The Foundation International Communications Hub (also known as Comms Hub) is a communications strategy group that consults international organizations in promoting left-of-center policies. ¹

Comms Hub has received funding from George Soros’ Open Society Foundations (OSF), while the group’s executive director, Christal Morehouse, previously worked as a senior program manager for OSF in Europe and Central Asia. ^{2 3}

Background

The Foundation International Communications Hub, also known as Comms Hub) consults nonprofit and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with left-of-center communications and advocacy efforts. ⁴ Comms Hub also provides research, strategy, message development, training and other communications functions for its partners. ⁴

Comms Hub operates primarily in Europe and as of 2024 it claimed to have partners in over 20 countries including Armenia, Kenya, Spain, and Ukraine. ⁵

Leadership

The Foundation International Communications Hub, also known as Comms Hub, was founded in 2022. The group is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain and is registered under Spanish law as a “Foundation of State Jurisdiction,” much like a “charitable nonprofit foundation” registration within the United States. ^{6 7}

Christal Morehouse is Comms Hub’s executive director. Morehouse is a former senior program manager for George Soros’ Open Society Foundations (OSF) in Europe and Central Asia. She had also worked at the Bertelsmann Foundation and has previously served in positions within the German federal government. ³

Matthew McWilliams is Comms Hub’s lead public opinion strategist. McWilliams has previously worked in several positions with Democratic Party campaigns and offices within the United States. ⁸

Board members for Comms Hub have previously worked for or serve with left-of-center foundations and government organizations. These include the Roosevelt Institute, the Ford Foundation, the Surdna Foundation, and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation. One board member, Xavier Prats Monne, was a former Director-General for health and food safety as well as a Director-General for education and culture of the European Commission. ^{9 10}

Financials

As of 2024, the Comms Hub has received over $1.7 million in grants from George Soros’ Open Society Foundations (OSF). Comms Hub’s executive director, Christal Morehouse, is a former OSF program manager in Europe and Central Asia. ^{3 2}

In 2023, OSF released a “Open Society Barometer” poll of opinions on topics related to human rights and democracy around the world. ¹¹ Comms Hub claims to have “advised on and analyzed” the European components of the poll. ¹²

1. “Who We Are.” Foundation International Communications Hub, August 21, 2024. https://comms-hub.org/who-we-are/.
2. “Open Society Foundations – Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships.” Open Society Foundations – Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships – Open Society Foundations. Accessed October 21, 2024. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?filter_keyword=Foundation%2BInternational%2BCommunications%2BHub.
3. “Christal Morehouse.” Foundation International Communications Hub, August 22, 2024. https://comms-hub.org/christal-morehouse/.
4. “What We Do.” Foundation International Communications Hub, April 8, 2024. https://comms-hub.org/what-we-do/.
5. “Our Network.” Foundation International Communications Hub, April 8, 2024. https://comms-hub.org/our-network/.
6. ^[1] “Buscador de Fundaciones – Registros.” Ministerio de la Presidencia, Justicia y Relaciones con las Cortes d’España. Accessed October 21, 2024. https://fundosbuscador.mjusticia.gob.es/fundosbuscador/DetalleFundacion.action?idFundacion=18646&index=1&lang=es_ES.
7. “Fundaciones.” Ministerio de Cultura. Accessed October 21, 2024. https://www.cultura.gob.es/en/servicios-al-ciudadano/fundaciones/fundaciones.html.
8. “Meet the Team Matthew MacWilliams.” Foundation International Communications Hub, July 11, 2023. https://comms-hub.org/matthew-macwilliams/.
9. “Meet the Board Xavier Prats Monné.” Foundation International Communications Hub, October 27, 2023. https://comms-hub.org/meet-the-board-xavier-prats-monne/.
10. “Who We Are.” Foundation International Communications Hub, November 13, 2024. https://comms-hub.org/who-we-are/
11. “Open Society Barometer.” Open Society Foundations. Accessed October 21, 2024. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/focus/open-society-barometer.
12. MacWilliams, Matthew. “Demography: The Ticking Time Bomb Threatening Europe’s Democracy.” POLITICO, May 28, 2024. https://www.politico.eu/article/demography-europe-democracy-opinion-far-right-european-election-polls-generation-z/.