The Education for Democracy Foundation (FED) was established at the end of the 1980-s as a cooperative effort between Polish and American pro-democratic educators. An independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, the FED promotes the dissemination of knowledge concerning democracy and a free market economy as well as provide skills for civic activity in a democratic state. The Foundation's initial task is granting assistance in this field to educators and activists of non-governmental, trade union, youth and local governmental organizations in Poland and other countries of Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia.