International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)

As of February 2025, IFES listed the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Canadian government, the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Australian Aid, and Sida as “public sector” donors on its website. ¹

Background

International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) is an advocacy group that claims to promote initiatives and programs towards protecting election integrity. Founded in 1987, the group has provided grants and funding towards election infrastructure initiatives in roughly 145 countries. ¹

Activities

On its website, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) lists “diversity, equality and opportunity” as one of its core values and beliefs, alongside “the power of the people” and developing “individual, institutional and collaborative capacities to strengthen democracy.” ¹

IFES runs three major centers: the Center for Anti-Corruption and Democratic Trust, the Democratic Resilience Lab, and the Center for Applied Research and Learning. ²

The Center for Anti-Corruption and Democratic Trust tracks what it claims are “pervasive forms” of political corruption. ³

The Democratic Resilience Lab invests in local programs which claim are meant to combat “autocratic threats” as well as actions that lead to “democratic backsliding.” ⁴

The Center for Applied Research and Learning is a research department it claims help train democratic leaders. by collaborating with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academics, and private foundations. ⁵

Financials

In 2022, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) reported revenue of $77,964,041, expenses of $79,210,610, and net assets of $3,609,191. ⁶

Funding

As of February 2025,the  International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) listed the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Canadian government, the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Australian Aid, and Sida among its “public sector” donors on its website. ¹

In 2022, IFES reported that it received $58,684,285 in government grants. ⁷

In 2022, IFES received $49,137,537 from the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening. ⁸

Grantmaking

In 2022, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) provided grants for “technical electoral assistance and education” programs at the American Bar Association ($812,855), the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs ($107,669), the Internews Network ($497,201), and the Global Hunger Project ($87,815). ⁹ The previous year, IFES had given the American Bar Association $1,013,933 and the National Democratic Institute $65,304 for the same cause. ¹⁰

In 2021, tax returns showed that IFES provided grants to programs dedicated to “technical electoral assistance and education” in Central America and the Caribbean ($4,262,749), East Asia and the Pacific ($6,331,708), Europe ($4,017,350), the Middle East and North Africa ($6,957,567), North America ($1,910,568), Russia and “neighboring states” ($7,632,789), South America ($2,465,238), South Asia ($7,842,354), and Sub-Saharan Africa ($17,236,800). ¹¹

Additionally, IFES gave grants in 2021 to programs in Central America and the Caribbean ($274,247), East Asia and the Pacific ($1,309,512), Europe ($727,069), the Middle East and North Africa ($491,104), Russia and “neighboring states” ($357,955), South America ($335,482), South Asia ($730,513), and Sub-Saharan Africa ($354,733). ¹¹

Leadership

Anthony Banbury is the president and CEO of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) as of 2025. Banbury previously worked at the United Nations. ¹²