The first study, published in The Journal of Politics, looks at how politicians use fundraising events to finance their campaigns. These events are especially important, according to the research, in the early stages of a candidacy. Donors at these events, it turns out, tend to contribute to the campaigns out of “non-ideological motivations.”

Donors “discount ideology when they attend [these] events,” which means the events represent excellent opportunities to influence the future direction of a candidate’s campaign — before the ideological interest groups try to drag the politicians into culture war territory.

Fundraising events also “provide donors with valuable access, especially in the form of face time with candidates,” which simply writing a check cannot do. Finally, “by providing a source of donations for candidates who seek to campaign without making extreme partisan appeals to motivate ideological donors, event donations may serve as a barrier to increases in partisan polarization.”

The other study, published in Management Science, examines the sometimes-overlooked benefits to business organizations when their corporate directors serve on the boards of public charities. Corporate directors influence “the political activities of charities whose boards they serve on,” and the charities “become more aligned with the interests” of the firms the directors represent  — regardless of any corporate donations. Such charities “are more likely to lobby on behalf of connected corporate interests.”

High-level involvement with charities therefore provides firms “with a less-recognized source of political capital that assists their pursuit of political incentives . . . maximizing [the] role of charitable engagement.” There’s this less high-minded bonus as well: Business organizations whose directors serve on these boards enjoy “political benefits in the form of government procurement contracts.”

So, you want to avoid being dragged into ideological controversies? These studies point the way.