The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is an independent, nonprofit foundation dedicated to the growth and strengthening of democratic institutions around the world. Founded in 1983, NED operates as a 501(c)(3) organization headquartered at 1201 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20004. The organization is a bipartisan, private, non-profit corporation that functions as a grant-making foundation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$106.5M
-15.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$150.3M
-3.9% YoY
Grant Count
78
-11.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.9M
+8.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
NED's singular mission is advancing democracy in support of freedom around the world. The organization's targeted, demand-driven small grants program responds to the needs of local NGOs that defend human rights, strengthen independent media and civic education, and empower women and youth in ways that enable them to establish credibility as democratizing forces in their own societies.
According to NED's Statement of Principles and Objectives (1984), democracy involves the right of people to freely determine their own destiny. This requires a system that guarantees freedom of expression, belief and association; free and competitive elections; respect for the inalienable rights of individuals and minorities; free communications media; and the rule of law.
Primary program areas include:
Education, Culture, Communication, and Freedom of Expression: Funding programs that nourish strong democratic civic culture, including civic education, training programs, publications, and other communication media.
Pluralism: Encouraging development of strong independent private sector institutions such as trade unions, business associations, civic organizations, and women's organizations.
Democratic Governance and Political Parties: Promoting strong, stable political parties committed to the democratic process.
Grantmaking
NED makes more than 2,000 grants annually to support projects of nongovernmental groups abroad working for democratic goals in more than 100 countries.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
NED funds democratic initiatives in more than 100 countries globally. The organization maintains the flexibility to work in some of the world's most difficult circumstances and operates across diverse regions worldwide.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total Revenue: $363,001,576
- Total Expenses: $363,214,993
- Total Assets: $126,077,130
- Total Liabilities: $120,000,000
- Number of Employees: 341
Tax Status:
- 501(c)(3) organization
- Tax-exempt since April 1985
- EIN: 52-1344831
- Donations are tax-deductible
Funding Source: NED is funded primarily by an annual allocation from the U.S. Congress, in addition to other sources of support.
Rating: NED received a Three-Star rating (81% score) from independent charity evaluators, with an overall score calculated from Accountability & Finance metrics.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $106,498,091 | $126,077,130 | $107,359,443 |
| Revenue | $356,168,378 | $363,001,576 | $322,186,225 |
| Expenses | $355,484,414 | $363,214,993 | $322,805,657 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $237,918 | $78,186 | $86,122 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
8 open opportunities from National Endowment for Democracy
Democracy Award
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR DEMOCRACY
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Democracy Service Medal
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR DEMOCRACY
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Hurford Youth Fellows
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR DEMOCRACY
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Damon Wilson serves as principal officer of the organization.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MR KENNETH WOLLACK | CHAIRMAN | 2.5 | — |
| THE HONORABLE DAVID E SKAGGS | CO-VICE CHAIR | 2.5 | — |
| THE HONORABLE PETER J ROSKAM | CO-VICE CHAIR | 2.5 | — |
| AMBASSADOR JENDAYI FRAZER | SECRETARY/VICE CHAIR | 2.5 | — |
| MARLENE COLUCCI ESQ | TREASURER | 2.5 | — |
| MS JESSICA ADELMAN | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MR STUART APPELBAUM | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MS ANNE APPLEBAUM | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| AMBASSADOR LILIANA AYALDE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DR ALYSSA AYRES | DIRECTOR (AS OF 01/2024) | 1 | — |
| THE HONORABLE STEVE E BIEGUN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MS ROXANNE BROWN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MR SCOTT CARPENTER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MR JOAQUIN CASTRO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DR VICTOR CHA PHD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| AMBASSADOR KELLEY E CURRIE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MS ELIZABETH ECONOMY | DIRECTOR (AS OF 03/2024) | 1 | — |
| AMBASSADOR DANIEL FRIED | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MS AMANEY JAMAL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DR RACHEL KLEINFELD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| THE HONORABLE MEL MARTINEZ | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| AMBASSADOR VICTORIA NULAND | DIRECTOR (AS OF 09/2024) | 1 | — |
| MR DAYTON OGDEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DR MINXIN PEI | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MR MARC PLATTNER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DR NADIA SCHADLOW | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| THE HONORABLE ELISE STEFANIK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DR SCOTT D TAYLOR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MR JUAN ZARATE | DIRECTOR (AS OF 03/2024) | 1 | — |
| MR DAMON WILSON | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $395,874 |
| MR MAJU VARGHESE | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER (THRU 10/23) | 40 | $239,366 |
| MS REBECCA VARGHESE | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 40 | $162,579 |
| SHEILA CROWLEY | COO (AS OF 04/24) | 40 | — |
| MR BRIAN JOSEPH | VP, PROGRAMS | 40 | $246,909 |
| MR CHRISTOPHER T WALKER | VP, STUDIES AND ANALYSIS | 40 | $235,293 |
| MS NANCY HERZOG | VP, GRANT OPERATIONS AND EVAL. | 40 | $236,136 |
| MR WILLIAM DOBSON | CO-EDITOR | 40 | $213,873 |
| MS KIRSTEN MADISON | VP, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS | 40 | $228,106 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
NED supports and houses several major initiatives beyond its core grants program, including the Journal of Democracy, the World Movement for Democracy, the Reagan–Fascell Fellowship Program, and the Network of Democracy Research Institutes.
National Endowment for Democracy (NED) Grants 2026 for NGOsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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