People working for WPP, which owns Ogilvy, JWT, Burson-Marsteller, Hill & Knowlton, and its affiliates have donated a total of $656,527 (£335,202) towards candidates standing in the presidential, senate and congressional elections this year.
The Times reports that the donations are split evenly between Republicans, with 52% of donations, and Democrats, who have received 48% of the funds so far. All of the money donated has been done by individuals and not at a corporate level.
Other companies whose staff have made significant contributions include GlaxoSmithKline and BAE Systems.
Howard Paster, executive vice-president of WPP public relations & public affairs, told The Times that the keen interest from WPP staff members was partly because of the number of lobbying firms it owns. "We have a large number of staff who are politically active," he said.
Figures hosted online at show that Paster is a keen backer of New York senator Hillary Clinton, who is hoping to be the Democratic candidate for the presidential election. Ogilvy PR chief executive Marcia Silverman has also donated to Clinton's campaign, while Wayne Berman, managing director of Ogilvy Government Relation and a senior adviser to the Bush/Cheney team in 2001, is a supporter of Republican presidential contender John McCain, to whom he donated several thousand dollars during 2007.
WPP Group also owns many Washington lobby firms including Quinn Gillespie Associates, Wexler, Walker Public Policy Associates, Timmons & Co, Ogilvy Government Relations Worldwide (formerly the Federalist Group), Public Strategies and Dewey Square Group.
Burson-Marsteller chief executive Mark Penn is also a long-time senior adviser to Hillary Clinton.