House Speaker Paul Ryan’s American Action Network raised $41.9 million and spent $44 million from June 2016 to June 2017, a period when House Republicans were focused on repealing Obamacare and cutting tax rates. | Susan Walsh/AP Photo Ryan-linked group raised $24.6M from anonymous donor

American Action Network, the nonprofit group closely aligned with House Speaker Paul Ryan, raised a record $41.9 million amid the GOP push to repeal Obamacare and restructure the tax code — more than half of which came from one donor, according to a tax filing obtained by POLITICO.

The money raised includes $24.6 million from a single anonymous donor, according to AAN’s 2017 tax return, which covers July 2016 to June 2017 and was filed this week. As a “social welfare” group organized under section 501(c)(4) of the tax code, AAN can raise money in unlimited amounts, but it is not required to disclose its donors, unlike a super PAC.


The eight-figure donation by itself almost eclipsed AAN’s previous fundraising high for an entire fiscal year. The group brought in $27.5 million from July 2010 to June 2011.

AAN’s new tax return itemizes 36 donations of at least $5,000, including seven of at least $1 million.

American Action Network declined to comment on its donors.

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In the past, the nonprofit has gotten a significant chunk of its money from medical industry groups, according to separate filings.

Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America, a trade group representing the drug industry in Washington, gave AAN over $6 million in 2016, according to its tax returns. Health insurer Aetna accidentally disclosed giving AAN $3 million in 2011, when House Republicans pushed to repeal Obamacare during their first year back in the majority.

American Action Network’s sister group, the Congressional Leadership Fund super PAC, recently secured a $30 million donation from casino mogul and Republican megadonor Sheldon Adelson, POLITICO reported.

AAN also spent a record $44 million during its most recent fiscal year, as it pressured Republican lawmakers and worked to build public support for repealing Obamacare and restructuring the tax code. That included $25.5 million described as “extensive issue advocacy and grassroots mobilization” advocating conservative policies on the tax form, as well as nearly $5 million in election spending disclosed to the Federal Election Commission in the fall of 2016.

AAN touted over $15.6 million in spending promoting Obamacare repeal during the first half of 2017. But its biggest spending campaign of last year was not covered by its latest tax filing, which ended in June. In press releases last year, AAN said it spent over $24 million from August to December promoting tax reform. The group pledged to put another $10 million into advertising on taxes in 2018, after the Republican bill was signed into law.

AAN also gave grants totaling over $11.1 million to other conservative groups during its last tax period, including $6.6 million to the Congressional Leadership Fund. AAN directed another $2.125 million to Ending Spending, a conservative nonprofit established by the Ricketts family of prominent Republican donors, and it gave $1 million to the inaugural committee for President Donald Trump. AAN also gave $200,000 to CLA, Inc., a new nonprofit group that backed tax reform efforts in 2017.