What Defend Democracy does

Defend Democracy (legal entity: Stichting Defend Democracy) is an independent, nonpartisan, transatlantic non-profit foundation registered in the Netherlands (KvK 77749901, formally incorporated 30 March 2020 after an informal start in November 2017). It operates from The Hague and Brussels, with a transatlantic scope covering the EU and North America, and is registered on the EU Transparency Register. The organization defends democracy against foreign, domestic, and technological threats through an interconnected portfolio of programs: WebWatch and its predecessor Kieskijker (tech watchdog and election-period social media monitoring, built on a Trollrensics data science platform), Act On Disinfo (training for communication professionals), Radio Resilience (podcast), Democracy Drinks (monthly networking events in multiple capitals), People Vs Big Tech (platform accountability campaign), Transatlantic Democracy Dialogue (high-level policy coordination), and the Coalition for Democratic Resilience / C4DR (a coalition launched 9 May 2024 with the EEAS and under the Belgian EU Presidency linking EU and NATO governments with civil society). Technical capability is centered on social media monitoring methodology and disinformation analysis rather than proprietary software development.

The organization is governed by a three-tier structure (Management, Board, Advisory Board), with Alice Stollmeyer as Founder & Executive Director and Ambassador (ret.) Jana Zikmundova as Board Chair; the Advisory Board includes former MEP Sophie In 't Veld, NATO Head of Policy Planning Benedetta Berti, former Canadian Minister Chris Alexander, and Ukrainian hybrid warfare advisor Liubov Tsybulska. Funding comes entirely from tax-deductible donations (ANBI status in the Netherlands, plus KBFUS for US donors and Transnational Giving across 19 EU countries) and project-based grants from foundations such as Stichting Democratie en Media and SIDN Fonds; the organization has no parent company, no listed funding rounds, and no disclosed revenue. Its customer base is non-commercial: transatlantic democracy defenders, EU and national policymakers, and a coalition of 30+ European and international civil society organizations (including Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders, Transparency International EU, ARTICLE 19, and FIDH) that co-sign advocacy letters and participate in joint campaigns. The go-to-market is community-led, combining digital advocacy reaching millions, high-level policy events, monthly networking, and direct engagement with lawmakers and international institutions.

Name

Defend Democracy

Legal name

Stichting Defend Democracy

Website

https://defenddemocracy.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Defend Democracy is a Netherlands-based, transatlantic non-profit foundation that defends democracy against foreign, domestic, and technological threats through policy advocacy, election-period social media monitoring (WebWatch, Kieskijker), disinformation training (Act On Disinfo), and coalition-building (Coalition for Democratic Resilience) with EU and NATO institutions and 30+ civil society partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Democratic Resilience Advocacy

NAICS

Other Social Advocacy Organizations (813319), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

akta.pro primary industry

Democracy, Voting Rights & Civic Participation Advocacy (BPAGAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Rights, Privacy & Free Expression Advocacy (BPAGAFAL), Government Accountability, Ethics & Anti-Corruption Advocacy (BPAGAFAN), Civil Society Strengthening & Civic Space (BPADAGAD)

Keywords

• Democracy advocacy services
• Disinformation monitoring
• Digital literacy training
• Policy advocacy
• Civic resilience programs

Headquarters

HQ city

The Hague

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Defend Democracy operates as a non-profit foundation (Stichting Defend Democracy) registered in the Netherlands. It relies entirely on charitable donations from individuals, organizations, and institutional funders. Donations from the Netherlands can be tax-deductible under ANBI status. For large donors in the United States and 19 EU countries, tax-deductible giving options are available through KBFUS and Transnational Giving.
2. Project-Based Grant Funding: Defend Democracy receives project-specific funding from foundations supporting democracy and media resilience work. Supported projects include Kieskijker (with Stichting Democratie en Media and SIDN Fonds) and WebWatch tech watchdog activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Defend Democracy is a non-profit foundation that delivers policy advocacy, disinformation monitoring, digital literacy training, and community organizing programs to defend democracies against foreign, domestic, and technological threats. Its portfolio includes election integrity monitoring (WebWatch, Kieskijker), disinformation training (Act On Disinfo), policy dialogues (Transatlantic Democracy Dialogue), advocacy campaigns (People Vs Big Tech), and coalition coordination (Coalition for Democratic Resilience). The organization operates transatlantically from The Hague and Brussels, targeting policymakers, civil society, and citizens across Europe and North America.

