Future Forward, the pro-Harris group, fundraised a historic $900 million from wealthy Democrats such as Bill Gates and George Soros to support Harris’s campaign against President-elect Donald Trump. Through a super PAC, Future Forward spent money on ads boosting Harris — benefiting from the war chest of Future Forward’s nonprofit arm registered under 501(c)(4), a section of the IRS code that allows “social welfare” groups to act political and not disclose their donors.

The pro-Harris group, however, has also operated under a third arm: the Future Forward Education Fund, a public charity registered under 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. But the Future Forward charity is not a standalone group.

Rather, under an arrangement known as fiscal sponsorship, it is a project of Our American Future Foundation. That entity was incorporated in 2022 in Washington, D.C., by an associate of Democratic superlawyer Marc Elias, OAFF spokesman Eddie Vale confirmed to the Washington Examiner.

“All 501(c)(3) dollars that were raised were spent in accordance with the charitable rules,” Vale said.

The revelation that the Future Forward charity is connected to OAFF is notable, given the legal scrutiny OAFF has received from watchdog groups. In March, the conservative Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission that said a project under OAFF called the American Mainstream Policy Leadership Institute “made illegal contributions to federal candidates.”

Also known as AMPLI, the project is branded as a fellowship for repeat Democratic congressional candidates to receive paychecks between runs for office, the Washington Examiner reported. The fellowship used to be managed by a charity called the New Politics Leadership Academy.

The AMPLI fellowship allows soon-to-be political candidates to engage in research, study policy development, and participate in meetings that could boost their candidacy, the Washington Examiner also reported. But, in the telling of the conservative watchdog group, it has appeared to be a way to provide “personal expenses” to repeat candidates through “bona fide independent employment” that raises legal questions. AMPLI has denied any illegality.

The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust has not yet received a decision from the FEC in the case, according to a source familiar with the matter. The New York Times reported on the relationship between Future Forward and OAFF on Friday, citing internal documents that said the pro-Harris charity had intended to transfer funds to the 501(c)(4) Future Forward arm.

Successful AMPLI fellows in 2023 included Josh Riley and Laura Gillen, a pair of New York Democrats who unseated Reps. Marc Molinaro (R-NY) and Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY). In the case of Riley, he was paid $30,000 from AMPLI, according to financial disclosures.

“Left-wing dark money donors bought and paid for Laura Gillen and Josh Riley,” Will Reinert, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, told the Washington Examiner.

“Now in Washington, they’ll be sure to do the bidding of those funding this corrupt dark money scheme,” Reinert said.

It was a mixed bag, however, as far as the success rate of all the fellows.

Will Rollins, a Democrat who disclosed receiving money from OAFF and the New Politics charity, lost in a close battle to Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA). Democrat Kirsten Engel, who told the Washington Examiner she did not take any money through a brief stint as an AMPLI fellow, failed to oust Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ).

Tony Vargas, a Democrat who unsuccessfully ran against Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), was an AMPLI fellow. He received $60,000 from AMPLI, financial disclosures show.

Fellows this election cycle were a top priority for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which provided some of them with “strategic guidance, staff resources, training, and fundraising support,” the Washington Examiner reported. The connection to Future Forward illustrates how OAFF, a recently formed charity, could be a notable force to come in the progressive nonprofit world.

OAFF’s incorporator was Ezra Reese, the political law chairman for the Elias Law Group.

Marc Elias, who founded the Elias Law Group, was notably tapped by the Harris campaign to assist with any ballot recounts for the election, the New York Times reported in August. Elias, 55, joined the recount effort last week for Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), who has refused to concede to Republican Dave McCormick.

On its tax forms filed in May, the Elias-linked OAFF said that it supports “a range of projects that share our vision for America including support for pro-worker public policy, the promotion of family and economic security, efforts to lower the cost of prescription drugs, and expanded access to healthcare including reproductive care.”

OAFF’s board of directors includes Democratic strategist Rebecca Pearcey, longtime DCCC staffer Hayley Dierker, and attorney Brennan Bilberry, Vale said. Tax forms list OAFF’s president as attorney Kathleen Nee.