DES MOINES – An organization headed by Newt Gingrich donated $17,500 to the Republican Party of Iowa, positioning the former House speaker for a prominent spot at the party’s straw poll in August.

The organization, American Solutions for Winning the Future, made the donation to the party’s building fund as an event donation, according to federal disclosure forms.

The former Georgia congressman serves as general chairman of the group, a tax-exempt committee that has paid for Gingrich’s travel and planned Internet-based workshops that will address problems facing the country.

Mary Tiffany, a spokeswoman with the Republican Party of Iowa, said in return for the donation, American Solutions will get space at the Aug. 11 straw poll in Ames, a huge fundraiser for the state party.

“His group will have some sort of presence there, and they have paid for land,” she said Tuesday.

Tiffany said the base amount for presidential candidates starts at $15,000, while fees paid by interest groups and organizations are determined on a case-by-case basis. Other Republican candidates, including Mitt Romney, have declined to say what they’re spending to participate in the event, and John McCain and Rudy Giuliani have opted to skip the straw poll.

While some groups rent a table or small lot, Tiffany said American Solutions for Winning the Future will have a “large presence” at the event.

A telephone message left for a spokeswoman at the Washington-based organization wasn’t immediately returned.

Gingrich has said he hasn’t decided whether to seek the GOP presidential nomination.

His spokesman, Rick Tyler, said Gingrich has headed election-based workshops since 1984, and will do so at the straw poll.

“This is going to be an American Solutions workshop to actually help all candidates understand the approach we need in solving America’s challenges,” he said.

Peverill Squire, a University of Iowa political science professor, said Gingrich clearly wants to be a presence in the 2008 presidential contest, and appearing at the straw poll “leaves his options open to actually get into the race.”

“Whether that’s as a candidate, or as somebody who might be seen potentially as a kingmaker, I don’t know,” he said.