Product overview

Defend Democracy is a non-profit foundation offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and initiatives focused on defending and strengthening democracy against foreign, domestic, and technological threats. The core offerings include WebWatch (a tech watchdog monitoring digital integrity around elections), Act On Disinfo (training on dealing with disinformation), Radio Resilience (a podcast series), Democracy Drinks (informal networking events), People Vs Big Tech (advocacy campaign), Transatlantic Democracy Dialogue (high-level transatlantic coordination), Coalition for Democratic Resilience (C4DR - government and civil society coalition), and Kieskijker (disinformation watchdog project). The organization operates as a unified mission-driven platform rather than a modular software product architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WebWatch A tech watchdog initiative that monitors digital and information integrity around elections, tracking improper influence on public debate through social media analysis and real-time exposure of online manipulation and disinformation.
• Act On Disinfo Interactive training series on how to deal with online information manipulation, disinformation, conspiracy theories, propaganda and other harmful information activities, designed for communication professionals.
• Radio Resilience A podcast series featuring conversations on society's ability to adapt and respond to change, addressing hybrid threats and democratic resilience topics.
• Democracy Drinks Monthly informal networking events held in multiple capitals for like-minded citizens and professionals to meet, exchange ideas, test plans, and find moral support and inspiration for defending freedom and democracy.
• People Vs Big Tech Campaign initiative focused on advocating for democratic oversight, accountability, and transparency of digital platforms and disruptive technologies.
• Transatlantic Democracy Dialogue High-level dialogue platform bringing together democracy defenders across the transatlantic to discuss and coordinate responses to threats against democratic institutions.
• Coalition for Democratic Resilience (C4DR) Coalition bringing together EU and NATO governments and civil society to strengthen response to growing hybrid and technological threats to democracy, including both current and future EU and NATO members.
• Kieskijker (Disinformation Watchdog) Social media watchdog project that monitored and exposed online manipulation, disinformation, and inauthentic activities before, during and after the Netherlands' elections of March 2021.

