In a survey of 125 local democracy and governance organizations, the majority have reported having to find new funding sources. Only six organizations reported that these funds sufficiently offset the losses from U.S. aid cuts.
Date: 9/25
Region: Global
Country: Global
Topic: Governance & Rights
Policy Lens: Democracy & Governance
Additional Context: Ninety-eight civil society organizations said their operating budgets were reduced due to the U.S. government cuts. The majority of organizations reporting new funding have received it from international NGOs. Despite recent calls on certain institutions to increase investments in the sector (e.g., philanthropy and the private sector) they were not reported as new funders by many respondents. Even with new funding from different donors and cost-saving adaptations, serious gaps remain. This data comes from a survey conducted by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) in May 2025. The survey was sent to 740 organizations in 70 countries and was available in 6 languages. 125 organizations responded.