British billionaire Christopher Hohn, a prominent figure in global finance, has signaled a significant shift in his philanthropic strategy, announcing a halt to funding for left-leaning organizations and causes within the United States. This decision follows the release of a report by Americans for Public Trust (APT) that raised concerns about the nature and impact of grants previously disbursed by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), an organization chaired by Hohn.
The APT report alleges that CIFF, which manages a substantial endowment of approximately $6 billion and is reportedly heavily supported by Hohn’s nearly $60 billion activist hedge fund, has been instrumental in promoting what the report characterizes as the “complete radicalization of the U.S. political landscape.” While CIFF has not directly commented on the specific allegations, it has issued a statement acknowledging changes in its funding approach.
In an announcement, CIFF stated its intention to redirect funding away from U.S. entities towards non-U.S. non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The foundation cited a lack of confidence in its understanding of the U.S. policy environment for international funders of domestic NGOs. This precautionary measure aims to gain clarity on applicable laws and their enforcement before re-engaging with U.S. organizations for international initiatives. However, CIFF clarified that its funding to multilateral institutions headquartered in the U.S. would remain unaffected by this strategic pivot.
The APT report, released late last month, detailed that CIFF channeled over $553 million into U.S. organizations between 2014 and 2023. This funding supported a range of initiatives, including those focused on green energy, climate litigation, and protests against the fossil fuel industry. Furthermore, the report highlights a grant to Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), an organization identified by APT as having connections to China, which has advocated for banning gas stoves. APT posits that such activities could contravene federal laws prohibiting foreign nationals from unduly influencing U.S. elections.
APT’s investigation, which drew on CIFF’s annual reports, tax returns of recipient organizations, media reports, and other sources, also flagged the foundation’s contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Specifically, the New Venture Fund (NVF) reportedly received $1.1 million from CIFF since 2016 for such purposes.
Beyond domestic policy advocacy, the APT report also pointed to alleged ties between CIFF and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). As of 2017, CIFF is registered as an NGO in China, with its activities monitored by various Chinese government ministries. The report details millions in grants to Chinese government-affiliated entities, including those involved in energy and military research. APT further asserts that CIFF’s CEO, Kate Hampton, has maintained a close relationship with Chinese environmental organizations.
The list of organizations identified in the APT report as recipients of CIFF funding includes Energy Foundation China, World Resources Institute, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Natural Resources Defense Council, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, The Sunrise Project, Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, Environmental Defense Fund, Windward Fund, Ceres, RMI, NVF, and ClimateWorks Foundation.
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