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Governing for Impact (GFI)

Parent Organization: New Venture Fund (NVF)
Website:

governingforimpact.org
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Executive Director:

Rachael Klarman
Created:

2019
Parent Organization:

New Venture Fund
Important Documents:

Leaked Donor Presentation

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

Governing for Impact (GFI) is a secretive left-of-center regulatory policy think tank created in 2019 to “prepare a new administration for transformative governance” by writing left-leaning regulatory recommendations for federal bureaucratic agencies. 1 GFI and its sister 501(c)(4) organization, the Governing for Impact Action Fund, were created as fiscally sponsored projects of the New Venture Fund and Sixteen Thirty Fund, respectively, the flagship nonprofits of the Arabella Advisors network. 2 Reports have shown that GFI has close ties to the Biden administration, and copies of GFI’s leaked donor presentations boast that “The administration has taken action on more than 20 of GFI’s regulatory recommendations.” 3 4

Initial funding for GFI and the Governing for Impact Action Fund came from the philanthropic network of left-leaning billionaire George Soros. In 2019 and 2020, Soros’s Foundation to Promote Open Society and the Open Society Policy Center provided roughly $13 million in grants to the New Venture Fund and Sixteen Thirty Fund that were designated for GFI and the Governing for Impact Acton Fund.5 In 2021, Open Society Foundations provided an additional $4.45 million grant to New Venture Fund that was designated for supporting GFI. 6

In April 2022, leaked copies of GFI’s internal donor presentations revealed that the organization had several connections within the Biden Administration, had consulted with as many as five Biden-appointees on a listening tour, and had used its connections and money to get the Biden administration to “[take] action on more than 20 of GFI’s regulatory recommendations.” 7

Activities

GFI’s primary function is researching and writing on regulatory policy in order to draft policy memorandums for various departments in the executive branch. The GFI website, which, through June 2022, has remained hidden from conventional search engines and discoverable only by those who know the URL, shows 34 policy papers drafted by GFI covering the issue areas of education, environment, healthcare, housing, and labor. GFI’s internal budget presentations, however, state that the organization has drafted more than 60 policy papers which also include issue areas like nutrition and agriculture, policing, treasury, and voting. The policy papers for these latter categories could not be found among the 34 papers on the hidden GFI website. In a 2022 budget presentation GFI employees also boasted that the Biden Administration had taken action on more than 20 of GFI’s regulatory recommendations. 8 9

GFI advocates for a broad range of left-wing regulatory policy reforms including cancelling student loan debt, changing Title IX rules to include transgender students, ending the federal coal leasing program, expanding Obamacare, and requiring single-sex homeless shelters to admit transgender applicants. 10

Leaked Donor Presentation

In 2022, GFI employees uploaded an internal donor presentation to an animated digital presentation website known as Prezi. Prezi presentations created by users a “Free license” are available to the public. In 2022, a Fox News reporter contacted GFI employees about the contents of the presentation.11 By the time the first reports about GFI and the donor presentation were published, the donor presentation was rendered “inaccessible,” on Prezi, but reporters had already saved copies. 12

Within the presentation a number of slides indicated that GFI employees had worked extensively on advancing left-of-center policy priorities and that they were in very close contact with senior officials within President Joe Biden’s administration. A slide labeled “Project Overview” stated that the group had written “50+ legal policy memos” and “10 administrative law primers.” 13 At the time of the reports, many, but not all, of these primers and memos were stored on the GFI website, which was hidden from public search engines.

On a slide labeled “Results” the presentations states that “The administration has taken action on more than 20 of GFI’s regulatory recommendations.” Next to the “Results” heading, several policy changes of the Biden Administration are listed. One mentions the creation of an Affordable Care Act (ACA) special enrollment period “continuous for individuals up to 150% of [the federal poverty level].” Another mentions providing $5.8 billion in student debt relief for “totally and permanently disabled student borrowers.” The third and final policy change is referred to on the presentation only as “Vaccine Mandate” with “Requiring sick leave” written below it. 14

The presentation also mentions a “listening tour” that GFI engaged in. Participants included a variety a left-of-center legal scholars and policy advocates as well as seven current and former employees of the Biden administration. According to the presentation, Sharon Block, the Biden administration’s former top regulatory official who served as acting director of the Office or Information & Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) through January 2022 told GFI that she was “jumping out of [her] seat with excitement” at the idea of GFI continuing and expanding its operations.15

Other Biden appointees participating in the GFI listening tour included: Katie Keith, Senior Advisor for Health Policy to the White House Gender Policy Council, 16, Joel McElvain,  Senior Trial Council at the Department of Justice, 17Raj Nayak, Assistant Secretary for Policy in the Department of Labor, 18 Sabeel Rahman, Associate Administrator of OIRA at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), 19 Narayan Subramanian, Legal Advisor to the Office of the General Counsel of the Department of Energy, 20 and Maggie Thomas, Chief of Staff of the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy. 21

