To say those who finance election campaigns in the United States are part of a small group would be the understatement of understatements.

The campaign watchdog OpenSecrets.org has concluded that the large majority of campaign contributions (64%) over the past year were provided by 0.16% of all American adults (or 1 out of 600). This conclusion was based on campaign checks of $200 or more given to federal candidates, PACs, and party committees. In total, 366,392 people gave $200 or more in the 2013-2014 election cycle, giving $635.5 million total.

A gender breakdown of the contributors shows .08% of women gave more than $200, while .21% of men did.

When the contribution level of $2,600 or more was used instead of $200 (the federal limit for each individual per election is $2,600), the overall adult percentage financing races got even tinier: .02%--one out of 5,000 adult Americans.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

To Learn More:

Donor Demographics (OpenSecrets.org)

Many Candidates -- Political Opposites Included -- Share Common Donors (by Andrew Mayersohn, OpenSecrets.org)

Campaign Donors 4 Times more Likely to Gain a Meeting with Member of Congress than Non-Donating Constituent (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)