 in traceable donations during that period.

That's likely not the extent of the money coming into these groups, because MLive and MCFN carefully compiled it from political giving disclosures some companies choose to issue. The accounts themselves -- organized as 527s under the federal tax code -- do not file any public paperwork.

Search by lawmaker, or party, to find connected funds, then click "donors" to see traceable donations to that fund from 2013-2015. Or, search by donor to see which lawmaker-connected funds they have given to.

According to the IRS's website, most 527 groups are required to file a public form that registers their existence and contains somebody's name and contact information. However, the IRS specifically exempts "state or local committees of a political party" from having to file the form that notifies the IRS and public of their existence.

In a 2007 letter obtained in the investigation by MLive and MCFN, then-general counsel of the Michigan Democratic Party attorney Andrew Nickelhoff wrote that the 21st Century Fund didn't have to disclose its donors on the federal level or state level.

"... 21st Century Fund - Next Michigan Alliance is not required under federal or State campaign finance law, or under the Internal Revenue Code, to report the amounts or sources of contributions from individuals or other entities," wrote Nickelhoff.

Current MDP Chair Brandon Dillon said the party's 21st Century Fund does not do any political work, but finances things like issue forums and travel to non-election related events. He would not disclose its donors, and said it was in full compliance with the law.

During a June press conference Dillon called one of Snyder's funds a "tax-exempt slush fund," but said a reporter's comparison of that fund to his party's 21st Century Fund was not relevant.

"The governor makes policy. We don't make policy. That is the big difference," Dillon said.

A spokeswoman for the Michigan Republican Party said its administrative account is in full compliance with the law.

"Our administrative account educates Michiganders on the issues that face our state. It does not advocate for the election of any candidate. This account follows all rules and laws which govern it," said the party in a statement.

Larry Noble, general counsel for the Campaign Legal Center in Washington, D.C., is a national expert on campaign finance law. He was surprised to learn that political parties in Michigan were raising hundreds of thousands of dollars through administrative accounts that don't reveal donors at the state level and are exempt from reporting on the federal level to the IRS.

"That's a new one for me," Noble said.

See who donated to the funds -- and chose to disclose it -- in our database by searching for the Michigan Republican Party or Michigan Democratic Party.