Type of Activity: Project Grant
Grantee: Niskanen Center for Public Policy
Amount: Updated to $125,000 in 2021 — originally approved as $75,000 in 2020
What is the Niskanen Center for Public Policy?
The Niskanen Center for Public Policy is a 501(c)(4) organization that works within the governing networks of American politics to advance policies and politics animated by a spirit of thoughtful moderation.
Why do we think this project is important?
The Niskanen Center for Public Policy is dedicated to protecting democratic institutions and processes. Niskanen Center’s Open Society Project believes that maintaining a liberal democracy is not a partisan issue and that American institutions must be actively protected. To this end, the Open Society Project has developed a center-right network of individuals and organizations opposing threats to democratic norms, institutions, and the rule of law.
Through direct action, advocacy, and by promoting oversight by Congress, the Open Society Project defends the rule of law. Their actions included ongoing research and analysis of policies and issues that affect everyday Americans, publishing written work sharing insights and engaging public dialogue, webinars on critical issues in politics and policies that were open to the public, and weekly podcasts discussing current events and policy developments.
The Open Society Project engaged directly with Congress to promote their goals through an orientation program for new Members of Congress in January 2021 and the formation of a coalition of former Republican officials and members of Congress who could promote their party’s return to pragmatism and democratic-liberal norms. The Niskanen Center’s policy experts and strong working relationship with governing-minded legislators on both sides of the aisle make them well-positioned to provide politically compelling alternatives to the major concerns of blue-collar Americans.
How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting the Niskanen Center?
In 2020, Democracy Fund Voice approved a grant of $75,000 to the Niskanen Center for Public Policy’s Open Society Project. In 2021 an amendment was approved to increase the amount of the grant by $50,000 for a total of $125,000. Previous grants of $100,000 in 2019 and $175,000 in 2018 have also been made to the Open Society Project.