Read time: 3 minutes
Most corporate PACs measure two things: dollars raised and dollars given. Those numbers matter, but they’re trailing indicators. By the time a participation rate has dropped, the disengagement that caused it happened months ago.
Here are five leading indicators that give a PAC manager a real-time read on program health and the early warning signs to act on.
Eligible-employee participation rate
Total donors divided by total solicitable employees. Track it monthly, not annually. A two-quarter decline almost always precedes a meaningful drop in revenue.
Average gift by tier
Mean and median contribution by employee tier (executive, mid-level, frontline). Top-heavy programs are fragile programs diversify the revenue base before you have to.
Donor retention rate
What percentage of last cycle’s donors are giving this cycle? A high-functioning PAC retains 75% or more. Below 60%, recognition and stewardship are the priority.
Solicitation reach
Of eligible employees, what percentage actually received and engaged with a solicitation? You can’t grow participation among people you never reached.
Disbursement-to-priority alignment
What percentage of contributions went to legislators on committees of jurisdiction relevant to your top regulatory priorities? This is the metric that connects the PAC to corporate value — and the one most boards have never seen.
Key Takeaway
If you’re only reporting fundraising and giving totals, you’re describing the past. These five metrics let you navigate and manage the future of your PAC.
Partner with Aristotle Consulting
Aristotle Consulting helps public affairs, government relations, and PAC teams build smarter programs and sharper communications. From strategy and compliance to fundraising and stakeholder engagement, our team brings decades of experience helping organizations turn political engagement into measurable impact.