Campaign contributions refer to the funds that are donated by individuals, corporations or organizations to support a political candidate's campaign for office. These contributions can take many forms including cash, in-kind donations such as advertising space or services, and loans. Campaign finance laws regulate how much money can be contributed, who can contribute it, and how it must be reported. The purpose of these restrictions is to prevent corruption or the appearance of impropriety by ensuring that candidates are not influenced by large donations from special interest groups.