TLDR: Governor Newsom garnered $226 million in 2020 to government causes via "behest payments." A donation is considered a behested payment when an elected official or someone acting on their behalf asks an organization to donate money or services to a nonprofit or government agency for a legislative, governmental or charitable purpose. There is no limit on how much money can be donated by organizations or individuals at the behest of politicians. Many of the donors have other business before the legislators, received no-bid government contracts, or were seeking favorable appointments on important state boards.