What Alliance of Democracies Foundation does

The Alliance of Democracies Foundation is a Copenhagen-based non-profit organization founded in 2017 by Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former NATO Secretary General and Danish Prime Minister. It operates as a policy advocacy and convening platform whose stated mission is to strengthen democratic nations against authoritarian pressures, with primary audiences comprising democratic governments and policymakers, civil society organizations in non-free and emerging democracies, and business leaders seeking democracy-aligned operating frameworks. The organization is registered in Denmark (CVR 39209349), headquartered at Grønningen 23 in central Copenhagen, and funded entirely by private sponsors, governments, individuals, and in-kind donations; it does not sell products or services.

Its offering portfolio is structured across three pillars. The first is high-level convening and policy research: the annual Copenhagen Democracy Summit is the flagship forum, accompanied by recurring policy reports including the Copenhagen Charter, the Economic Article 5 proposal, the 7-Point Plan for Ukraine, the 5-Point Plan for European Defence, the D7 (Alliance of Middle-Power Democracies) report, and the Democracy Perception Index — the latter produced with Latana and described as the world's largest annual study on democracy attitudes. The second pillar is democracy-tech program delivery: the Tech for Democracy Impact Accelerator (TDIA) supports a cohort of 13 European non-profits using advanced technology to address democratic challenges; the Democracy Tech Entrepreneur Fellowship runs multi-year cohorts (2021–2026) recruiting tech entrepreneurs from Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, and Armenia; and Democracy Tech Hackathons are held annually across those same frontline democracies, feeding winners into the fellowship. The third pillar is media literacy and assessment tooling: the Disinformation Diaries game, the Media LitLab program (simulation workshops, essay contest, leadership roundtables), and the Democracy by Design Toolkit developed with Alfred Herrhausen Gesellschaft, which issues a digital democracy badge to participating technology companies. The underlying technology is therefore not a single product platform but a portfolio of convening, content, and cohort-based services supported by a network of partners including Latana, TechSoup, Alfred Herrhausen Gesellschaft, Tech To The Rescue, WITNESS, the European University Institute, and the EU Institute for Security Studies.

The go-to-market model is event-driven and community-led rather than commercial: distribution runs through the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, op-eds in international outlets (Project Syndicate, Politiken, Berlingske), social channels (X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram), a newsletter, and direct program applications. Revenue mechanics are donations and grants rather than pricing tiers, with all programmatic outputs offered without fees to participants and audiences.

Name

Alliance of Democracies Foundation

Legal name

Alliance of Democracies Foundation

Website

https://allianceofdemocracies.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Alliance of Democracies Foundation is a Copenhagen-based non-profit founded in 2017 by former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen that advocates for global democracy through the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, the Democracy Perception Index, democracy-tech accelerator and fellowship programs in frontline democracies, and media literacy tools for citizens and technology companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Democracy Advocacy and Policy Research

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Democracy, Voting Rights & Civic Participation Advocacy (BPAGAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Democratic Governance & Public Administration Reform (BPADAGAJ), Peace, Security & Arms Control Organizations (BPADAAAF), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

Keywords

• Democracy advocacy
• Policy research
• Civic engagement
• Media literacy
• Democracy technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: The Alliance of Democracies Foundation is a non-profit organization funded by private sponsors, governments, and individuals. The organization also receives 'in kind' donations. Donations support general operations and programs advancing democracy, free markets, and civic engagement globally. Designated donations are used for their specified purpose, subject to operational discretion.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Alliance of Democracies Foundation is a non-profit policy and convening organization that advocates for democratic resilience globally. It runs the annual Copenhagen Democracy Summit, produces policy frameworks (Economic Article 5, Copenhagen Charter, D7 Report, 5-Point Plan for European Defence, 7-Point Plan for Ukraine), supports democracy tech entrepreneurship through a fellowship, hackathons and impact accelerator, and publishes media literacy tools and the Democracy Perception Index.

Product overview

Alliance of Democracies Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on democracy advocacy, not a traditional product company. Its offerings consist of advocacy initiatives, policy frameworks, events, educational programs, and media literacy tools. The portfolio includes: the annual Copenhagen Democracy Summit (flagship event); the Democracy Perception Index (annual research study); policy initiatives including the Copenhagen Charter, Economic Article 5, Seven-Point Plan for Ukraine, Five-Point Plan for European Defence, and D7 Report; and technology/democracy programs including the Tech for Democracy Impact Accelerator, Democracy Tech Fellowship, Democracy Tech Hackathons, Disinformation Diaries (game-based media literacy), Media LitLab, and the Democracy Toolkit. These offerings are advocacy and research-focused rather than commercial software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Copenhagen Democracy Summit: Annual high-level strategic forum exclusively focused on strengthening the resolve of the world's democracies
• Democracy Perception Index
• Tech for Democracy Impact Accelerator (TDIA)
• Democracy Tech Entrepreneur Fellowship
• Democracy Tech Hackathons
• Democracy by Design Toolkit
• Disinformation Diaries
• Media LitLab
• 7-Point Plan for Ukraine
• Copenhagen Charter
• Economic Article 5
• D7 Report
• 5-Point Plan for European Defence

