Programs and results
What we aim to solve
C4ADS aims to address the global threats posed by illicit networks and transnational organized crime. This threat takes many forms, from the poaching and sale of illegal ivory and illicit arms shipments to Syria, to human trafficking in the fishery sector and North Korean overseas business networks, to name but a few. While the problem set is vast, we take on projects through which we believe we can add unique insight and have a strong impact.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Environmental Crimes Fusion Cell
The global trade in illicit environmental products has become a multi-billion dollar industry. Wildlife and timber traffickers have demonstrated a detailed understanding of the legal systems they abuse, moving millions of dollars of contraband through international systems of finance and transportation. Organizations seeking to combat this trade are under resourced and struggling to effectively communicate across jurisdictions, sectors, and interests. C4ADS’ Environmental Crimes Fusion Cell was built to bridge this gap.
We work with a global network of 150 partner organizations across the conservation, enforcement, and regulatory communities to transform raw field data into actionable results. We actively support enforcement and policy initiatives in a variety of ways, including through the Reducing Opportunities for Unlawful Transport of Endangered Species (ROUTES) Partnership.
Threat Finance Cell
The newest generation of illicit actors are inter-connected, globalized, and technologically savvy. Nuclear proliferators maintain complex webs of proxies and shell companies, while pariah states use similar networks to arm and equip their surrogates around the world. Meanwhile, international terrorist organizations and other perpetrators of mass atrocities operate multi-billion dollar commercial empires with global reach, funneling proceeds through Western jurisdictions.
C4ADS uses open data from global business directories, tax registries, property listings, court documents, intellectual property records, and trade gazettes from over 120 jurisdictions around the world. We structure and analyze this data to map and expose illicit networks around the world. Current focus areas include investigating Human Trafficking, DPRK Overseas Procurement Networks, and Latin American Corruption.
Kleptocracy Cell
The theft and capture of state resources and public funds by political, military, and business elites is a principal driver of state instability, particularly in fragile states where corruption and violence are intertwined. Networks of well-connected elites exploit weak legal regimes, vulnerable state institutions, and poor enforcement capacity to capture revenue-rich economic sectors for personal gain. These proceeds are concealed in opaque corporate holdings and laundered through offshore jurisdictions in the form of property, corporate shares, and networks of profit-earning enterprises.
C4ADS’ Kleptocracy Cell works to unravel and expose networks of corrupt elites while generating insights that accelerate enforcement action by government entities, banking and financial institutions, and international enforcement agencies. We rely on high-advantage open data to support enforcement actions, enhance transparency, and expand public awareness on the networks that enable violent kleptocracies across East and Central Africa, as well as the Horn and the greater Middle East and North Africa.
Where we work
External reviews

Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of list subscribers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of unique website visitors
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Academics, Activists, Military personnel
Type of Metric
Other - describing something else
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of reports written/published
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Academics, Activists, Military personnel, Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
We aim to expose and disrupt the activities of illicit networks around the world.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We take a variety of approaches to disrupting illicit networks with the goal of providing actionable information to global policymakers. \r\n\r\nWe start by asking questions and challenging assumptions about the issues we look at, and our research has often had surprising results. From the vulnerability of North Korean business networks to the links between fish swim bladder smuggling and drug cartels, we have time and again found that open data research can have a powerful impact on illicit networks around the world. \r\n\r\nWe work with a wide variety of local and international organizations to ensure that our research makes its way to those who can best use it to disrupt the actors we investigate.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We conduct open source research on a variety of issues directly tied to illicit networks. Our approach to open source research is somewhat unique; we use a vast array of sources, such as public records, social media, and shipping databases. \r\n\r\nWe use the foreign language and travel experience of our analysts to find and use data that others have not previously been able to access. \r\n\r\nWe have developed unique methods of analyzing the data we collect that have proven successful across a wide array of issues, and we continually hone these methods as we are able to access new datasets and use innovative tech platforms.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We have published reports on a number of illicit networks and related issues recently. We will continue to publish on a wide array of issues in order to build the public understanding of this type of research and general understanding of these issues. \r\n\r\nWe hope to continue to grow as an organization in order to conduct research on an even wider range of topics related to illicit networks around the world and to be able to impact them similarly.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals,
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
Our staff, Our funders,
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We act on the feedback we receive,
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
The Center for Advanced Defense Studies
Board of directorsas of 01/20/2023
Foley April
Newton Howard
April Foley
John Callery
Sergey Kanareykin
John Pearce
David Fridovich
Joe D'Cruz
Archie Ravishankar
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 04/07/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.