On this page, you will find information on Grantmaking, the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and the Partner Vetting System.
The rights of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) to free speech, association and assembly often come under pressure or even direct attack as a result of over-reaching laws and regulations. The problem is exacerbated by donors and enforcement agencies that shift risk downstream onto NPOs. For example, counterterrorism clauses or certifications that NPOs must sign as part of the grant agreement and USAID’s problematic Partner Vetting System may be inconsistent with humanitarian principles or privacy standards. In addition, since investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election raised the profile of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), , which requires registration and disclosure by those acting “for or on behalf of” foreign governments and entities, have led to overly broad application of the law to fundamental civil society relationships . Information and analysis in this section calls attention to threats to the rights of nonprofit organizations and efforts to address them.
Featured Resources
Six Years of War in Yemen Reveal Entrenched Humanitarian Access Problems
Washington, D.C., March 24, 2021 — Tomorrow marks the 6th anniversary of the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen. As a direct result of the war, Yemen has for years now been home to the worst humanitarian
OCC Pauses New Rule Prohibiting Banks from Denying Services in Coordination with Others
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) announced January 28, 2021 that it will pause publication of a final rule that would have prohibited the largest U.S. banks from denying financial services in
C&SN Statement on State Department Plans to Label Humanitarian Groups Anti-Semitic
The Charity & Security Network, a coalition of more than 500 civil society representatives dedicated to protecting the rights of nonprofit organizations that help communities and address pressing human rights issues, strongly urges the State
Congressman Introduces New Anti-SLAPP Bill
On July 24, 2020 Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, introduced the Citizen Participation Act (HR 7771). The bill aims to make it easier to dismiss lawsuits known
Politically Motivated Attack on Black Lives Matter: DOJ Asked to Conduct Criminal Investigation
The Zachor Legal Institute, a U.S.-based advocacy group that produces legal materials “made available for use by the entire Zionist umbrella of organizations,” sent a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) calling for a
New FARA Registration Request Raises Concerns for NPOs
The scope of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) appears to have been expanded once again as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently asked a U.S. nonprofit organization (NPO) to register under the Act