InfluenceWatch Friday

InfluenceWatch, a project of Capital Research Center, is a comprehensive and ever-evolving compilation of our research into the numerous advocacy groups, foundations, and donors working to influence the public policy process. The website offers transparency into these influencers’ funding, motives, and connections while providing insight often neglected by other watchdog groups.

The information compiled in InfluenceWatch gives news outlets and other interested parties research to use in reporting on significant topics that are often overlooked by the American public.

CRC is pleased to present some of the most significant additions to InfluenceWatch in the past week:

• BRAC USA is the U.S. affiliate of BRAC, a Bangladesh-based development organization that assists impoverished communities through financial, educational, agricultural, and other programs. BRAC USA president and CEO Julia Roberts previously held positions with Population Services International, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to its 2024 annual report, BRAC USA’s partners and donors include Amnesty International, the Bezos Family Foundation, the Gates Foundation, Open Society Foundations, the Rockefeller Foundation, USAID, Walmart, and the Wellspring Philanthropic Fund.
• New Energy Alaska is an environmental advocacy project of the Alaska Venture Fund, which is fiscally-sponsored by the Arabella Advisors-managed nonprofit New Venture Fund. New Energy Alaska’s senior advisors include former Alaska state Representatives Beth Kerttula (D-Juneau) and Harry Crawford (D-Anchorage), and former Alaska state Senator Lesil McGuire (R-Anchorage). New Energy Alaska’s funders include the Climate Justice Resilience Fund, the MacArthur Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Bezos Earth Fund, and the Northlight Foundation.
• At the Table! is political action committee (PAC) founded by U.S. Rep. Grace Meng(D-NY) that supports political candidates it claims, “have demonstrated a track record of empowering our next generation.” During the 2024 election cycle, At the Table! raised nearly $106,000 and spent nearly $79,000, with $41,000 contributed to the campaigns of Democrats running for office. At the Table! accepts donations through the Democratic Party-affiliated fundraising platform ActBlue.
• The Kairos Center is a left-of-center advocacy group and a fiscally-sponsored project of the Tides Center. According to its website, the Kairos Center’s network of partner organizations includes Veterans for Peace, the Border Network for Human Rights, the Aspen Institute, Repairers of the Breach, ESCR-Net, the Equal Justice Initiative, and the United Workers Association. The Kairos Center has received funding from several left-of-center organizations through the Tides Center, including the Henry Luce Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Open Society Foundations, and the NoVo Foundation.
• Oregonians for Better Elections is a political action committee (PAC) that has contributed to Oregon state elected officials. In 2022, it contributed $52,000 to a campaign advocating for the expansion of ranked-choice voting within the state. That same year, it received funding from left-of-center organizations including FairVote Action and Unite America PAC.