Revealed: Soros quietly donated $140 million to advocacy organizations and ballot initiatives in 2021

George Soros, the billionaire financier of the nonprofit, quietly donated $140million to advocacy groups and ballot initiatives in 2021. Another $60 million was also donated to charities similar to his.

Soros, who personally donated $170 million during the 2022 midterms to Democratic candidates and campaigns on top of that, spread the additional largess through the Open Society Policy Center — a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that falls under the Soros-funded Open Society Foundations network, according to a copy of its 2021 tax filing, which was obtained by CNBC and is the most recent data available. In 2020, the Open Society Policy Center distributed $138 million to advocacy organizations and causes. Its board includes two of Soros’ children, as its tax filings and website reveal.

The donations bring Soros’ contributions to political campaigns and causes since January 2020 to roughly half a billion dollars — at the least — most of it steered through dark money nonprofit groups and going largely toward political causes aligned with the Democratic Party.

Soros’s donations to non-profit organizations don’t always go directly for political causes. Sometimes the funds flow from one of his non-profits to another before being spent on advertising, organizing and social campaigns that directly reach voters.

According to the foundation’s website, many of the 2021 donations to the Open Society Policy Center weren’t intended to influence the midterm elections. Tom Watson, an editor at the Open Society Foundations conceded to CNBC in an email. “there are definitely some OSPC grants that went to organizations working to combat voter suppression, support voter registration and expand civic participation.” These are the core Democratic principles.

The foundation network also includes affiliated 501 (c)(4) groups. This type of nonprofit is allowed to engage in both political activities and more traditional 501 (c)(3) charitable organisations. Its website and tax filing show provide additional information.

All the nonprofits that fall under Soros’ Open Society Foundations network span the globe. It calls itself ” “the world’s largest private funder of independent groups working for justice, democratic governance, and human rights,” There are many locations in the U.S. and Europe as well as Asia, Latin America and Africa.

The Open Society University Network is also managed by Soros. It includes more than twenty-six colleges around the globe. The complex network that Soros funds with research funding, charities and other nonprofits is legal, but it obscures the original source of the donations.

According to its website, Soros donated more than $32 Billion through the network in the past years. It claims it gives “thousands of grants every year toward building inclusive and vibrant democracies,” With active projects in over 120 countries.

“Wealthy special interests and individuals try to hide their influence in elections, including by funding politically active nonprofits, because they know that the messenger matters,” Aaron McKean, an attorney with the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center said. “Voters have a right to know who is trying to influence elections so that they can make informed choices when filling out their ballot.”

According to foundation officials, the budget of the Open Society Policy Center in 2021 was funded with a $196 million donation from Open Society Foundation network. The Open Society Institute, a 501(c),(3) charity group affiliated to the Open Society Foundation, received $1.78 billion in donations. “QECL shares” The Foundation to Promote Open Society was founded and is funded by the billionaire businessman.

According to OpenSecrets data, the Open Society Policy Center in the U.S. donated $4.5 million to Reproductive Freedom For All in September, according to OpenSecrets. The campaign was supported Michigan’s successful Proposition 3 is a referendum initiative. enshrined abortion rights In the constitution of the state.

In 2020, the group donated $1 million to a campaign supporting an Oklahoma prison sentencing initiative called Yes on 805. The initiative would have abolished repeat sentences for nonviolent crimes in the state. failed to pass During the 2020 election.

According to Federal Election Commission filings, the majority of Soros’ personal contributions during the 2022 cycle went towards two super PACs. Democracy PAC II (and Democracy PAC II) was the recipient. Alexander Soros, the billionaire’s younger son, also serves on the boards at the Open Society Institute (OSI) and Open Society Policy Center (OSPC). Politico reported These PACs were created to support Democratic candidates and groups in 2022 and future elections.

According to records, the Democracy PACs (which by law can raise or spend unlimited amounts of funds) donated millions of dollars during the midterms in order to support Democrats running for office.

Other donations to the Open Society Policy Center are listed on its 2021990:

• America Votes: $16.9 Million
  An educational group that teaches people how to vote via mail.
• Demand justice $4.5 Million
  A liberal judicial advocacy group. According to a tax return, it raised just $6 million recently. acquired Politico For Justice announced This year, a $1,000,000 ad buy was made to support Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
• Equis Labs $6.48 Million
  This group is dedicated to increasing Latino voter turnout.
• Future Forward USA Action: $5.5 million
  This 501(c),(4) group donated more than $60 million to Future Forward USA during the 2020 election, its sister PAC. Future Forward USA spent millions supporting it. Joe BidenThe Open Policy Center’s presidential campaign. According to the Open Policy Center’s website, its 2021 donations were in part meant for: “support policy advocacy on the Build Back Together legislative package and a global vaccine campaign.” The Inflation Reduction Act, a pared down version of the bill, was passed and signed into law in August.
• Sixteen Thirty-Five Fund: $23.9 million
  The group serves as an agent. “dark” Money fund “progressive changemakers” These are groups and individuals that align with the Democratic Party. It offers operational support to progressive candidates, including HR and legal resources. It raised $189 million in funding and gave $107 million to candidates.

Emerson Morrow of America Votes spokesmen said that funding was from the Open Society Policy Center “has provided critical support for America Votes’ mission.” According to the group, it took on “voter suppression and engaged new and hard-to-reach voters” Focus on expanding voting rights in key states such as Nevada, Michigan, Wisconsin in 2021. Open Society Policy Center’s website lists $23.9 Million in single donations to the group for 2021. “support nonpartisan voter engagement in multiple states,” According to its website.

America Votes, a nonprofit 501(c), raised over $245 million and distributed more than $170 million in grants between July 2020 and June 2021 according to its most recent tax disclosure. OpenSecrets reports that its top contributions include a $14 million donation towards Family Friendly Action PAC. This super PAC spent $7.2million supporting Democratic candidates during the 2022 elections cycle. It also donated $9.7million towards Black PAC. This super PAC spent $9.5 million in the recent midterms to support Democrats.

Amy Kurtz is the president of Sixteen Thirty Fund. She pointed out that the Open Society Foundations website has more information about the Soros-backed charities’ donations. According to the latest 990 disclosure, the Sixteen Thirty Fund raised more than $189 million in 2021.

“At a time when the extreme right wing is better funded than ever and threatening our rights and democratic institutions like never before, Sixteen Thirty Fund is meeting these threats head on,” Kurtz made the comment in an email. “As a fiscal sponsor, Sixteen Thirty Fund empowers advocates and philanthropists to quickly and efficiently launch campaigns to tackle today’s toughest challenges. The administrative, legal, and HR support we offer is critical so public-interest efforts can focus on working to improve the lives of all Americans.”

The Open Society Policy Center funded funding for all other organizations in the story. They did not respond to a request for comment.

Correction: The headline of the story and the two references were changed to reflect the correct year. They were made on 2021.