The donor presentation also explained that GFI was preparing a different set of objectives for “friendly” and “unfriendly administrations” in the lead-up to the 2022 election. Objectives for a friendly administration included “Analyze how to implement new legislation in a progressive manner,” and “Assist agencies in executing government-wide regulatory agendas,” and “Advise policymakers on navigating complicated legal issues in a conservative judicial environment,” while objective for an unfriendly administration included “Slow down or block deregulation,” “Prepare detailed regulatory agendas for the next time progressives take power,” and “Respond to conservative legal developments.” 22

The presentation also states that GFI’s annual budget was just over $3.3 million. Notable features of the budget included $2.8 million for personnel, and $224,000 for management fees that were presumably paid to GFI’s fiscal sponsor.23

Board Member’s White House Visits

Between May 2021 and September 2022, GFI board member Tom Perriello’s name appeared at least 13 times within White House visitor logs on eight separate days. Despite log records not showing whom he met with specifically, they did list the names of several individuals that were in contact with him, including Jordan Finkelstein, the chief of staff for Biden senior adviser Anita Dunn; race and ethnicity policy advisor Richard Figueroa; chief of staff for the political strategy and outreach office Rachel Chiu; and Yohannes Abraham, whom was previously the deputy assistant to the president, the chief of staff, and executive secretary of the National Security Council. 24 Capital Research Center’s Investigative Reporter Parker Thayer, who first discovered the group before informing Fox News Digital, commented, “Perriello’s frequent lunch meetings at the White House are just more proof that Governing for Impact, and by extension George Soros, is secretly calling the shots on regulations that will affect the daily lives of millions.” 25

Leadership

Staff

GFI is managed by executive director Rachael Klarman. Klarman is the daughter of Harvard Law School Professor Michael Klarman, and is herself a graduate of Harvard Law School. Klarman previously worked as a legal policy analyst at Democracy Forward, and as Deputy Chief of Staff for the gubernatorial campaign of Tom Perriello, former executive director of US operations for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and a member of GFI’s board. 26 From 2008 to 2010, Klarman contributed $5,200 to Tom Perriello’s congressional campaign while reporting her occupation as “student.” During that time, the rest of Klarman’s family also made large contributions to Perriello for Congress with her father, Michael Klarman, contributing $8,855 and her uncle, billionaire hedge-fund manager Seth Klarman, contributing $6,600. 27

GFI operations director Lila Greenwood previously worked directly for Arabella Advisors. 28

Board of Directors

GFI is also overseen by a board of directors. 29

Board chair Sam Fullwood III is the Dean of the School of Communication at American University. 30

Board member Ilyse Hogue is the former president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, a board member for Demand Justice, and the current President of Purpose, a left-leaning “social impact agency” which helps nonprofits and corporations launch awareness and activism campaigns. 31

Board member Tom Perriello is the former executive director of US Programs for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, former president and CEO of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, and a former congressman and gubernatorial candidate (D, VA). 32

Board member Jess Morales Rocketto is the director of civic engagement for the National Domestic Workers Alliance and the executive director of Care in Action. 33

