Highlights
The American Economic Liberties Project (AELP) presents itself as a non-partisan driving force in the anti-monopoly movement, claiming its mission is to translate “intellectual victories” into real policy changes to combat what it calls a national “crisis” of concentrated economic power. The group says it has “quickly grown” into a central hub for policy experts from fields such as community development, national security, and entrepreneurship—all united around curbing corporate concentration.
However, behind its populist rhetoric, AELP’s own funding reveals a striking irony: the organization relies on some of the wealthiest and most powerful liberal foundations in the country, the very kind of concentrated financial influence it claims to oppose. This tension between message and money raises deeper questions about who truly benefits from AELP’s growing influence and what interests shape its agenda.
Liberal And Activist Staff
AELP’s senior staff is made up of individuals who all come from liberal backgrounds. Executive Director Nidhi Hedge previously worked for the progressive think tank Open Markets Institute and The Omidyar Network, which is one of AELP’s largest funders. Director of Research Matt Stoller also worked for Open Markets and has authored several books and publications critical of monopolies.
Former Executive Director and current member of AELP’s Board of Directors Sarah Miller previously served as Chief of Staff to FTC Chair Lina Khan and worked for Open Markets. Miller has also worked in high-level roles for several liberal politicians, including Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Martin O’Malley. Miller’s husband, Faiz Shakir, is also a well-connected liberal political operative who previously ran the Center for American Progress’s blog ThinkProgress and was the campaign manager to Bernie Sanders’ 2020 Presidential campaign.
Deep-Pocket Liberal Funding & Connections
Despite claiming to fight “concentrated economic power”, AELP has received funding and support from some of the richest and entrenched liberal foundations and individuals. According to filings, AELP has received millions from groups such as George Soros’ Foundation to Promote Open Society, The Ford Foundation, The Nathan Cummings Foundation, ClimateWorks Foundation, the Hewlett Foundation, and the Sandler Foundation.
AELP shares the same address as Waxman Strategies in Washington, D.C., a public affairs firm founded by former Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman from California. Waxman has done environmental work with several liberal organizations, including the Packard Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, and the Energy Foundation.