British Billionaire Cuts Funding to U.S. Left-Wing Groups After Watchdog Report

British billionaire and hedge fund manager Christopher Hohn is halting funding to left-leaning organizations in the United States after a report by Americans for Public Trust (APT) accused his charity of fueling political radicalization through massive financial contributions.

🚨 Following our report exposing how British billionaire Christopher Hohn is pumping hundreds of millions of foreign money into US politics and policy, Hohn's group, The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, has PAUSED ALL FUNDING to American groups. pic.twitter.com/3huARHm5Cu

— Americans for Public Trust (@apublictrust) October 10, 2025

Hohn, who manages the $60 billion hedge fund The Children’s Investment Fund Management, also chairs the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), a London-based charity with an estimated $6 billion endowment.

💸 FUNDING FALLOUT: British billionaire Christopher Hohn is cutting off funding to left-wing U.S. groups after a watchdog report accused his charity of fueling “radical” political causes. pic.twitter.com/nHCrwMkYM2

— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 11, 2025

CIFF announced on Wednesday that it will redirect future funding away from U.S.-based organizations and restructure its grants toward non-U.S. entities following concerns raised in APT’s findings.

“Unfortunately, we are no longer confident in our understanding of the U.S. policy environment for foreign funders of U.S. NGOs, including for international work, which is our focus,” CIFF said in a public statement.

“Consequently, CIFF’s Board have decided that, as a precautionary measure, and until applicable laws and rules, and the execution of them, are made clearer by relevant authorities, CIFF should redirect its funding to, and restructure its contracts to be with, non-U.S. NGOs.”

CIFF noted that multilateral organizations headquartered in the United States will not be impacted by the change.

APT’s report, released last month, detailed how CIFF funneled more than $553 million into U.S. organizations between 2014 and 2023.

The funds, according to APT, supported environmental litigation, climate protests targeting fossil fuel companies, and various activist causes tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

APT also alleged that CIFF contributed to groups with ties to the Chinese government. Among them was the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), which APT described as a “China-connected organization” that has advocated for restrictions on natural gas appliances, including efforts to ban gas stoves.

The watchdog claimed these contributions could violate U.S. laws prohibiting foreign nationals from attempting to influence domestic political activity.

“Because there is little oversight and few restrictions on foreign giving to U.S.-based organizations, Hohn’s actions via CIFF are extremely questionable and murky,” APT wrote in its report.

“More investigations both on the state and federal levels are needed to determine to what extent any foreign giving laws and regulations may have been violated by Hohn and CIFF.”

APT called for policy reforms to limit foreign influence in American political and policy debates, particularly those involving climate and energy advocacy.

In addition to its environmental and energy-related grants, CIFF also gave financial support to the New Venture Fund (NVF), a major left-leaning organization behind several progressive initiatives.

APT reported that NVF received approximately $1.1 million from CIFF since 2016.

The report said its findings were compiled from CIFF’s annual financial reports, tax filings from grant recipients, media archives, and legal records.

APT also alleged that CIFF has longstanding relationships with Chinese government-linked institutions.

According to the report, CIFF has been registered as a non-governmental organization (NGO) in China since 2017, where its work is overseen by multiple Chinese ministries.

The Foreigner Radicalizing U.S. Policy by Red Voice News

The group identified millions in CIFF grants to entities directly under Chinese government control, including the National Renewable Energy Center, the Foreign Environmental Cooperation Centre (FECO), and Tsinghua University, which conducts research with both civilian and military applications.

“The British nonprofit has given millions to various organizations directly under the auspices of the Chinese government,” APT wrote.

The report also noted that CIFF is a member of the donor steering committee for the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT), which operates in China and includes contributions from Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials.

APT further alleged that CIFF CEO Kate Hampton “maintained what appears to be a cozy relationship” with Chinese government–aligned climate groups.

Organizations identified by APT as U.S. recipients of CIFF funding include the 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.

CIFF’s decision to suspend funding to U.S.-based organizations marks a significant shift for one of the world’s largest charitable foundations involved in climate and social activism.

The foundation’s move follows increasing scrutiny over foreign funding of American nonprofits and the influence such donations may have on U.S. political and environmental policy.

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