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SW: →Characteristics: add low dues
* Touts repeatedly in communications that it is "independent," "esteemed," "credible" etc.
* Has a custom-painted, luxury bus that goes on highly-publicized, national tours
* Has remarkably low, if any, individual membership fees. (Front groups are typically in need of individual members to bolster their claims of being a "grassroots" organization. They need these individuals' representation more than their money -- since they are already well-funded by corporations -- so individual dues will typically be very low, perhaps $5 or $10, while group or corporate dues are much higher.)
An organization that only has a few of these characteristics may not be a true front group. For example, the tobacco industry has given funding to youth organizations such as the [[w:Jaycees|Jaycees]] and [[w:4-H]] clubs, which serves a public relations goal by helping the industry cultivate an image of [[Corporate Social Responsibility|corporate responsibility]]. This PR tactic is an example of the [[third party technique]], and organizations that trade their reputations for corporate funding may be naive, gullible or opportunistic, but this in itself would not make them a front group.
