This investigation reveals a complex web of international funding flowing into UK protest movements, raising significant questions about foreign influence, transparency, and the true sources of activist power. Through extensive open-source intelligence gathering, we uncover the financial networks behind some of the UK’s most prominent protest groups, the wealthy individuals and organizations funding them, and the government’s growing concern about foreign interference in domestic politics.

Network diagram showing funding relationships between major international donors and UK protest groups

The Climate Emergency Fund: Oil Money Funding Oil Protests

At the heart of UK climate activism lies a profound irony. The Climate Emergency Fund (CEF), the primary financial backer of Just Stop Oil and a major supporter of Extinction Rebellion, was founded and initially funded by Aileen Getty – granddaughter of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty, whose petroleum empire once made him the world’s richest man.

Getty provided the CEF’s initial $500,000 seed funding in 2019, and has reportedly donated $1 million of her personal wealth to the organization. The CEF has since distributed over $4 million globally, with $650,000 specifically directed to UK groups in 2022 alone. Just Stop Oil received approximately $1.1 million from the CEF, while Extinction Rebellion received around $200,000.

Margaret Klein Salamon, the CEF’s executive director, openly describes the organization’s strategy as operating like “venture capital,” seeking out “ultra-ambitious groups and campaigns” that can benefit from $50,000 to $100,000 donations. She praised Just Stop Oil as representing “the next evolution of climate campaigning,” operating as a “nonviolent army with that level of discipline, planning, coordination”.

The CEF’s funding model extends far beyond Getty’s initial investment. Adam McKay, producer of the climate satire “Don’t Look Up,” donated $250,000, specifically inspired by Just Stop Oil and Scientist Rebellion. The organization has also received support from other wealthy individuals seeking to fund disruptive activism while maintaining some distance from direct involvement.

The Soros Network: Open Society’s UK Operations

George Soros, through his Open Society Foundations (OSF), represents one of the most significant sources of funding for UK political and activist organizations. Between 1999 and 2018, OSF provided a combined $1.7 billion to organizations outside the United States, with the UK receiving $299 million – more than any other country.

OSF funding in the UK has supported various causes:

• Best for Britain received $400,000 (£400,000) to campaign against Brexit, as confirmed by the organization’s chairman Lord Malloch-Brown

European Movement UK and Scientists for EU received additional funding for anti-Brexit activities

The Tides Foundation received $25.8 million from OSF between 2020-2021, with portions earmarked for pro-Palestinian causes that have supported UK activism

The Open Society network operates through multiple foundations and intermediary organizations, making it difficult to trace the full extent of funding to UK groups. As one academic analysis noted, this creates “a sprawling entity, with some 1,800 employees in 35 countries” managing an annual budget of around $1 billion.

The Tides Network: Dark Money Infrastructure

The Tides Foundation, based in San Francisco, operates as what critics call a “dark money” network, allowing donors to remain anonymous while funding progressive causes. With combined assets approaching $1.4 billion across its various entities, Tides has emerged as a critical piece of infrastructure for funding UK protest movements.

Tides entities have provided funding to numerous organizations involved in UK protest activity:

• Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow, both active in UK pro-Palestinian protests

CODEPINK, which has organized UK demonstrations

Palestine Legal and Adalah Justice Project, providing legal support for activists

The Westchester Peace Action Committee Foundation (WESPAC), which received $97,000 from Tides in 2022, serves as fiscal sponsor for National Students for Justice in Palestine. WESPAC reported spending almost $1.5 million on office expenses despite having only one part-time employee, raising questions about the true nature of these financial flows.

Tides’ funding sources include major Democratic donors such as the Pritzker family (Hyatt Hotel heirs) and historically has received support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Dale Vince: The Green Energy Entrepreneur’s Political Investment

Dale Vince, founder of renewable energy company Ecotricity, represents a unique case of cross-over funding between mainstream politics and direct action protest. Over the past decade, Vince has donated £1.5 million to the Labour Party while simultaneously funding climate protest groups.

Vince’s protest funding included:

• “Tens of thousands” to Just Stop Oil, later specified as over £340,000

Funding to Extinction Rebellion (amount unspecified)

16% of Just Stop Oil’s total funding between March-August 2023

In October 2023, Vince announced he was withdrawing funding from Just Stop Oil, declaring further protests “pointless” and “counterproductive”. Instead, he launched “Just Vote”, focusing on voter registration and electoral politics rather than direct action.

Conservative MPs criticized the arrangement, with Deputy Chairman Lee Anderson stating: “Every day that Labour takes money from Dale Vince another ambulance is delayed, a hospital appointment is missed, a grieving relative can’t get to a funeral”.

Black Lives Matter UK: Crowdfunding Success and Disbursement Questions

Black Lives Matter UK achieved remarkable crowdfunding success, raising over £1.2 million from more than 36,000 donors in the wake of George Floyd’s death in 2020. The organization committed to distributing £570,000 (half the total) to other black liberation organizations.

