Campaign finance records show that Jeremy Beausoleil Smith has paid the group $28,000 and Eli Arnold has paid $17,000 so far. The city’s Small Donor Elections program matches qualifying contributions, up to a 9-to-1 ratio.

Two Portland residents said canvassers introduced the group’s environmental work before discussing political fundraising. Jacob Apenes, who was approached at his Northeast Portland home in late September, recalled a canvasser talking about diesel pollution and asking for a donation to the Portland Clean Air Fund. After Apenes questioned how the contribution could be matched by the city, he said, the canvasser explained that the money was for Arnold’s campaign.

Julia Moore said a canvasser approached her at a South Waterfront farmers market in August and told her a donation would go to a candidate who would help ensure Portland had clean air. Moore said the pitch struck her as unusual.

The group’s board chair, Seth Woolley, said canvassers commonly discuss issues with voters first. He said the fund’s board and administrative staff jointly evaluated the candidates it worked with.

Beausoleil Smith said he knew of criticism of the group’s canvassing in 2024 and set conditions for its work on his campaign this fall. He said canvassers were required to carry campaign literature, identify contributions as going to his campaign and work only in District 4. The group collected 346 of his 1,068 contributions, according to the campaign.

Beausoleil Smith said he ended the relationship after reaching 750 contributions eligible for matching, which allowed him to access up to $200,000 in public funds. He said he supports the matching program because it can help candidates who lack wealthy networks compete. He also said he did not know PCAF was fundraising for Arnold at the same time, adding that he would have preferred to be consulted.

Arnold said he knew about concerns surrounding the group’s work in 2024 but expected its role in his fundraising to be limited. PCAF collected 79 contributions for his campaign, about 5% of his total, the group said. PCAF said $8,355 of Arnold’s payments covered canvassing and $8,863 covered dropping campaign literature at voters’ homes.

The fund said it saw policy common ground with Arnold, including on fare-free transit and environmental issues. Woolley described the group’s District 4 goal as electing two progressive councilors, including Beausoleil Smith, and one moderate, Arnold.

The controversy echoes the 2024 election, when nine city candidates hired PCAF to seek donations eligible for public matching. Critics argued the arrangement risked letting a nonprofit profit from the public financing system and helping candidates qualify for taxpayer funds without substantial voter support. Some candidates later ended their ties with the group, including Keith Wilson, now Portland’s mayor, who called his experience brief and disappointing.

Environmental lawyer Nick Caleb, who criticized PCAF’s role in 2024, said he remains disappointed that the city’s Elections Division has not closed what he considers a loophole. He has warned that public confidence in the matching program depends on careful stewardship.

The current accounts from voters center on whether a solicitation clearly distinguishes donations to an advocacy organization from contributions to a candidate. PCAF and the campaigns describe their arrangements as political canvassing, while the city’s matching program makes those contributions a route to public campaign funds.