Products and services

• Copenhagen Democracy Summit Annual flagship event providing a high-level strategic forum exclusively focused on strengthening the resolve of the world's democracies by gathering heads of state, ministers, business leaders, and democracy advocates.
• Disinformation Diaries Interactive online game-based media literacy tool that walks players through the journey of a candidate who lost an election to a deepfake and disinformation campaign, awarding a shareable certificate upon completion.
• Media LitLab Program that broadens understanding of politically motivated disinformation operations through a war-game simulation workshop, a policy essay contest for business leaders and tech innovators, and leadership roundtables with former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
• Democracy by Design Toolkit Toolkit helping startups and technology companies assess and enhance the democracy-friendliness of their digital innovations, including a digital democracy badge for participants who complete the assessment.
• Tech for Democracy Impact Accelerator (TDIA) Accelerator program that provides expert advice, tools, and network access to selected European non-profit and social enterprise projects working on election integrity, civic dialogue, and democratic resilience using advanced technology and AI.
• Democracy Tech Entrepreneur Fellowship Fellowship program recruiting tech entrepreneurs from Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, and Armenia to develop pro-democracy technology solutions through bi-weekly masterclasses, mentorship, and attendance at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit.
• Democracy Tech Hackathons Social coding events bringing innovative minds and democracy defenders together in frontline democracies (Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Armenia) to develop technology solutions for democratic challenges.
• Democracy Perception Index Annual global study conducted in collaboration with Latana that monitors attitudes towards democracy from around the world, described as the world's largest annual study on democracy.
• Copenhagen Charter Policy framework proposing three specific areas — Economic Article 5, making tech work for democracy, and standing up for democracy's champions — for returning democratic multilateralism to ascendancy.
• Economic Article 5 Policy proposal for an alliance of democracies to enact an economic Article 5, similar to NATO's mutual defence clause, enabling unified response against authoritarian economic coercion.
• Seven-Point Plan for Ukraine Comprehensive plan presented by Anders Fogh Rasmussen for Ukraine to win the war and secure sustainable peace, covering military support, territorial integrity, accountability, reconstruction, and NATO/EU membership.
• D7 Report (Alliance of Middle-Power Democracies) Report proposing a Democracies-7 (D7) coalition of Australia, Canada, EU, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and UK as a third path between dependence on great powers for middle-power democracies.
• Five-Point Plan for European Defence Policy plan recommending European NATO allies surge defence spending to 4% of GDP by 2028 to develop effective deterrent against a militarized Russia, released ahead of the Copenhagen Democracy Summit.

