The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is an independent, nonprofit foundation created in 1983 to foster the growth and strengthening of democratic institutions around the world. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., NED is funded largely by the U.S. Congress but operates as a private, nongovernmental organization, which allows it to work in difficult environments and respond quickly when opportunities for political change emerge.
Role of NED in the funding ecosystem
NED is a global grantmaker. Each year it provides more than 2,000 grants to nongovernmental organizations working in over 100 countries. Its support goes to civic organizations, associations, independent media, think tanks, labor unions, business groups, and other civil society actors advancing democratic goals. Grants focus on promoting and defending human rights and the rule of law, supporting freedom of information and independent media, strengthening democratic ideas and values, fostering accountable and transparent governance, and reinforcing democratic political processes and institutions.
NED’s grantmaking is organized along both regional and thematic lines. Regional programs cover Africa, Asia, Eurasia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East and North Africa, backing local, independent organizations that respond to country‑specific political dynamics. Thematic priorities cut across borders to address issues such as authoritarian influence, kleptocracy, censorship and free speech, technology’s impact on democracy, and support for democracy advocates at risk.
Publics supported and sectors funded
NED funds only nongovernmental organizations—not individuals or government bodies. Typical grantees include grassroots human rights groups, community‑based civic education initiatives, investigative and independent media outlets, election monitoring organizations, labor and business associations, and networks that link activists across borders. NED prioritizes initiatives with a direct link to beneficiaries at the country or regional level and often provides institutional support in repressive or authoritarian environments to help partners build sustainable capacity.
Through its core institutes—the International Republican Institute, National Democratic Institute, Center for International Private Enterprise, and the Solidarity Center—NED also channels assistance to political party development, democratic governance, market‑oriented economic reform, and worker rights, integrating these pillars into a broader democracy‑support architecture.
General evaluation and decision process
Funding decisions are made three times a year by NED’s bipartisan Board of Directors. Proposals are assessed based on how they fit within NED’s overall priorities, their relevance to needs and conditions in the target country, and the democratic commitment and experience of the applicant organization. All projects must align with the Endowment’s Statement of Principles and Objectives.
Applicants submit organizational profile and proposal forms, a narrative description, and a detailed budget, along with registration documents where applicable. Dedicated regional email contacts and multilingual application materials (including French, Spanish, Arabic and others) help organizations worldwide access NED’s grant programs.
Transparency, governance, and accountability
NED emphasizes transparency and accountability in its operations. It is governed by a bipartisan Board of Directors and publishes information about its grants, annual reports, program strategies, and active grant listings. The Endowment maintains specific Duty of Care and public disclosure policies to balance openness with the safety of partners working in highly repressive environments.
History and evolution
Since 1983, NED has evolved from a new instrument of U.S. democracy support into a multifaceted institution and global hub for democratic activists, practitioners, and scholars. Its work is grounded in the belief that freedom is a universal human aspiration realized through democratic institutions, procedures, and values adapted to diverse political cultures. By funding indigenous democratic movements abroad and connecting them with counterparts in the United States and beyond, NED seeks to sustain a durable, worldwide community committed to representative government and human rights.
