A government oversight organization is calling on lawmakers to take action against the influx of foreign funds into U.S. nonprofits that play a role in shaping American politics and public policy. This comes from letters obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Americans for Public Trust (APT) has reached out to governors in all 50 states and certain congressional committees, directing them to a new database, FollowForeignMoney.org. This database has tracked over $5 billion in contributions from foreign governments, individuals, and charities to U.S.-based nonprofits since 2002. APT is urging officials to consider whether current regulations effectively prevent foreign entities from influencing political processes.
“The information is available. The threat is real,” APT’s Executive Director Caitlin Sutherland mentioned in the letters.
While federal law generally bans foreign contributions related to U.S. elections, APT points out that foreign money can still support various activities via tax-exempt organizations and advocacy efforts.
The Senate is expected to address the Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act, which the House passed in July. This proposed legislation seeks to extend the federal ban on foreign contributions to include ballot initiatives and referenda.
Recent lobbying disclosures reveal that both the nonpartisan watchdog Common Cause and the powerful labor union AFL-CIO have shown interest in the Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act, although it’s unclear if they support or oppose it, as neither responded to inquiries.
APT’s research identified numerous foreign foundations contributing to American advocacy groups, with an earlier analysis revealing that six key sources funnelled over $2.65 billion into these organizations.
One of the notable figures is Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss, who reportedly directs a large portion of his wealth toward liberal causes in the U.S. Funds associated with him are said to make up around $673 million of this foreign funding, primarily through the Wyss Foundation and the Berger Action Fund.
According to APT, the two organizations have contributed around $372 million to nonprofits linked with the Arabella Advisors network, which includes nearly $305 million going to the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a prominent liberal dark money group.
A spokesperson for the Sixteen Thirty Fund criticized APT, claiming it is a right-wing group that selectively targets organizations supporting progressive initiatives. They argued that if APT genuinely cared about campaign finance transparency, it would advocate for reforms that enhance transparency rather than singling out ideological opponents.
The Wyss organizations, however, did not provide comments when requested.
Other contributors include the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, led by British billionaire Christopher Hohn, which accounted for approximately $638.2 million. This organization has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Among the biggest beneficiaries of foreign funding are major climate and environmental organizations, including the ClimateWorks Foundation, which received $582 million according to APT. This foundation has reportedly allocated over $2 billion to support more than 850 grantees across 50 countries since 2008.
The database also shows substantial contributions to organizations like Energy Foundation China, which has received $104 million from foreign foundations working on transforming China’s energy sector.
The funds tracked by APT have been directed into both political advocacy and significant environmental groups. For instance, the Sixteen Thirty Fund is known for supporting a variety of left-leaning causes, having received $305 million from the Berger Action Fund.
This organization also runs Chorus, a program that approached Democratic-aligned social media influencers and offered compensation for promoting progressive messages online, sparking an investigation by House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer due to concerns about funding transparency.
Furthermore, the Berger Action Fund has contributed $102 million to the Fund for a Better Future, which supports projects related to elections, immigration, and climate policy among other issues. This fund has assisted advocacy efforts linked to the Biden administration.
In environmental advocacy, the Environmental Defense Fund reportedly received $48 million from various donors, and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) received $30 million as detailed in APT’s database. The NRDC emphasized that its funding decisions are driven by its staff and board and are in compliance with all governing laws.
Notably, Quadrature Climate Foundation has allocated over $568 million to U.S.-based organizations, with significant grants directed towards initiatives to advance electric vehicles and tackle climate-related financial risks.
The APT pointed out states like Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, and Ohio as examples of places that have started to address the issue of foreign funding in ballot measures.
The congressional letters specifically reached out to the leadership of several key committees within the House and Senate.
