British billionaire Christopher Hohn cuts funding to left-wing groups

British billionaire and hedge fund manager Christopher Hohn is cutting funding to left-wing groups and causes following a report by Americans for Public Trust (APT).

The APT said in its report that groups that received funding from the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), which includes Hohn as its founder and board chairman, “pushed for nothing less than the complete radicalization of the American political landscape.”

CIFF, which has a $6 billion endowment, is “largely funded by Hohn’s nearly $60 billion activist hedge fund,” according to APT.

ACTIVIST INVESTOR CALLS FOR REVIEW OF VICTORIA’S SECRET BOARD AMID LOSSES

“For too long, Christopher Hohn and other foreign billionaires like Hansjörg Wyss have been able to exploit loopholes that allow foreign money to fund political fights that shape American politics to fit their radical agendas. Hohn will only stop giving now that we catch him,” said APT Executive Director Caitlin Sutherland. to Fox Business.

“The fact that hundreds of millions of foreign dollars have been able to quietly flow into our political system unchecked illustrates the urgent need for Congress to take action to end foreign political funding of American nonprofit organizations,” he said.

A British billionaire has stopped funding left-wing causes following a report by Americans for Public Trust. (Elizabeth Frantz/File photo/File photo/Reuters / Reuters)

In response to FOX Business’ request for comment, CIFF referred to its statement on funding changes.

CIFF announced Wednesday that it would redirect funds to non-U.S. NGOs.

“Unfortunately, we are no longer confident in our understanding of the US policy environment for foreign funders of US NGOs, including international work, which is our focus,” CIFF wrote. “Accordingly, the CIFF Board of Directors has decided that, as a precautionary measure, and until the relevant authorities clarify the applicable laws and regulations and their enforcement, CIFF should redirect its funding and restructure its contracts to be with non-US NGOs.”

The organization noted in its update that US-based multilateral institutions will not be affected by its funding change.

APP USERS CLICK HERE TO READ THE REPORT

The APT released a report late last month showing that CIFF funneled more than $553 million to U.S. organizations from 2014 to 2023. The funding went to groups supporting causes such as green energy and was used to finance climate litigation and protests against the fossil fuel industry, according to the report.

The APT also said money was given to a China-linked group, known as the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), which is working to ban gas stoves. The APT claims this is a violation of federal law that prohibits foreigners from directly or indirectly influencing US elections.

“Because there is little oversight and few restrictions on foreign donations to U.S.-based organizations, Hohn’s actions through CIFF are extremely questionable and murky. Further investigations are needed at both the state and federal levels to determine the extent to which Hohn and CIFF may have violated foreign donation laws and regulations,” the APT said in its report. He also called for reforms to prevent “undue foreign influence in America’s political struggles.”

In addition to environmental causes, CIFF funded organizations that advanced diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, such as the New Venture Fund (NVF). The APT reported that the NVF received $1.1 million from CIFF since 2016.

Climate change protesters, also known as Extinction Rebellion activists, gather outside the governor’s office to protest Governor Kathy Hochul in New York City on January 25, 2022. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images/Getty Images)

LEFT-WING GROUPS ARE FUNDING ‘DARK MONEY’ ORGANIZATIONS, GOP HOUSE OVERSIGHT CHAIR SAYS

The APT said it compiled its report using CIFF annual reports, tax returns from organizations that received CIFF funding, media articles, “additional electronic sources” and legal records.

Beyond exposing CIFF’s funding of advocacy groups, the APT also uncovered the charity’s alleged links to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). As of 2017, CIFF is a registered NGO in China, according to the APT, which noted that several Chinese government ministries monitor CIFF’s work in the country.

A report by Americans for Public Trust suggests that the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation had ties to the Chinese Communist Party. (Milos Bicanski/Getty Images/iStock/Getty Images)

“The British non-profit has donated millions to several organizations directly under the auspices of the Chinese government, including the National Renewable Energy Centre, the Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center (FECO) and Tsinghua University, which conduct energy and military research. CIFF is also a member of the donor steering committee of the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT), which works in China to promote climate action. “The ICAT final report on a workshop in China was supported by CIFF, and numerous PCC officials contributed to its creation,” the APT report reads.

APT also reports that CIFF executive director Kate Hampton “maintained what appears to be a cozy relationship” with “green” PCC entities.

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

The APT report lists Energy Foundation China, World Resources Institute, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Natural Resources Defense Council, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, The Sunrise Project, Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, Environmental Defense Fund, Windward Fund, Ceres, RMI, NVF and ClimateWorks Foundation.

FOX Business reached out to each group for comment.