The Association for Promoting Inclusion (API) is a Croatian-based non-governmental organization that advocates for more societal support for and the deinstitutionalization of intellectually disabled citizens in Croatia. ¹

The organization is largely funded by the Foundation to Promote Open Society, one of two major grantmaking foundations funded by liberal financier and billionaire George Soros. API has received a total of $2,776,000 in the form of four grants between 2016 and 2020. ²

Background

The Association for Promoting Inclusion (API) is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 1997 that focuses on pushing for the de-institutionalization of people with intellectual disabilities. ³

API was a member of the 2018 research network of the Zero Project, an international study on the “implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.” ⁴

The Association for Promoting Inclusion is also a member of the European Coalition for Community Living, and was listed on a petition to halt European Union funding that “builds or renovates institutions for people with disabilities.” Other organizations listed included the European Coalition for Community Living, Mental Health Europe, and the Open Society Mental Health Initiative. ^{5 6}

Funding

Due to the Association for Promoting Inclusion being in Croatia, there is little information on the organization’s financial history. However, API received a substantial amount of money from the Foundation to Promote Open Society (FPOS), one of two major grantmaking foundations funded by liberal financier and billionaire George Soros. ⁷

According to the grants database of the Open Society Foundations (OSF, formerly known as “Open Society Institute”), another private grantmaking foundation created and funded by Soros, API has received a total of $2,776,000 in the form of four grants between 2016 and 2020. ⁸

API received a grant of $300,000 from OSF for “housing for all” in 2016, one grant of $950,000, and one grant of $1,426,000 in 2017 from the Foundation to Promote Open Society to provide general funding for the period of 2018-2020. API also received a grant of $100,000 from FPOS in 2020 to fund “charitable operations.” ⁹

API was also on a list of grantees for the World Bank, an international financial institution that provides grants and loans to low- and middle-income countries to promote economic development and reduce poverty. ^{10 11}

1. “About API.” InclusionInclusion. Accessed September 12, 2022. inkluzija.hr/eng/about-api/.
2. “Association for Promoting Inclusion.” Open Society Foundations. Accessed September 12, 2022. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?filter_keyword=Association+for+Promoting+Inclusion.
3. “About API.” InclusionInclusion. Accessed September 12, 2022. inkluzija.hr/eng/about-api/.
4. “2018 Report.” Zero Project. Accessed September 12, 2022. https://20cxh614hon119kmcx49v25h-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Zero-Project-Report-2018-on-Accessibility.pdf.
5. “European Coalition for Community Living Newsletter – 2006.” Institution Watch. Accessed September 12, 2022. https://institutionwatch.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/eccl-newsletter_no_1.pdf.
6. “THE EU MUST STOP THE ILLEGAL MISUSE OF STRUCTURAL FUNDS TO BUILD OR RENOVATE INSTITUTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.” Avaaz. Accessed September 12, 2022. https://secure.avaaz.org/community_petitions/en/THE_EU_MUST_STOP_THE_ILLEGAL_MISUSE_OF_STRUCTURAL_FUNDS_TO_BUILD_OR_RENOVATE_INSTITUTIONS_FOR_PEOPLE_WITH_DISABILITIES/.
7. “Association for Promoting Inclusion.” Open Society Foundations. Accessed September 12, 2022. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?filter_keyword=Association+for+Promoting+Inclusion.
8. “Association for Promoting Inclusion.” Open Society Foundations. Accessed September 12, 2022. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?filter_keyword=Association+for+Promoting+Inclusion.
9. “Association for Promoting Inclusion.” Open Society Foundations. Accessed September 12, 2022. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?filter_keyword=Association+for+Promoting+Inclusion.
10. “World Bank Provides Grants to NGOs in Croatia.” World Bank. Accessed September 12, 2022. https://web.worldbank.org/archive/website00978/WEB/OTHER/9F3E8B9B.HTM.
11. “Who We Are.” World Bank. Accessed September 12, 2022. https://www.worldbank.org/en/who-we-are.