# Plain Language Summary: Think Tank and Nonprofit Foreign Influence Disclosure Act

This bill requires charitable organizations, think tanks, and nonprofits to publicly report when they receive donations from foreign governments or foreign political parties. Specifically, if any foreign government or political party gives more than $50,000 to an organization in a year, that organization must disclose the name of the foreign source and the amount donated. The Treasury Department would then create a searchable public database where anyone could look up this information to see which nonprofits are receiving foreign money and from where.

The bill also requires the Treasury Department to create special reports tracking donations from specific countries and entities, particularly focusing on funding from China, Russia, and individuals on the government's list of sanctioned or blocked persons. The bill's supporters are concerned that foreign governments might be using donations to influence American nonprofits, particularly those working on energy policy or environmental issues, and want transparency so the public can see these connections. The reporting requirements would apply to tax returns filed starting the year after the law passes.

This affects any nonprofit organization that accepts tax-deductible donations, including universities, research institutions, environmental groups, policy organizations, and other charitable entities. If they receive substantial foreign funding, they'll need to report it. For donors and the general public, this creates transparency—you'd be able to see which organizations are funded by foreign sources. However, some nonprofits worry this could discourage legitimate international collaboration and research partnerships, while supporters argue the public has a right to know about foreign influence in American institutions.

Think Tank and Nonprofit Foreign Influence Disclosure Act

Gooden, Lance

Think Tank and Nonprofit Foreign Influence Disclosure Act This bill requires tax-exempt charitable organizations to disclose in annual reports contributions and gifts exceeding $50,000 received from foreign governments and foreign political parties. The reports must disclose the names of such governments and political parties and the aggregate amounts of contributions and gifts. The bill requires the Department of the Treasury to make publicly available in a searchable database information on gifts and contributions received from foreign governments and political parties and the aggregate amount received in each year from (1) China, the Chinese Communist Party and its officials, and state-owned Chinese entities; (2) Russia, Russian officials, and state-owned Russian entities; and (3) persons identified pursuant to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN) Human Readable Lists. Treasury must also report on the foreign influence of tax-exempt organizations with a focus on the role of foreign influence in the funding of such organizations to influence the U.S. energy sector or aid terrorist groups in a conflict zone.