The first round of grants in February 2022 distributed £170,000 to 14 groups including:

• African Rainbow Family
• United Voices of The World
• Sistah Space (Hackney’s specialist domestic violence service for Black women)

A second round distributed £350,000 through Development Fund and Impact Fund programs. However, questions remain about the organization’s structure and long-term use of remaining funds, particularly given BLM UK’s stated anti-capitalist principles and role as “custodians and not owners of the resources”.

Palestine Action: Iranian Connections Under Investigation

Palestine Action represents perhaps the most controversial case in UK protest funding. In June 2025, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper proscribed the group as a terrorist organization, with Home Office officials reportedly investigating whether it receives funding via Iranian proxies.

The government’s concerns center on the alignment between Palestine Action’s objectives and Iranian foreign policy goals, though no concrete evidence of Iranian funding has been publicly presented. The investigation followed Palestine Action’s spray-painting of military aircraft at RAF Brize Norton.

Known funding sources for Palestine Action include:

• James “Fergie” Chambers, heir to the Cox Enterprises empire, who pays legal fees for Palestine Action members

Crowdfunding campaigns, including £300,000 raised to fight the proscription process

Undisclosed sources that allow the group to maintain operations despite significant legal costs

Chambers, who has stated “I chant death to America every day” and posted that Hamas “has done nothing wrong,” represents the type of radical funder that concerns security services.

The Joseph Rowntree Network: Historic Liberal Funding

The Joseph Rowntree family of trusts represents the UK’s most established source of funding for liberal and progressive causes. The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) has provided substantial support for rights and justice organizations, including £1.5 million through its Grassroots Movements Fund over three years.

JRCT explicitly funds work that mainstream charities cannot, including:

• “Policy advocacy and campaigning to protect and promote human rights for the most vulnerable”

“Activities to promote political empowerment, in particular, amongst and led by women within [Muslim] communities”

“Work to challenge ideologies, attitudes and movements that encourage racism and xenophobia”

The Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust (JRRT), historically unique among the three Rowntree trusts for its ability to fund non-charitable and political work, has supported the Liberal Party, Friends of the Earth, and numerous campaign groups since the 1960s.

Stand Up to Racism and Trade Union Backing

Stand Up to Racism operates with substantial backing from the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and major trade unions. The organization’s funding model relies on institutional union support rather than wealthy individual donors, representing a different approach to protest financing.

Recent activities include organizing counter-demonstrations against far-right marches and conducting trade union conferences with over 400 participants. The organization’s funding comes primarily from:

• TUC institutional support
• Individual union contributions from organizations like NASUWT, PCS, FBU, and others

Membership fees and small donations

Government Response: The Foreign Influence Registration Scheme

Timeline of major developments in UK protest group funding and government responses, 2016-2025

The UK government’s concern about foreign funding of domestic political activities has led to the implementation of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), which came into force in July 2025. The scheme requires individuals and organizations to register when they have arrangements with foreign powers involving “direction” to carry out political influence activities in the UK.

Key aspects of FIRS include:

• Political Influence Tier: Registration required when foreign governments direct UK political influence activities

Enhanced Tier: Broader registration requirements for activities directed by specified foreign powers (currently Iran and Russia)

Transparency Requirements: Some registered information will be made public online

The scheme reflects growing government concern about foreign interference, with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stating it would “play a critical role in encouraging transparency, while simultaneously deterring foreign powers that wish to pursue their aims covertly”.

Corporate and Think Tank Influence: The Other Side of the Funding Coin

While investigating protest group funding, it’s crucial to note that corporate and right-wing think tank funding also shapes UK political discourse. Policy Exchange, whose briefing directly influenced anti-protest legislation, has received funding from oil giant ExxonMobil through its US branch. The organization’s summer party was attended by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who thanked them for helping “draft” government laws targeting climate protest.

The Tufton Street network of think tanks, including the Institute of Economic Affairs and Global Warming Policy Foundation, has received funding from oil companies and wealthy individuals with fossil fuel investments. Conservative politicians received over £630,000 from Tufton Street board members in the six months after Sunak became Prime Minister.

National Endowment for Democracy: The CIA’s Open Operation

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED), described by its own former director as doing “in the open what the Central Intelligence Agency has done surreptitiously for decades,” has provided £2.6 million to UK media and press freedom groups over five years.

NED funding has gone to:

• Bellingcat (investigative journalism)
• openDemocracy (progressive media)
• Index on Censorship (press freedom)
• Article 19 (freedom of expression)

While these are media organizations rather than protest groups, the NED’s involvement demonstrates the extent of US government interest in shaping UK information landscapes and civil society.

