Billionaires from Europe Pour Money into U. S. Nonprofits to Shape American Politics

A recent investigation has uncovered a significant flow of money from European billionaires into U.S. nonprofits, aiming to influence American politics and policies.

Key Findings

• Five foreign "charities" have given nearly $2 billion to left-leaning nonprofits in the U.S.
• These nonprofits engage in climate change advocacy, litigation, and protests.
• Foreign billionaires are exploiting loopholes in U.S. laws to fund these nonprofits indirectly.

Foreign Funders Identified

The investigation identified the following foreign funders:

• Quadrature Climate Foundation (UK)
• KR Foundation (Denmark)
• Oak Foundation (Switzerland)
• Laudes Foundation (Switzerland)
• Children's Investment Fund Foundation (UK)

U.S. Nonprofits Receiving Foreign Funding

These foundations have supported a wide range of U.S. nonprofits, including:

• ClimateWorks Foundation
• Growald Climate Fund
• Grantham Foundation
• Windward Fund
• Sunrise Project
• Center for International Environmental Law
• Conservation Law Foundation
• Oil Change International
• Fossil Free Media
• Environmental Law Institute
• Community Change
• Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
• New Venture Fund
• NRDC
• Tides Center
• Pulitzer Center
• Ceres
• Community Initiatives
• World Resources Institute
• Energy Foundation China
• Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development
• Environmental Defense Fund

Political Influence and Concerns

• Some nonprofits, like Community Change, have been involved in protests against President Trump's policies.
• This raises concerns about the influence of foreign money on U.S. politics and policies.

Calls for Policy Action

The investigation has sparked calls for policymakers to take action:

• Close loopholes in the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
• Require foreign-funded nonprofits to disclose their sources of funding.
• Consider banning foreign financing of politically active 501(c)(4) organizations.
• Investigate whether foreign charities have violated U.S. laws through their advocacy or litigation.