The US Russia Foundation for Economic Advancement and the Rule of Law (USRF) is the legacy foundation of The US Russia Investment Fund (TUSRIF) that was created in 1995 to promote the development of the private sector in Russia through direct investment and technical assistance to private Russian enterprises. Through highly effective management, TUSRIF was able to make a major contribution to a growing Russian economy and earn sufficient capital to create an endowment. At the G-8 Summit on July 15, 2006, Presidents Bush and Putin announced their intention to establish USRF with the twin goals of promoting long-term economic and legal development in Russia and strengthening ties between the United States and Russia. In 2008, USRF was registered as a not-for-profit corporation in the United States and in early 2009, USRF was registered in Russia as an affiliate of the US organization.