National Democratic Institute (NDI)

Overview

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan nongovernmental organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. that works with local partners in more than 150 countries to strengthen democratic institutions through citizen participation, openness and government accountability. It operates exclusively outside the United States and does not involve itself in U.S. elections.

Key functions and role

NDI supports political parties, parliaments, election-monitoring organizations and civic groups abroad, provides technical assistance for election observation, and runs programs on women's political empowerment, youth political participation, and democratic governance. It co-led development of the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, endorsed by more than 50 international organizations, and presents the annual Madeleine K. Albright Democracy Award. NDI is one of four core institutes funded by the congressionally chartered National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

History

Former Vice President Walter Mondale and former Democratic National Committee chairman Paul G. Kirk Jr. founded NDI in 1983, shortly after Congress created the National Endowment for Democracy. NDI's parallel Republican-aligned counterpart is the International Republican Institute. NDI has worked in Chile since 1985 supporting opposition leaders during the transition from military rule, and it played a role in election-monitoring efforts during Ukraine's 2004 Orange Revolution. In February 2025, the Department of Government Efficiency blocked disbursement of congressionally appropriated NED funding to NDI, forcing the organization to lay off roughly two-thirds of its Washington workforce and begin closing overseas field offices.

Political positions

NDI describes itself as formally nonpartisan and does not take positions on U.S. elections, though by its own description it maintains a loose affiliation with the Democratic Party; its Republican-aligned counterpart is the International Republican Institute. Critics, including the Monthly Review and various foreign governments, have characterized NDI's democracy-promotion work as an instrument of U.S. foreign-policy influence; Russia designated NDI an "undesirable organization" in 2016.

Leadership

Tamara Cofman Wittes has served as President since March 2024, succeeding Derek Mitchell. As of the most recently available board records, former Senate Majority Leader Thomas A. Daschle chairs NDI's board of directors, a role previously held by the late Madeleine K. Albright.

Location and contact info

Address
455 Massachusetts Avenue NW, 8th Floor
Washington, DC 20001, USA
Phone
202-728-5500
Website
https://www.ndi.org