References

  1. Schoffstall, Joe. “Secretive Soros-Funded Group Works behind the Scenes with Biden Admin on Policy, Documents Show.” Fox News. FOX News Network, April 26, 2022. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/secretive-soros-funded-group-works-behind-scenes-biden-admin-policy-documents.
  2. Schoffstall, Joe. “Secretive Soros-Funded Group Works behind the Scenes with Biden Admin on Policy, Documents Show.” Fox News. FOX News Network, April 26, 2022. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/secretive-soros-funded-group-works-behind-scenes-biden-admin-policy-documents.
  3. Schoffstall, Joe. “Secretive Soros-Funded Group Works behind the Scenes with Biden Admin on Policy, Documents Show.” Fox News. FOX News Network, April 26, 2022. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/secretive-soros-funded-group-works-behind-scenes-biden-admin-policy-documents.
  4. “Governing for Impact Concept Proposal.” Capital Research Center. InfluenceWatch. June 19, 2023. https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2023/06/GFI-Mockup-Presentation-Screenshots.pdf
  5. “Open Society Foundations – Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships.” Open Society Foundations – Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships – Open Society Foundations. Accessed April 26, 2022. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?filter_keyword=Governing%2Bfor%2BImpact.
  6. “AWARDED GRANTS.” Open Society Foundations, Accessed January 10, 2023. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?filter_keyword=Governing+for+Impact&grant_id=OR2021-83034
  7. “Governing for Impact Concept Proposal.” Capital Research Center. InfluenceWatch. June 19, 2023. https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2023/06/GFI-Mockup-Presentation-Screenshots.pdf
  8. Schoffstall, Joe. “Secretive Soros-Funded Group Works behind the Scenes with Biden Admin on Policy, Documents Show.” Fox News. FOX News Network, April 26, 2022. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/secretive-soros-funded-group-works-behind-scenes-biden-admin-policy-documents.
  9. “Our Work.” Governing for Impact. Accessed April 26, 2022. https://governingforimpact.org/our-work/.
  10. “Our Work.” Governing for Impact. Accessed April 26, 2022. https://governingforimpact.org/our-work/.
  11. Changing privacy settings in Prezi Design – prezi support center. Accessed June 19, 2023. https://support.prezi.com/hc/en-us/articles/360059739533-Changing-privacy-settings-in-Prezi-Design.
  12. Schoffstall, Joe. “Secretive Soros-Funded Group Works behind the Scenes with Biden Admin on Policy, Documents Show.” Fox News. FOX News Network, April 26, 2022. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/secretive-soros-funded-group-works-behind-scenes-biden-admin-policy-documents.
  13. Governing for Impact. “Governing for Impact Concept Proposal.” Capital Research Center. InfluenceWatch. June 19, 2023. https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2023/06/GFI-Mockup-Presentation-Screenshots.pdf
  14. Governing for Impact. “Governing for Impact Concept Proposal.” Capital Research Center. InfluenceWatch. June 19, 2023. https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2023/06/GFI-Mockup-Presentation-Screenshots.pdf
  15. Schoffstall, Joe. “Secretive Soros-Funded Group Works behind the Scenes with Biden Admin on Policy, Documents Show.” Fox News. FOX News Network, April 26, 2022. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/secretive-soros-funded-group-works-behind-scenes-biden-admin-policy-documents.
  16. “O’Neill’s Katie Keith Named Health Policy Advisor to White House Gender Policy Council.” O’Neill, November 16, 2022. https://oneill.law.georgetown.edu/press/oneills-katie-keith-named-health-policy-advisor-to-white-house-gender-policy-council/.
  17. Tillman, Zoe. “A Senior Justice Department Official Who Resigned in Protest under Trump Is Returning.” BuzzFeed News, September 30, 2021. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetillman/trump-justice-department-official-return.
  18. Penn, Ben. “Biden Picks Obama Alum Nayak as Labor Department Policy Head (1).” Bloomberg Law, April 23, 2021. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/biden-to-pick-obama-alum-nayak-as-labor-department-policy-chief.
  19. Rozen, Courtney. “Biden Names K. Sabeel Rahman to Key Regulatory Post in White House.” Bloomberg.com, August 31, 2022. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-31/k-sabeel-rahman-named-to-key-regulatory-post-in-white-house.
  20. PTI Jan 25, 2021. “Biden Administration Appoints Indian-Americans to Key Posts in Energy Dept – Times of India.” The Times of India. Accessed June 19, 2023. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/biden-administration-appoints-indian-americans-to-key-posts-in-energy-dept/articleshow/80441530.cms.
  21. “Maggie Thomas Named Chief of Staff of New Office of Domestic Climate Policy.” Yale School of the Environment, January 19, 2021. https://environment.yale.edu/news/article/maggie-thomas-white-house-office-of-domestic-climate-policy.
  22. Governing for Impact. “Governing for Impact Concept Proposal.” Capital Research Center. InfluenceWatch. June 19, 2023. https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2023/06/GFI-Mockup-Presentation-Screenshots.pdf
  23. Governing for Impact. “Governing for Impact Concept Proposal.” Capital Research Center. InfluenceWatch. June 19, 2023. https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2023/06/GFI-Mockup-Presentation-Screenshots.pdf
  24. “Schoffstall, Joe. “Top George Soros director has frequent Biden White House access, records show.” Fox News, January 26, 2023. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/top-george-soros-director-frequent-biden-white-house-access-records-show
  25. “Schoffstall, Joe. “Top George Soros director has frequent Biden White House access, records show.” Fox News, January 26, 2023. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/top-george-soros-director-frequent-biden-white-house-access-records-show
  26. “About.” Governing for Impact. Accessed April 26, 2022. https://governingforimpact.org/about/.
  27. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?committee_id=C00438788&contributor_name=Klarman
  28. “About.” Governing for Impact. Accessed April 26, 2022. https://governingforimpact.org/about/.
  29. “About.” Governing for Impact. Accessed April 26, 2022. https://governingforimpact.org/about/.
  30. “About.” Governing for Impact. Accessed April 26, 2022. https://governingforimpact.org/about/.
  31. “About.” Governing for Impact. Accessed April 26, 2022. https://governingforimpact.org/about/.
  32. “About.” Governing for Impact. Accessed April 26, 2022. https://governingforimpact.org/about/.
  33. “About.” Governing for Impact. Accessed April 26, 2022. https://governingforimpact.org/about/.

Directors, Employees & Supporters

  1. Jess Morales-Rocketto
    Officer/Board Member
  2. Ilyse Hogue
    Officer/Board Member
  3. Tom Perriello
    Officer/Board Member
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