The Internews Network is a media-based nonprofit group that claims to advocate on training and developing networks with local and international news organizations and media outlets. The organization also claims to advocate in favor of policies focused on environmentalism, DEI-based programs, and identifying alleged disinformation. ^{1 2 3}

The Internews Network has previously received funding from several U.S. government-based programs including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Between 2008 and 2025, the Internews Network has received nearly half a billion dollars from USAID. ^{4 5}

The organization has also funding from several grantmaking organizations and other groups including the Ford Foundation, Pierre Omidyar’s Democracy Fund, the Open Society Foundations, the Hewlett Foundation, and the Pew Charitable Trusts. ^{6 7 8}

Background

The Internews Network is a U.S.-based media nonprofit that claims to advocate on training and developing networks with local and international news organizations and media outlets. The organization was founded in San Francisco in 1982 with funding from the Kendall Foundation, a left-of-center grantmaking organization. In the early 1990s, the Internews Network allegedly advocated on developing networks to support non-government media sources in Russia and others formerly part of the former Soviet Union. ^{9 2}

Starting in the mid 1990’s, the Internews Network opened several offices internationally including Paris in 1995, Africa in 1997, and Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2002. In 2009 it started its Earth Journalism Awards for Climate Change Reporting program,  in 2013 moved its European-based headquarters from Paris to London. ²

Controversy

In March 2025, the Washington Examiner released a report alleging that Internews Network had received federal funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) while also claiming the group had, “put its thumb on the scale in developing nations to promote ideas in vogue with domestic left-of-center activists.” ⁸

Leadership

The president of the Internews Network is Jeanne Bourgault. Bourgault previously worked an advisor for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Kosovo. In addition, he also worked in several different positions with USAID including an international development consultant, and eventually the director of the office of democratic initiatives. ^{7 10}

The group’s board of directors is co-chaired by Richard Kessler and Simone Otus Coxe, with the latter being a co-founder of news outlet CalMatters. Otus Coxe is also the wife of Trench Coxe, a board member at Nvidia Corporation. According to FEC records, during the 2024 election cycle, Otus Coxe reportedly donated over $1 million to the campaigns of Democratic Party candidates running for office including then-Vice President Kamela Harris‘ 2024 presidential election campaign. ^{8 11 12}

Financials

According to tax filings, in 2022, the Internews Network reported $107,094,755 in revenue, $104,754,100 in expenses, and $29,674,217 in assets. That year, Internews Network received over 72 percent of its revenue from government grants and nearly 28 percent of its revenue from other contributions, gifts, and grants. Reportedly, the Internews Network has received nearly half a billion dollars ($472.6 million) from USAID since 2008. In addition, since 2008, reportedly 95 percent of the group’s budget has come from U.S. government-based grants and funding. ^{4 10}

The Internews Network has reportedly received donations several grantmaking organizations and foundations including the Climate Justice Resiliency Fund, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Democracy Fund, the Environmental Defenders Fund, the European Climate Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Omidyar Network, the Open Society Foundations, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. The group has reportedly received funding several corporations including Facebook and Google. ⁶

1. Inernews Network. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2022.
2. “History.” Internews Network. Accessed February 17, 2025. https://internews.org/about/our-history/.
3. “Strategy.” Internews Network. Accessed February 17, 2025. https://internews.org/about/our-strategy/.
4. Internews Network. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2022.
5. “Advanced Search — Internews Network.” USAspending.gov. Accessed April 17, 2025. https://www.usaspending.gov/search/?hash=f5a0ed6875c29944f5eeca2d8069c165.
6. “Donors & Supporters.” Internews Network. Accessed February 17, 2025. https://internews.org/about/current-donors/.
7. “Jeanne Bourgault.” LinkedIn. Accessed February 17, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanne-bourgault-2633665/.
8. Schmad, Robert. “Democratic Donors Use Taxpayer Dollars to Export Liberalism.” Washington Examiner, March 6, 2025. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/investigations/3337810/liberal-billionaires-democratic-donors-internews-network-taxpayer-dollars/.
9. “About.” Internews Network. Accessed February 17, 2025. https://internews.org/about/.
10. Shellenberger, Michael. “USAID Censorship and Disinformation Operations Aimed at the American People.” United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, February 13, 2025. https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/Testimony-Shellenberger-2025-02-13.pdf.
11. “Simone Coxe.” Federal Election Commission. Accessed February 17, 2025. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=simone+coxe.
12. Giorno, Taylor. “Gov. Ron DeSantis on pace to break gubernatorial fundraising record.” OpenSecrets. August 16, 2022. Accessed June 6, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2022/08/florida-governor-ron-desantis-break-gubernatorial-fundraising-record/