Message from NED President and CEO Damon Wilson:
“In 2024, people around the world demanded freedom in the face of enormous challenges and, in many places, achieved stunning political openings and democratic advances. A “year of elections,” when more people were eligible to vote than ever before, we saw the power of democracy, governance, and electoral accountability. Even in the toughest places, where standing up for democracy can mean risking life, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and its core institutes supported the most courageous people defying the autocrats trying to silence them.
In doing so, we demonstrated what venture capital for democracy is—delivering modest, often early-stage investments, to help those who take the initiative in their own nations, fueling freedom, not dependency.
As the year comes to a close, we reflect on the power of the American peoples’ support of those on the frontlines of freedom. NED’s entrepreneurial approach combined with its public backing enables us to do what often neither big bureaucracies nor private donors can. Throughout 2024, we acted quickly to help trusted democratic partners on the ground take advantage of openings. We delivered grants to help grassroots actors achieve significant results. We ensured support reached those in the most repressive societies.
The fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria showed us, once again, that even the most repressive regimes are more brittle than most assume. NED local partners in Syria already worked on the ground, kept citizens informed, provided credible information to document the regime’s atrocities, and nurtured local democratic institutions throughout the war—and will double down in the coming months of transition, advocating for more inclusive, democratic outcomes, with NED’s long-term support.
In Venezuela, even as the Maduro regime put up obstacle after obstacle in the months leading up to the presidential election, the democratic opposition, civil society, independent media, and activists worked to make a democratic transition possible. On July 28, Venezuelans came out to the polls and voted overwhelmingly for change. While the dictatorship tried to falsify the results and stepped up its repression to stay in power, the people of Venezuela know the regime has lost any credibility and they are continuing to resist. At NED, we continue to stand by them, providing emergency support, as they leverage their win to press for a democratic transition.
A heart-warming moment came this year when we welcomed home 16 political prisoners from Putin’s prisons in Russia, including many of our friends and colleagues. The release of these champions of freedom, many of whom benefited from our assistance before, during, and after imprisonment, gives us hope and reminds us of the thousands of prisoners who have bravely stood up to dictatorships in Russia, Belarus, and countries around the world. Even as we celebrate, we recommit to those still behind bars.
This year of elections saw new democratic presidents inaugurated in Guatemala and Taiwan; fair votes that led to opposition wins in Senegal, Botswana, and Sri Lanka; democratic leaders re-elected in Moldova and Mauritania; and ruling parties lose their majorities forging new coalitions in South Africa, India, and Mongolia.
People power led to the collapse of an increasingly authoritarian regime in Bangladesh, challenged the legitimacy of the regime in Iran, and demanded accountability from elected leaders in Kenya. Record numbers of entrepreneurs and young people left China, Russia, and Cuba for better futures in free societies. Our partners exposed CCP, FSB, and IRGC efforts to target dissidents driven into exile. As we mark the end of the year, the people of Georgia refuse to allow an oligarch and a bad election hijack their aspirations to join Europe.
Despite the heartbreak of conflict from Sudan to Israel-Gaza to Yemen, we witnessed extraordinary gains by democratic forces against the military junta in Burma and defeats for anti-democratic forces in the Middle East.
NED also delivered on its strategy to work in common cause bringing together our innovative, diverse network in solidarity throughout the year, from our 2024 Democracy Awards, Hill engagement, annual Lipset Lecture, 12th Global Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy, and other events, workshops, and convenings featuring our partners and experts throughout the year. The cutting-edge analysis of the Journal of Democracy quarterly and timely online features, along with the thought leadership of the International Forum for Democratic Studies and Center for International Media Assistance continues to bolster our grantmaking.
Democracy has faced, and will face, sustained assaults from dictators and autocrats. But standout examples among our grantees, partners, and community show that the desire for freedom is stronger in the long term.
As the fight continues in 2025, NED is proud to lead the way as the most cost-effective champion of those working for justice, dignity, and freedom around the world. We thank you for steadfast support.”
Sincerely,
Damon Wilson
NED President and CEO
