National Endowment for Democracy
The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is a private, nonprofit foundation dedicated to the growth and strengthening of democratic institutions around the world. Established in 1983 with funding from the U.S. Congress, the Endowment makes hundreds of grants each year to support pro-democracy groups in Africa, Asia, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
The Endowment is guided by the belief that freedom is a universal human aspiration that can be realized through the development of democratic institutions, procedures, and values. Democracy cannot be achieved through a single election and need not be based upon the model of the United States or any other particular country. Rather, it evolves according to the needs and traditions of diverse political cultures. By supporting this process, the Endowment helps strengthen the bond between indigenous democratic movements abroad and the people of the United States—a bond based on a common commitment to representative government and freedom as a way of life. More about the NED
International Forum for Democratic Studies
The Endowment established the International Forum for Democratic Studies (the Forum) in 1994 in response to the need for sustained and serious study of democracy’s problems and prospects throughout the world. Since then, the Forum has become the preeminent center for analysis of the theory and practice of democratic development worldwide. It serves as a clearinghouse for information on the varied activities and experiences of groups and institutions working to achieve and maintain democracy around the world. Through its publication of the quarterly Journal of Democracy, its seminars and symposia, and its fellowship programs, the Forum enhances efforts to foster and strengthen democracy while also making important contributions to the field of comparative democratic studies. More about the Forum
Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program
Named in honor of NED’s principal founders, former president Ronald Reagan and the late congressman Dante Fascell (D-Fl.), the Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program is a federally funded, international exchange program that offers practitioners, scholars, and journalists from around the world the opportunity to spend five months in residence at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), in Washington, D.C., in order to undertake independent research on democracy in a particular country or region. Located within NED’s International Forum for Democratic Studies, the program provides a rich intellectual setting for educational exchange and professional development. While in residence, fellows reflect on their experiences; engage with counterparts; conduct research and writing; consider best practices and lessons learned; and develop professional relationships within a global network of democracy advocates.
