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:

• New Rural Project is a left-of-center advocacy group that promotes increasing voter turnout within rural counties in the state of North Carolina. It has organized community events at local businesses such as barber shops and salons to discuss voting as well as entrepreneurship and wellness. New Rural Project has received funding from left-of-center organizations including the Open Society Action Fund, NEO Philanthropy Action Fund, America Votes, and Sixteen Thirty Fund.
• National Network of Fiscal Sponsors (NNFS) is a coalition of individuals and organizations that provide fiscal sponsorship services. The group itself is fiscally sponsored by TSNE MissionWorks, a nonprofit that provides financial and operational support for left-of-center organizations. NNFS is governed by a steering committee that includes Community Initiatives, Earth Island Institute, Fractured Atlas, Fusion Partnerships, and New Venture Fund.
• Retire Career Politicians is a political action committee (PAC) that claims to support the campaigns of political candidates running against incumbents. The treasurer for the PAC is Christopher Koob, whom has previously worked for organizations affiliated with the Democratic Party including the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). According to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) the PAC has received donations from left-of-center organizations including the Sixteen Thirty Fund, the Global Impact Social Welfare Fund, and the Movement Voter Project.
• Global Future Councils (GFC) are a network of roughly 30 councils made up of individuals with backgrounds in politics, business, government, and academics. The group is a project of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and claims to operate as an invitation-only think-tank for members from over 80 countries. During their October 2024 gathering in Dubai, members of the GFC discussed policy topics including climate change, economic growth, and emerging technologies.
• Civic Truth Action is a political action committee (PAC) that supported the campaign of Libertarian Party presidential candidate Chase Oliver during the 2024 presidential election. The PAC reportedly funded YouTube ads in key battleground states supporting Oliver’s campaign by labeling him as “anti-big government” and a “true conservative” candidate. Federal Election Commission (FEC) data and filings disclose that the PAC received over $4.3 million from activist group Evidence for Impact, whose “beneficial owner,” Ezra Reese, is an attorney for Elias Law Group, founded by Democratic Party attorney Marc Elias.