A recent report by the advocacy group Americans for Public Trust (APT) reveals an extensive network through which five European foundations have funneled nearly $2 billion into American nonprofit organizations. The report, which analyzes data from IRS Form 990s and various media sources, suggests that this influx of foreign funding is aimed at promoting a progressive agenda in the United States and financing protests against former President Donald Trump and his supporters.
APT’s findings indicate that while foreign entities cannot directly contribute to U.S. political candidates, they have exploited the nonprofit sector to influence American policies significantly. The report outlines how these foundations have supported various activist campaigns, raising concerns about the potential erosion of U.S. democratic processes. According to APT Executive Director Caitlin Sutherland, “foreign money is coming in, and it’s trying to erode our democracy.”
Key Funders and Their Contributions
The report highlights five major foreign funders whose financial contributions have been directed toward American left-leaning nonprofits:
1. **Quadrature Climate Foundation (UK)**: Established in 2019 by hedge fund billionaires Greg Skinner and Suneil Setiya, this foundation has contributed approximately $530 million to 41 U.S. organizations, including the ClimateWorks Foundation and the Sunrise Project.
2. **KR Foundation (Denmark)**: Linked to the Carlsberg family, this foundation has given $36 million to support climate litigation and advocacy, with significant grants to organizations like the Center for International Environmental Law.
3. **Oak Foundation (Switzerland)**: Founded by British billionaire Alan Parker, Oak Foundation has provided over $750 million to 152 U.S. groups advocating for “climate justice” and litigation against fossil fuel companies.
4. **Laudes Foundation (Switzerland)**: Established in 2020, this foundation has allocated $20 million to U.S. organizations promoting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives.
5. **Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (UK)**: Managed by British hedge fund billionaire Sir Christopher Hohn, this foundation has sent $553 million to 39 U.S. entities, with a focus on climate change initiatives before pledging to halt U.S. funding in late 2025.
APT underscores that these financial flows exploit gaps in U.S. oversight laws. While direct foreign donations to political campaigns are prohibited, funding through 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations remains permissible. This loophole allows foreign billionaires to indirectly influence U.S. policy through donations to leftist nonprofits.
Concerns Over Foreign Influence
Sutherland emphasized the risks associated with these funding patterns, noting that foreign entities may be shaping U.S. policies and narratives through extensive financial support for protests, lobbying efforts, and activist campaigns. “There’s not a question about where it’s going and where it is coming from,” she stated.
The report raises alarms about one particular instance where funding from the Oak Foundation supported a group called Community Change, which has been involved in opposing Trump’s crime policies. Sutherland remarked, “it seems clear to me that this foreign money is coming into the United States because they want to implement their extremist European vision for America.”
APT is urging policymakers to address these concerns by closing loopholes in the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), requiring foreign-funded nonprofits to disclose their sources of funding, and potentially banning foreign financing of politically active groups.
The implications of this report extend beyond European billionaires, highlighting a broader trend of foreign influence in U.S. politics. APT also notes similar activities linked to foundations from other regions, including Latin America and Asia, suggesting a coordinated effort to undermine various aspects of American governance.
The findings serve as a wake-up call to Republicans and other stakeholders who may be unaware of the scale of foreign influence in U.S. civil society. As the organization calls for more stringent regulations, the ongoing debate around foreign funding of U.S. nonprofits is likely to intensify in the coming months.
