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
C&SN Urges State Department to View Israel’s Allegations Against NGOs with Extreme Scrutiny
November 1, 2021 On October 29, the Charity & Security Network sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the State Department to apply extreme scrutiny to any evidence brought forward by the
Report Details Rise of ‘Lawfare’ to Suppress Civil Society Groups – Philanthropy News Digest
October 1, 2021 Philanthropy News Digest offers an overview of a recent Charity & Security Network report, The Alarming Rise of Lawfare to Suppress Civil Society: The Case of Palestine and Israel, and quotes Kay Guinane,
New Charity & Security Network Report Raises Alarm on Use of Lawfare to Attack Nonprofits Protecting Human Rights in Israel and Palestine
Washington, D.C., September 28, 2021 — Today, the Charity & Security Network released a report—The Alarming Rise of Lawfare to Suppress Civil Society: The Case of Palestine and Israel—detailing a coordinated effort by politically motivated
The Alarming Rise of Lawfare to Suppress Civil Society: The Case of Palestine and Israel
On September 28, 2021, the Charity & Security Network published a new report, The Alarming Rise of Lawfare to Suppress Civil Society: The Case of Palestine and Israel. The report details coordinated efforts by politically
Panel Discussion: 20 Years Later – Civil Society and the Global War on Terror
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXrvmEDhMg0 Description: In the twenty years since the 9/11 attacks, the expansive array of policies adopted in the name of waging a Global War on Terror have come with dire consequences for civil society actors
C&SN Joins 300+ Groups Calling on Biden to Expand Opportunities for Afghans Seeking Refuge
August 20, 2021 In a letter to President Biden, C&SN joined 300+ organizations and faith-based groups called on the president to imploring him to "expand opportunities for Afghans to seek refuge in the United States."