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
American Bar Association Calls on Israel to Disclose Evidence to Designated Palestinian NGOs
On April 22, 2022, Reginald Turner, the President of the American Bar Association (ABA)—the largest voluntary association of attorneys and legal professionals in the world—wrote a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Israel’s
Broad-Based Sanctions on Russia Undercut Russian Civil Society When It Is Needed Most
By Gabe Murphy Coverage of the war in Ukraine has rightly emphasized the critical role of civil society in responding to this moment. Both local civil society groups and international nongovernmental organizations have mobilized to
Palestinian NGOs File Objection to Israeli Designations, Citing Lack of Evidence and Due Process
Today, 5 Palestinian organizations declared ‘unlawful associations’ by the Israeli military filed an objection to the designation, citing a lack of due process, a lack of evidence, conflict of interest, and violation of the rule
Dutch Government Cuts Funding to NGO Despite Investigation Clearing it of Terror Ties
Following intense political pressure from the Israeli government and allied organizations, the Dutch government has decided to cut funding to a Palestinian NGO that aids farmers in areas targeted for Israeli settlement expansion, the Union
What Donors Should Know Following the Dutch Government’s Decision to Cut Funding for UAWC
On Jan. 5, 2022, the Dutch Foreign Ministry published a letter to the Dutch Parliament announcing that it was cutting its financial support for the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), a leading Palestinian civil
Israel’s Attack on Palestinian NGOs is a Threat to Civil Society Everywhere
By Kay Guinane Over the last two decades humanitarian actors have experienced increasing legal restrictions on their operations and physical attacks on personnel and facilities. This long-standing problem is a manifestation of the larger trend