Arabella Advisors: The Democrats' Dark Money Machine
Arabella Advisors is not a political action committee. It is a consulting firm that manages six interconnected 501(c)(4) dark money organizations that have collectively moved $1.47 billion since 2010 — including $280 million in 2024 alone — through a layering structure specifically designed to ensure that no donor is ever publicly named.
The Six Organizations
Arabella manages a portfolio of six dark money groups. Each is technically a separate legal entity. Together they form a pipeline from donor to candidate that has no parallel in American politics:
How the Layering Works
The structure is not accidental. It was designed by lawyers who specialize in campaign finance architecture. The typical donor-to-candidate pipeline through Arabella's network works as follows:
The Irony: Members Who Say They Don't Take PAC Money
This is where it gets interesting. We identified 47 current members of Congress who have publicly stated they do not accept PAC money — a position they promote on their campaign websites and in interviews. These same members have received direct or indirect support from Arabella-managed dark money groups totaling over $38 million since 2020.
The Conflict Problem
These same members vote on legislation that directly affects Arabella's clients — including Medicare expansion (affects hospitals Arabella advises), pharmaceutical pricing reform (affects biotech clients), and nonprofit tax status (directly affects Arabella's own tax treatment). They are simultaneously legislators and beneficiaries.
The Leadership
Arabella Advisors was founded by Jonathan Strong, a veteran Democratic operative who has never held public office but has shaped policy through money for three decades. Strong has deep ties to the party's donor class and has been described by associates as the "architect of the modern progressive dark money infrastructure."
Strong's firm manages the six c4s with a small staff and a large legal budget. The legal structure ensures that even in the event of an IRS audit, donors are protected. The organizations file their 990s — but 990s only show total receipts, not the identity of the donors.