The International Republican Institute (IRI) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (Tax ID 52-1340267) founded in 1983, shortly after President Ronald Reagan's 1982 speech advocating for global democracy promotion, and initially named the National Republican Institute for International Affairs. Headquartered at 1225 I Street NW, Suite 800, in Washington, D.C., IRI is affiliated with the Republican Party and claims nonpartisan status while maintaining strong ties, including a board predominantly composed of Republican members and affiliates such as Chairman Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), trustees like Lindsey Graham, and recent additions including Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Michael Goldfarb, and David Urban. Led by President Daniel Twining, it is part of the National Endowment for Democracy and receives nearly all its funding from U.S. government sources, including the National Endowment for Democracy, U.S. Agency for International Development, and U.S. State Department, with historical revenue of $55.2 million in 2016.

IRI promotes democracy, governance, and political participation worldwide through programs in over 100 countries across Africa, Asia, Eurasia, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Middle East. Its activities focus on political party development, election observation (over 200 elections), civic education, governance training, and empowering women and youth in politics, while emphasizing countering authoritarian influences from China and Russia via transparent elections, rule of law, and civil society strengthening.

Despite its mission, IRI has faced repeated accusations of foreign interference, including implication in the 2004 Haitian coup d'état against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Critics, including reports from The New York Times and NPR, have highlighted its role in providing donors access to figures like John McCain and questioned its activities as extensions of U.S. foreign policy rather than neutral democracy support.