Quantifiable outcome

• 13 European non-profit organizations supported through the Tech for Democracy Impact Accelerator program, developing solutions for election integrity, voter education, and civic dialogue using advanced technology and AI.
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TechSoupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechSoup supports civil society organisations around the world in leveraging data, technology, and digital skills. Its Senior Vice President Anna Sienicka serves as a coach in the Tech for Democracy Impact Accelerator (TDIA) program, providing subject matter expertise to selected European non-profits. Through its global network, TechSoup has enabled over 1.4 million CSOs across 234 countries and territories to access more than €20 billion in technology and financial resources.
• Alfred Herrhausen GesellschaftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Alfred Herrhausen Gesellschaft (AHG) has partnered with the Alliance of Democracies Foundation on the 'Democracy by Design' Toolkit, developed to guide startups and technology companies in assessing and enhancing the democracy-friendliness of their digital innovations. As of 2023, AHG assumed sole responsibility for the Toolkit Initiative. AHG champions democracy, freedom, and progression, and has been an influential voice in Germany's socio-political arena since 1992.
• LatanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLatana collaborates with the Alliance of Democracies Foundation on the Democracy Perception Index (DPI), the world's largest annual study on democracy monitoring attitudes toward democracy from around the world. Latana provides the polling and research methodology that enables the DPI to track democratic perceptions globally on an annual basis.
• Nation Centre for Social Research (EKKE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Nation Centre for Social Research (EKKE) is a partner in the d-A-logue project alongside NCSR Demokritos and the World Human Forum, implemented under the auspices of the Special Secretariat of Foresight in Greece.
• World Human ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe World Human Forum is a partner in the d-A-logue project alongside NCSR Demokritos and Athena Research Centre, contributing to the AI-driven platform using Socratic dialogue and pre-bunking techniques to combat misinformation.
• Special Secretariat of ForesightminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Special Secretariat of Foresight (Greek government) is the auspices under which the d-A-logue project is implemented, partnering with NCSR Demokritos and civil society organizations to develop AI-driven tools for combating misinformation.
• New LocalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Local, a UK think tank and network of forward-thinking councils, is a partner in Demos' 'Waves' project within the Tech for Democracy Impact Accelerator. The project brings people together to tackle contentious local issues and strengthen trust in local government using new technology platforms.
• Sortition Foundation / Sortition EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sortition Foundation and Sortition Europe are non-profit companies dedicated to building the movement for permanent, powerful citizens' assemblies. Nick Gill serves as Chief Technical Project Manager in the Tech for Democracy Impact Accelerator, representing the organization's work in using sortition and deliberative processes for democratic decision-making.
• WITNESSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWITNESS is a human rights organization that uses video and technology to defend human rights. Its Executive Director Dr. Sam Gregory served as a masterclass speaker for the Tech for Democracy Impact Accelerator, discussing communication strategies for advocacy and deepfakes. WITNESS received the 2024 Peabody Global Impact Award.
• European University Institute (EUI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe European University Institute's Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies hosts Dr. Patryk Pawlak as Part-time Professor and the Global Initiative on the Future of the Internet. Dr. Pawlak serves as a coach in the Tech for Democracy Impact Accelerator and was appointed by the UN Secretary-General to the Advisory Board for Disarmament Matters.
• Centre for Future GenerationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Centre for Future Generations (CFG) works at the intersection of technology, democracy, and governance. Its Governance Programme Director Maria Koomen served as a masterclass speaker in the Tech for Democracy Impact Accelerator, discussing leveraging democratic technology.
• EU Institute for Security Studies (EUISS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUISS hosts Dr. Nad'a Kovalciková as Senior Analyst in charge of the Transnational Security portfolio and Project Director of the EU-funded initiative 'Countering Foreign Interference'. Dr. Kovalciková serves as a coach in the Tech for Democracy Impact Accelerator.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Freedom House: Pro-democracy organization producing the annual Freedom in the World report and operating grant and advocacy programs in restrictive environments. Direct peer on the democracy-monitoring/data product side, comparable to AoD's Democracy Perception Index.
• National Endowment for Democracy (NED): Washington-based foundation that grants funds to non-governmental organizations abroad to promote democratic institutions and civil society. Most direct peer to AoD in mission, democracy funding, and global convening posture, with a much larger grantmaking scale.
• International Republican Institute (IRI): US-based nonprofit that works to advance democracy worldwide through political party support, civic participation, and governance programs. Closely mirrors AoD's combination of frontline-country programming and global convening/policy leadership.
• National Democratic Institute (NDI): Core institute in the US democracy-support ecosystem, operating political party and civic programs in transition and frontline states. Comparable to AoD's fellowship/accelerator-style work in Ukraine and the South Caucasus, with overlapping focus on election integrity and civic tech.
• International IDEA: Intergovernmental organization supporting democratic institutions and electoral processes globally, with strong European operations and a Geneva-Stockholm footprint. Comparable to AoD in convening democratic governments, producing comparative research, and supporting frontline states.

Broad incumbents

• Atlantic Council: US think tank producing policy programs and major reports on geopolitics, defence, and democracy, including the Global Fragility Act and disinformation work. Comparable to AoD on democratic resilience, transatlantic policy ideas (D7-style middle-power alliances), and senior-level convening.
• Open Society Foundations: Large grantmaking foundation backing civic groups, independent media, and democratic reform worldwide. Comparable to AoD in advocating democratic values, supporting frontline states, and funding civic tech, though operating at substantially greater scale as an incumbent.
• German Marshall Fund (GMF): Atlanticist think tank and grantmaker operating Brussels Forum, policy programs, and fellowships across the transatlantic space. Closely comparable to AoD in convening power, transatlantic policy focus, and fellowship-style programs, though broader in thematic scope.

Emerging players

• Eurasia Foundation: Nonprofit funding civic and economic programs across the EU's Eastern Partnership countries and Russia. Directly comparable to AoD's frontline focus on Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and the broader Eastern Europe and Caucasus geographic corridor.
• V-Dem Institute: University of Gothenburg–based research institute producing the Varieties of Democracy dataset, a reference academic measurement of democracy globally. Highly comparable to AoD's Democracy Perception Index in producing annual, data-driven assessments used in policy and media discourse.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AllianceofDem
• Facebookfacebook.com/AllianceofDemocracies
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alliance-of-democracies-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/allianceofdemocracies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Alliance of Democracies Foundation