Quantifiable outcome

• Digital campaigns have reached millions of people
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• WebWatchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2025WebWatch is Defend Democracy's tech watchdog initiative launched on International Democracy Day 2025, focused on digital and information integrity around the Netherlands' October 2025 general elections. It monitors improper influence on public debate and coordinated inauthentic behavior online.
• European External Action Service (EEAS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 May 2024Defend Democracy co-organized the 'Defending Democracy in an Age of Sharp Power' conference launching the Coalition for Democratic Resilience (C4DR) in collaboration with the European External Action Service. The EEAS is the EU's foreign and security policy arm, making this a flagship partnership at the intersection of democracy defense and EU external action.
• Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EUflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 May 2024The Coalition for Democratic Resilience launch conference was organized under the auspices of Belgium's EU Presidency, reflecting shared priorities of defending democracy and strengthening EU resilience against hybrid threats.
• NATOflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 May 2024C4DR brings together EU and NATO governments and civil society. NATO's Head of Policy Planning (Benedetta Berti) serves on Defend Democracy's Advisory Board. C4DR addresses the convergence of democracy defense and security policy.
• Coalition for Democratic Resilience (C4DR)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2024Defend Democracy launched the Coalition for Democratic Resilience (C4DR) on Europe Day 2024, bringing together EU and NATO governments and civil society, including current and future EU and NATO members, to strengthen collective response to hybrid and technological threats to democracy.
• Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2022CFWIJ co-signed the urgent letter to EU Presidents on the Twitter/Musk takeover concerns, alongside 11 other European civil society organizations, united in demanding an urgent security and regulatory review of the acquisition.
• Transparency International EUcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2022Co-signed the joint NGO letter to EU institutions calling for an urgent review of the Twitter acquisition, bringing anti-corruption and democratic integrity expertise to the coalition.
• Reporters Without Borders (RSF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2022RSF co-signed the NGO letter to EU Presidents on the Twitter/Musk acquisition, contributing press freedom and journalist safety perspective to the joint advocacy effort.
• Human Rights Watch (Brussels)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2022Human Rights Watch (Brussels office) co-signed the NGO letter to EU Presidents regarding the Twitter/Musk acquisition, bringing international human rights advocacy expertise to the coalition.
• Fair Vote UKminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2022Co-signed the joint letter to EU institutions on the Twitter/Musk acquisition, representing UK democratic integrity expertise in the European civil society coalition.
• digiQminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2022Co-signed the NGO letter to EU Presidents regarding the Twitter/Musk takeover, contributing digital rights and tech governance expertise.
• #jesuislàminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2022Co-signed the joint civil society letter on the Twitter/Musk acquisition as part of a broader European democracy coalition.
• Waag FuturelabminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2022Co-signed the NGO letter to EU Presidents on the Twitter acquisition, bringing technology ethics and future of society expertise from the Dutch civil society sector.
• Stop Funding HeatminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2022Co-signed the civil society coalition letter to EU institutions calling for an urgent security and regulatory review of the Twitter/Musk acquisition.
• KieskijkercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2021Kieskijker was Defend Democracy's social media watchdog project focused on monitoring and exposing online manipulation and disinformation around the Netherlands' 2021 elections. The project published real-time findings during the election period, increasing digital literacy and decreasing harmful effects of manipulation.
• TrollrensicscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 December 2020Defend Democracy partnered with Trollrensics for its Kieskijker social media watchdog project monitoring the Netherlands' March 2021 elections. Trollrensics developed an innovative social media analysis platform providing a secure data science environment, allowing analysts to focus on identifying disinformation and manipulation rather than data retrieval and visualization.
• ARTICLE 19coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2020ARTICLE 19 co-signed the European organizations' letter to US Congress urging protection of the nonpartisan, independent nature of US Agency for Global Media, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Open Technology Fund.
• Netherlands Helsinki CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2020Co-signed the European letter to US Congress protecting USAGM's independent journalism networks, contributing Dutch human rights and rule of law monitoring expertise.
• European Values Center for Security PolicycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2020Co-signed the European coalition letter to US Congress on USAGM, bringing Czech security policy and disinformation expertise to the transatlantic advocacy effort.
• European Centre for Press and Media FreedomcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2020Co-signed the letter to US Congress protecting independent media networks, contributing European press freedom monitoring and protection expertise.
• The Daphne Caruana Galizia FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2020Co-signed the European civil society letter to US Congress on USAGM, bringing anti-corruption journalism and investigative reporting protection expertise from Malta.
• International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2020Co-signed the European organizations' letter to US Congress on USAGM, bringing international human rights federation advocacy to the coalition.
• Hungarian Helsinki CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2020Co-signed the letter to US Congress protecting USAGM, contributing Central European human rights monitoring expertise.
• Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (Poland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2020Co-signed the European letter to US Congress on USAGM, bringing Polish rule of law and human rights expertise to the coalition.
• Bulgarian Helsinki CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2020Co-signed the European organizations' letter to US Congress protecting USAGM's independent journalism, contributing Bulgarian civil society perspective.
• Open Dialogue FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2020Co-signed the European letter to US Congress on USAGM, contributing Polish-based civil liberties and rule of law advocacy expertise.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Endowment for Democracy (NED): US Congress-funded non-profit that channels grants to civil society groups working on democratic governance, media freedom, and election integrity globally. Closely comparable mission to Defend Democracy, particularly around foreign-interference and civic-space work, though with vastly larger resources.
• International Republican Institute (IRI): US-funded non-profit that works on democratic governance, political-party support, and election integrity worldwide. Comparable mission and toolset to Defend Democracy around elections and civil society, particularly relevant given the shared interest in monitoring manipulation around election cycles.
• Freedom House: US-headquartered non-profit that monitors democracy and freedom worldwide through country reports and advocacy. Highly comparable to Defend Democracy in mission (defending democratic institutions against authoritarian pressure) and advocacy model, with overlapping funder base and EU/transatlantic policy access.
• Atlantic Council: Transatlantic think tank focused on international affairs, with major programs on democracy, disinformation, and technology policy. Directly comparable in transatlantic scope, EU/NATO policy engagement, and focus on hybrid threats, though operating as a much larger policy institute rather than a small advocacy foundation.
• ARTICLE 19: International human rights organization focused on freedom of expression and information. Already co-signs Defend Democracy's joint letters on USAGM and Twitter/Musk, and shares a similar EU/transatlantic coalition-based advocacy model around media freedom and digital rights.
• National Democratic Institute (NDI): US-funded non-profit supporting democratic institutions and civic participation globally. Comparable in election-monitoring, civic-space, and democracy-defense work, and likely overlaps with Defend Democracy in funders, partners, and policy forums.
• EU DisinfoLab: European non-profit research and advocacy organization focused on disinformation, platform accountability, and information integrity. Direct methodological overlap with Defend Democracy's Kieskijker and WebWatch projects, and similar EU-level policy engagement on big-tech and AI regulation.
• Alliance of Democracies: International foundation led by Anders Fogh Rasmussen promoting democratic resilience and countering authoritarian influence. Highly comparable in mission (defending democracy against hybrid threats) and in operating with a small team and a high-profile convening strategy.

Regional players

• European Endowment for Democracy: EU-established institution that funds civil society and independent media in the European neighbourhood. Comparable in democracy-support mission and Brussels-based policy positioning, though it operates primarily as a grantmaker rather than as an advocacy organization.

Broad incumbents

• Open Society Foundations: Large global foundation funding civil society, media freedom, and democratic governance. Comparable thematic focus on democracy defense and rule of law, and an active funder of many of the same organizations Defend Democracy partners with, but with vastly larger scale and broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DefendDemocracy
• Facebookfacebook.com/DefendingDemocracy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/defenddemocracy
• Instagraminstagram.com/defend__democracy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Defend Democracy