The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), formally known as the Journalism Development Network (JDN), is a left-of-center nonprofit organization that engages in investigative journalism internationally. ¹

The OCCRP is critical of right-of-center leaders and has published condemnations of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, and Turkish President Recep Erdogan, accusing them of appointing corrupt officials. In 2023, all three were nominated for the OCCRP’s “Person of the Year” award as leaders who promote “organized crime and corruption.” ²

History

The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project was founded by Paul Radu and Drew Sullivan after they met at an International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) training in Bulgaria in 2003. In 2005, Radu and Sullivan launched the OCCRP’s first project, the Power Brokers Project, which recruited journalists in Bulgaria, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Romania to investigate business deals between energy traders in Balkan states. The project associated mass power outages in Balkan states with what it describes as “shadowy businessmen” that engaged in price gouging. ¹

Following the Power Brokers Project, Paul Radu and Drew Sullivan officially formed the OCCRP with funding from the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF). After receiving the funding, the OCCRP opened an office in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and created a network of journalists internationally who investigate organized crime and corruption. ¹

In 2012, the OCCRP registered as a charitable nonprofit under the name the Journalism Development Network. As of November 2024, OCCRP reports having over 150 journalists working in over 30 countries. ¹

The OCCRP has country-specific offices, including a European Union office in Bucharest, Romania that shares an office with the RISE Project, a member of the OCCRP that was co-founded by OCCRP founder Paul Radu. It also reports having “regional partners,” including Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ), Centro Latino Americano de Investigacion Periodistica (CLIP), and Radio Free Europe (RFE)/Radio Liberty (RL). The OCCRP is also a member of the Global Investigative Journalism Network. ¹

As of August 2024, OCCRP reports that since 2009 its investigative journalism efforts have led to 430 “official investigations”; 736 indictments, sentences, and arrests; and over $10 billion in fines or seized money. ³

Funding

The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project reports receiving funding from the Ford Foundation, the National Endowment for Democracy, the Oak Foundation, the Open Society Foundations, the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and the Skoll Foundation. It also reports that it receives funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State, and the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. ⁴

Since 2016, the OCCRP has received 2.85 million pounds (about $3.6 million) from Sigrid Rausing Trust through funding from the Open Society Foundations. In December 2023, it was awarded 1.5 million pounds ($1.9 million) through a three-year grant for OCCRP’s Bosnia and Herzegovina office. ⁵

Between March 2011 and March 2021, the OCCRP received funding from USAID for its joint project with the International Center for Journalists, The Big Bet. The project trained journalists to investigate Eastern Europe’s gambling industry and potential criminal activities associated with it. ⁶

Right-of-center Criticisms

The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project publishes a “Person of the Year” award that is satirically named as it chooses nominees for their alleged involvement in “promoting organized crime and corruption.” OCCRP named then-President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro its 2020 Person of the Year, listing then-U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Erdogan as runners-up. The OCCRP noted that among its chief criticisms of the leaders is that they are populists. It accused the leaders of being corrupt and appointing corrupt officials based on accusations of Bolsonaro that it admits he was acquitted of and claimed that Bolsonaro and those close to him “seem to be involved in an ongoing criminal conspiracy.” The announcement also accused former President Trump of appointing officials who had criminal ties and associations with allegedly fascist billionaires. ²

In January 2021, following President Joe Biden’s inauguration, the OCCRP published an article titled “‘Have a Nice Life’: Trump Exits With Pardons for Cronies, Money Launderers,” criticizing former President Trump for the pardons he made in his last week in his first administration and describing the term as “controversial.” It specifically criticized his pardons of former Trump White House advisor Steve Bannon and real estate investor Alex Adjmi, who were pardoned after Bannon was accused of using nonprofit donations to fund personal expenses and Adjmi was convicted of money laundering. ⁷

Leadership

Paul Radu is a co-founder and head of innovation for the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. He is also a co-founder of the RISE Project, an Ashoka Global Fellow, a board member for the Global Investigative Journalism Network, and a member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. ⁸

Drew Sullivan is a co-founder and publisher of the OCCRP. He is also the founder of the Center for Investigative Reporting and Reporters Shield. Sullivan previously served as an investigative reporter for The Tennessean and the Associated Press’s Special Assignment Team. ⁹

Financials

In 2022, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project reported receiving $13.7 million in total revenue and having $14.4 million in total expenditures, including $13.8 million that it spent on journalism activities outside of the United States. ^{10 11}

1. “History of OCCRP.” OCCRP. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://www.occrp.org/en/about-us/history-of-occrp.
2. “Jair Bolsonaro.” OCCRP. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://www.occrp.org/en/person-of-the-year/jair-bolsonaro.
3. “Impact to Date.” OCCRP. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://www.occrp.org/en/about-us/impact-to-date.
4. “Supporters.” OCCRP. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://www.occrp.org/en/about-us/who-supports-our-work.
5. “Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project.” The Sigrid Rausing Trust. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://www.sigrid-rausing-trust.org/grantee/organized-crime-and-corruption-reporting-project/.
6. “Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).” International Center for Journalists. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://www.icfj.org/our-work/organized-crime-and-corruption-reporting-project-occrp.
7. “‘Have a Nice Life’: Trump Exits with Pardons for Cronies, Money Launderers.” OCCRP, June 12, 2018. https://www.occrp.org/en/news/have-a-nice-life-trump-exits-with-pardons-for-cronies-money-launderers.
8. “Paul Radu.” OCCRP. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://www.occrp.org/en/staff/paul-radu.
9. “Drew Sullivan.” OCCRP. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://www.occrp.org/en/staff/drew-sullivan.
10. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Journalism Development Network Inc. 2022. Part I, Lines 12-18.
11. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Journalism Development Network Inc. 2022. Schedule F.