Think Tank and Nonprofit Foreign Influence Disclosure Act

Key Points

• The bill would require think tanks and other tax-exempt charities to publicly report any contributions over $10,000 from a foreign government, foreign political party, or an entity controlled or financed by one.
• Colleges already have to disclose foreign gifts under the Higher Education Act, but think tanks and similar nonprofits currently do not have to report this kind of foreign funding.
• The IRS would have to post this information in a free, searchable public database, including a special breakout of how much money came from China or the Chinese Communist Party.
• Sponsors point to reports that Chinese-linked groups like CUSEF and Huawei have funneled money to U.S. think tanks and university programs, arguing this creates a national security blind spot.
• The new reporting rule would only apply to tax returns filed for years starting after the law is enacted, so it would not affect past donations retroactively.