InfluenceWatch Friday

InfluenceWatch, a project of Capital Research Center, is a comprehensive and ever-evolving compilation of our research into the numerous advocacy groups, foundations, and donors working to influence the public policy process. The website offers transparency into these influencers’ funding, motives, and connections while providing insight often neglected by other watchdog groups.

The information compiled in InfluenceWatch gives news outlets and other interested parties research to use in reporting on significant topics that are often overlooked by the American public.

CRC is pleased to present some of the most significant additions to InfluenceWatch in the past week:

• Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) is a United Kingdom-based environmental advocacy group that promotes financing efforts to transition to weather-dependent and other green sources of energy. As of March 2025, its donors include Bloomberg Philanthropies, the ClimateWorks Foundation, the European Climate Foundation, the GROWALD Climate Fund, the KR Foundation, and the Laudes Foundation. CBI co-founder and CEO Sean Kidney is also a member of the European Commission’s Platform on Sustainable Finance and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) Sustainable Investment Advisory Council.
• The Penner Family Foundation is a private grantmaking organization founded in 2015 by Walton family heir Carrie Walton Penner and her husband Gregory Penner, who is the chairman of Walmart’s board of directors. From 2019 through 2022, the foundation made grants to multiple organizations Carrie and Gregory’s alma mater Georgetown University, the Environmental Working Group, Protect Our Winters, Teach for America, and The Nature Conservancy California.
• Forward Global is a philanthropic network initially founded in 1995 as a project of the Rockefeller Foundation under the name “Philanthropy Workshop.” It later became an independent organization, and in 2023 rebranded as “Forward Global.” Members of the network include Grantmakers for Effective Organizations CEO Marcus Walton, Kenneth Rainin Foundation founder Jennifer Rainin, NDN Collective president and CEO Nick Tilsen, former Kendeda Fund executive director Dena Blank Kimball, and Tara Health Foundation founder and president Ruth Shaber. As of 2025, listed partner organizations include Pivotal Ventures LLC, the Gates Foundation, the Skoll Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Schmidt Futures, and the Pew Charitable Trusts.
• Healthcare Rising Arizona is an activist group that supports left-of-center ballot propositions within the state, including Proposition 139, which affirmed the right to an abortion in the state constitution, Proposition 209, which capped the state’s medical debt interest rate at 3%, and Proposition 206, which raised the state minimum wage to $12.00 and mandated paid sick time. According to the watchdog group Transparency USA, as of December 2024 Healthcare Rising Arizona has received over $5,761,365 in contributions from the SEIU United Healthcare Workers West Political Issues Committee, as well as additional contributions from public relations firm GMMB Consulting
• PACtion is a data analytics firm that provides services to left-of-center organizations and Democratic Party political campaigns. According to its website, it has previously worked on campaigns for President Joe Biden, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and former Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA). In addition, it has worked with the Democratic National Committee (DNCC), the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Senate Majority PAC, House Majority PAC, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Voto Latino, Oxfam, Planned Parenthood, Friends of the Earth, End Citizens United, and Emily’s List.