Who Supports Us

• The National Endowment for Democracy is an independent and non-profit organization that was founded in the US in 1983 with the aim of assisting and strengthening democratic institutions around the world by supporting non-governmental organizations and groups. The fund is run by a board of directors that is fully independent, meaning that it is does not share any form of partnership with any association or political party. The Fund operates on the principle that freedom is humanity’s universal goal and it can be achieved through the growth of democratic institutions, systems, and values. It believes democracy cannot be achieved through a single election and need not be based upon the model of the United States or any other particular country.

• The Open Society Institute (OSI) is a private operating and grant making foundation created in 1993 by investor and philanthropist George Soros. Today, its offices work in 60 countries on all continents. OSI aims to shape public policy to promote democratic governance, human rights, and economic, legal, and social reform. On a local level, OSI implements a range of initiatives to support the rule of law and development of civil society institutions. At the same time OSI works to build alliances across borders and continents on issues such as education, public health, independent media, and combating corruption and rights abuses.

• Oak Foundation Ltd. is a group of charitable and philanthropic organizations established in various countries. It commits its resources to address issues of global social and environmental concern, particularly those that have a major impact on the lives of the disadvantaged. Among the Oak’s program priorities and areas of particular emphasis there are: climate change issues; marine conservation; protecting rights of women, children, and homeless people.
  Oak Foundation’s overall approach includes: target root causes; demonstrate solutions that can be adopted by permanent providers and/or by government; promote collaboration among organizations and funders; involve the target population in the planning and implementation of the projects.
  The Oak’s activities are primarily aimed to implement long-term projects, especially within overcoming the world economic crisis consequences.

• The Henry M. Jackson Foundation was founded in 1983 to continue the unfinished work of the late Senator Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson in the areas in which he played a key leadership role: international affairs education, human rights, environment and natural resources management, and public service.
  Through its grantmaking and strategic initiatives, the Foundation seeks to make a lasting impact and perpetuate the Jackson legacy for the benefit of future generations.
  The goal of the strategic initiatives is to leverage additional resources for issues that are central to the Jackson legacy by: partnering with other organizations; convening leaders in the field from nonprofit, foundation and government sectors; providing opportunities for public dialogue, and organizing forums for in-depth analysis on critical and timely issues.

• The Matra programme supports countries in Southeast and Eastern Europe in the transition to a pluralist and democratic society, governed by the rule of law. Matra supports activities that encourage the process of change and strengthen relations between the Netherlands and Matra countries. The programme works with civil society and central and local authorities alike.
  The general objective of the Matra programme is to contribute to the development of a plural democracy, grounded in the rule of law, with room for dialogue between government and civil society; to build capacity and strengthen the institutions of civil society and government; and to strengthen bilateral relations.
  In Russia, the Matra programme’s themes are: justice and home affairs; nature and the environment; health care.

MacArthur Foundation

• The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. The Foundation works to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and understand how technology is affecting children and society.
  In Russia today, the Foundation seeks to support universities and other institutions engaged in research and training; enhance the skills and capacities of scholar-practitioners, and sustain and encourage links among them and with their colleagues abroad; and support the development of effective human rights protections.

• The Tides Foundation has been working in the US since 1976 with the goal of investing in positive social change. The Tides Foundation believes that through progressive measures, such as the observance and promotion of human rights and justice, as well as the creation of a stable and prosperous environment, it can make positive changes in peoples’ lives. Tides Foundation grants to IIFD come through the generous support of the Gagarin Trust. The Gagarin Trust is the philanthropic legacy fund of Andrew Gagarin, a long-time human rights activist and supporter of development of NGOs in Russia. IIFD is particularly grateful to the Gagarin Trust for providing seed funding to make the work of our organization possible in 2004.

• Evolution & Philanthropy non-profit company is founded in the UK in 2007. Its activities in Russia are aimed to develop modern philanthropy mechanisms in the country, to create atmosphere of trust to Russian philanthropic sector, to develop culture of charity and volunteerism as well as to assist people from various social groups seeking for charity, compassion, and help.
  The activity priorities are the following: institutional support for NGOs professionally working in philanthropy; formation of environment promoting efficient development of non-profit sector in Russia; forming an international site for exchanging positive actual experience in philanthropy; dissemination of best international practices in Russia and involving international resources in the Russian philanthropic sector.

• The European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights was created by the European Parliament in 1994 to support both the activities of civil society working for human rights and democracy and the efforts of international organizations. It was renamed the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) in December 2006. The EIDHR works with Russian and European NGOs as well as with international organizations in addition to traditional co-operation between Russian and the EU. The key objectives of the EIDHR are: enhancing respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in countries and regions where they are most at risk; strengthening the role of civil society in promoting human rights and democratic reform; supporting and strengthening the international and regional framework for the protection of human rights; building confidence in and enhancing the reliability and transparency of democratic electoral processes.

• On November 3, 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). It was the first U.S. foreign assistance organization whose primary emphasis was on long-range economic and social development assistance to foreign countries. From 1992 to Oct 1, 2012, USAID in Russia supported projects of government bodies, business structures, and NGOs in the areas of health, civil society, rule of law, local governance, and climate change.