(CNN) Small-dollar contributors gave $710 million to liberal causes and candidates through the online fundraising platform ActBlue between April 1 and June 30 -- a record sum that underscores growing Democratic donor energy just months before November's general election. Nearly half of the 5.7 million people who contributed during the second quarter were first-time ActBlue contributors, and the site processed more donations from more individual donors during the quarter than in any previous three-month period in its 16-year history, the group said. Black-led advocacy organizations have reported a flood of contributions and new members in the wake of Floyd's death and the coast-to-coast protests that have followed. "Small-dollar donors are driving change," said Erin Hill, ActBlue's executive director, in a statement. "They are engaged at historic levels and pushing for the values they care about in their communities and at all levels of government."

Source: CNN July 20, 2020 10:18 UTC