Karen Bass blames National Guard for ‘Escalation’ on CNN

While Bass was on the board, the NED, what grants did N.E.D. fund ?

While Karen Bass served on the Board of Directors of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) from 2014 to 2022, the NED funded a wide range of grants to organizations around the world. The NED’s mission is to support democratic institutions and processes globally.

Here’s a general overview of the types of grants the NED funded during her tenure, based on their publicly available information and reports:

Broad Categories of NED Grantmaking:

Human Rights and the Rule of Law: Supporting groups that monitor human rights abuses, advocate for legal reforms, strengthen judicial independence, and promote access to justice.
Freedom of Information and Independent Media: Funding independent media outlets, investigative journalism, media literacy programs, and efforts to counter disinformation, especially in countries with restricted press freedom.
Strengthening Civil Society Organizations (CSOs): Providing support to non-governmental organizations, grassroots movements, and community-based groups working on various democratic goals, from environmental protection to social justice.
Democratic Political Processes and Institutions: Supporting initiatives related to electoral integrity, political party development, parliamentary oversight, and civic participation in political life.
Civic Education: Programs aimed at increasing citizen understanding of democratic principles, rights, and responsibilities.
Accountability and Transparency: Supporting efforts to combat corruption, promote government transparency, and hold public officials accountable.
Freedom of Association: Assisting trade unions, business associations, and other groups that advocate for economic and labor rights and democratic governance.
Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding: Supporting civil society initiatives that promote peaceful coexistence, dialogue, and reconciliation in conflict-affected regions.
Geographic Reach:

The NED provides grants in nearly 100 countries across all regions of the world, including:

Africa
Asia (with a focus on countries like China, Tibet, Hong Kong, and North Korea)
Eurasia (including Russia, Georgia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Central Asia)
Latin America and the Caribbean (e.g., Cuba, Andean Region, Mexico)
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Core Grantees:

A significant portion of NED’s funding is allocated annually to its four main U.S. partner organizations, which then implement programs globally:

National Democratic Institute (NDI): Associated with the Democratic Party, focusing on political party development, elections, and democratic governance.
International Republican Institute (IRI): Associated with the Republican Party, also focusing on political party development, elections, and democratic governance.
Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE): Affiliated with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, promoting free markets and democratic private sector development.
Solidarity Center: Associated with the AFL-CIO, supporting labor unions and workers’ rights around the world.
Examples of specific areas and types of work mentioned in NED’s reports during that period include:

Emergency funding for civil society groups in response to military coups (e.g., Burma).
Contingency funding for rapidly changing developments (e.g., Afghanistan, Belarus, Moldova, Sudan).
Support for independent media outlets and human rights documentation in challenging environments.
Programs addressing disinformation and promoting media literacy.
Initiatives to promote the inclusion of marginalized groups (women, youth, ethnic minorities) in peacebuilding and governance discussions.