Source description last updated: 22 May 2026

In brief: The Sentry is an investigative and policy organization that seeks to disable multinational networks that financially benefit from violent conflict, repression, and fraud.

Coverage on ecoi.net:

Selected reports.

Covered quarterly on ecoi.net, for countries of priorities A-C.

Mission/Mandate/Objectives:

The Sentry originated from “The enough project” and was co-founded by George Clooney and John Prendergast in 2016. It is located in Washington, DC. (https://thesentry.org/about/, undated)  

The mission of The Sentry “is to expose and disrupt the networks profiting from the conflict, corruption, and natural resource exploitation that drive human suffering.” (The Sentry: The Sentry Impact Report 2025, 2025, p. 2)

It “aims to alter the warped incentive structures that continually undermine peace and good governance. [..] investigations follow the money as it is laundered from war zones to financial centers around the world. We provide evidence and strategies for governments, banks, and law enforcement to hold the perpetrators and enablers of violence and corruption to account. These efforts provide new leverage for human rights, peace, and anti-corruption efforts.” (https://thesentry.org/about/, undated)

“The Sentry’s investigations produce analytical reporting that engages civil society and media, supports regulatory action and prosecutions, and provides policymakers with the information they require to take effective action.” (https://thesentry.org/about/, undated)

Through the data project, called Atlas,it provides “users with multiple ways in which to view the data [from companies and people involved] and insights, with the aim that the varied presentation may support fresh ways of thinking, spark new leads, or facilitate pattern identification and understanding of typologies. Atlas gives the public an opportunity to scrutinize information that should have been public to begin with, allowing them to examine data by industry or jurisdiction, read about specific players and their connections, and explore entire networks.” (https://atlas.thesentry.org/, undated)

Funding:

Financial reports are published under: https://thesentry.org/financials/

In the financial statements for 2024 the total assets are listed as $ 4,490,189 (The Sentry: TheSentry.org, Inc. Financial Statements, 31 December 2024, p. 3)

Besides private donors the following donors contribute to the total assets: National Postcode Loterij, Clooney Foundation of Justice, Swedish Post Code, University of California, FCDO, DT Institute, National Endowment for Democracy, Telra Tech, Guistra and Humanity United. (The Sentry: TheSentry.org, Inc. Financial Statements, 31 December 2024, p. 12)

Scope of reporting:

The Sentry focuses on networks around the world, by following the money that is financing armed conflict and atrocities. It examines the techniques used by these networks, such as convergence of licit and illicit systems, regulatory and sanctions evasion, disguised beneficial ownership, money and communities laundering, corruption and illicit financial flows, elite financing and offshore assets.

Therefore, its geographic scape is worldwide, from the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan to Libya and Myanmar.

Methodology:

The Sentry uses open source data collection, field research, and state-of-the-art network data analysis technology, and works in partnership with local and international civil society organizations, journalists, and governments.( https://thesentry.org/about/, undated)

It “combine(s) rigorous investigations with targeted advocacy—following the money, identifying perpetrators and enablers, and translating evidence into enforcement actions, policy reform, and accountability.” (The Sentry: The Sentry Impact Report 2025, undated 2025, p. 2)

Its work may be accessed by several means, such as the annual reports (https://thesentry.org/our-impact/, undated), the so called “Atlas” (https://atlas.thesentry.org/, undated), which “maps, visualizes, and analyzes networks that benefit from violent conflict, repression, and kleptocracy, highlighting key insights into how these networks operate.” (https://atlas.thesentry.org/, undated), multiple reports (https://thesentry.org/reports/, undated), through a special news and media section (https://thesentry.org/news/, undated), and a blog section (https://thesentry.org/blog/, undated).

Language(s) of publications:

English, reports also available in other languages depending country focus, e.g. Arabic for Dubai, Libya, etc. or Shona or Ndebele for Zimbabwe.

Further reading / links:

·        Enough Project: Introducing: The Sentry, 20 July 2015
https://enoughproject.org/blog/introducing-sentry

All links accessed 22 May 2026.

Methodological note:

ecoi.net's source descriptions contain background information on an organisation’s mission & objective, funding and reporting methodology, as well as on how we cover the source. The descriptions were prepared after researching publicly accessible information within time constraints. Most information contained in a source description was taken from the source itself. The aim is to provide a brief introduction to the sources covered regularly, offering information on relevant aspects in one place in a systematic manner.