Transparency and Accountability Gaps

Scale of known funding to UK protest groups and related organizations by source

A significant finding of this investigation is the varying levels of transparency across different funding networks:

High Transparency:

• BLM UK crowdfunding (fully public donors)
• Dale Vince political donations (electoral commission reporting)
• NED grants (congressional oversight and public reporting)

Moderate Transparency:

• Climate Emergency Fund (some donor disclosure)
• Joseph Rowntree trusts (charity commission reporting)

Low/No Transparency:

• Tides Foundation (“dark money” network)
• Palestine Action (funding sources largely unknown)

Suspected Iranian funding (under investigation but unproven)

Unverified Allegations and Information Warfare

Several allegations emerged during this investigation that lack sufficient evidence:

Unverified Claims:

• Iran funding Palestine Action through proxies – The government has opened an investigation but provided no public evidence

• Russian influence on UK protest movements – No specific evidence found
• Corporate astroturfing of environmental groups – Allegations exist but lack documentation

Information Warfare Tactics:
The government’s handling of the Palestine Action proscription demonstrates how allegations can be strategically leaked to media without evidence. The Times reported government concerns about Iranian funding based on anonymous briefings, but provided no quotes from officials or evidence.

Financial Scale and Impact Assessment

Based on available data, the total identifiable funding flowing to UK protest movements represents tens of millions of pounds over the past decade:

Major Funding Streams (Conservative Estimates):

• Open Society Foundations: £299 million (1999-2018, various causes)
• Climate Emergency Fund: £500,000+ (UK-specific)
• Dale Vince: £340,000+ (Just Stop Oil)
• BLM UK: £1.2 million (crowdfunded)
• Joseph Rowntree: £1.5 million (grassroots movements fund)
• NED: £2.6 million (media organizations)

Hidden/Unknown Funding:

• Tides Foundation UK disbursements: Likely millions but largely untraceable
• Palestine Action total funding: Unknown
• Other wealthy individual donors: Likely significant but undisclosed

Government Crackdown: Legislation and Enforcement

The government response to protest funding concerns has been multi-faceted:

Legislative Measures:

• Public Order Act 2023: Expanded police powers against protesters, directly informed by Policy Exchange briefing

Foreign Influence Registration Scheme: Mandatory registration for foreign-directed political activities

Terrorism Act amendments: Used to proscribe Palestine Action

Enforcement Actions:

• Palestine Action proscription: First activist group banned as terrorist organization for property damage

Mass arrests: Over 1,400 arrests related to Palestine Action ban

Funding investigations: Home Office probe into suspected foreign funding

International Context and Comparative Analysis

The UK situation reflects broader international trends in protest funding and government responses:

Similar Patterns Globally:

• US campus protests receiving funding from Tides Foundation and other progressive donors

• European governments implementing foreign influence registration schemes
• Wealthy individuals using foundations to fund political activism while maintaining distance

Unique UK Aspects:

• Historic role of Quaker-founded trusts (Joseph Rowntree) in funding dissent
• Brexit-related funding from both Soros (pro-EU) and other sources
• Commonwealth connections enabling complex funding routes

Conclusions and Implications

This investigation reveals a complex ecosystem of protest funding in the UK, characterized by:

1. Significant Foreign Influence: Millions of pounds flow from US-based foundations and wealthy individuals to UK protest movements, raising legitimate questions about sovereignty and domestic political autonomy.
2. Transparency Deficit: Many funding arrangements deliberately obscure the original sources of money through intermediary organizations and “dark money” networks.
3. Ideological Contradictions: Climate protesters funded by oil wealth, anti-capitalist movements funded by billionaires, and pro-democracy organizations funded by foreign governments demonstrate the complex motivations behind protest funding.
4. Government Overreach Concerns: While foreign funding oversight is legitimate, the proscription of Palestine Action and mass arrests of supporters suggest potential overreach in defining terrorism and protest rights.
5. Information Warfare: The strategic leaking of unverified allegations about Iranian funding demonstrates how claims can be weaponized for political purposes without evidence.

The evidence suggests that while foreign funding of UK protest movements is extensive and often deliberately obscured, many of the more dramatic allegations – particularly regarding Iranian involvement – remain unproven. The government’s response, including new registration schemes and the controversial proscription of Palestine Action, reflects genuine concerns about foreign influence but may also represent an attempt to delegitimize domestic dissent.

For UK democracy, the key challenge is balancing legitimate concerns about foreign interference with the fundamental right to protest and associate freely. The lack of transparency in current funding arrangements serves neither democracy nor national security well, suggesting that greater disclosure requirements – applied equally to all political actors – may be necessary.

This investigation demonstrates that following the money in UK protest movements reveals not a simple story of foreign manipulation, but a complex web of ideological, financial, and political motivations that reflects the globalized nature of modern activism and the ongoing struggle over who gets to define legitimate political participation in democratic societies.

Sources: This investigation is based on publicly available documents, financial filings, parliamentary records, court documents, and journalistic reporting. All funding figures are conservative estimates based on disclosed information, with actual totals likely higher due to undisclosed contributions.