In January, I published a pledge describing how I hoped Democracy Fund would approach the emergency facing our democracy. That pledge hangs above my desk. I look at it multiple times a day as we are challenged to be courageous, hopeful, humble, and resilient in the face of great trauma and change.
With our pledge in mind, I am leading Democracy Fund through the process of adapting and aligning our strategies and operations. We remain committed to our core mission and values, but we are adapting our approach to a world around us that continues to shift on a daily basis. The dream of a just, inclusive multiracial democracy — rooted in racial justice — is as important as ever. To achieve this goal we must ensure that as many of our resources as possible are reaching the field to guard against the ongoing threats of the moment while also building for the future.
In my January pledge, I committed to maintain a posture of curiosity even under pressure, and to question assumptions about how we got here and how to achieve meaningful change. We believe that most of our core strategic framework remains sound, but we are asking hard questions about what our democracy needs most from us and how we can both increase and more effectively deploy our resources to reverse democratic backsliding and put us on a path to a more inclusive democracy.
What we’re taking into consideration
These are scary times. According to experts, the best indicator of whether you are living in an authoritarian state is whether you must think twice about criticizing the government because you could face government retribution. By that standard, we have crossed the threshold into autocracy. I doubt that there are many in public life who haven’t paused to consider the blowback they might suffer for speaking up in the current environment. This is especially true for frontline leaders running nonprofits who are facing enormous pressure on every front these days.
While philanthropy is not immune from these dangers, we are more insulated. The question for us is: How can we best deploy our finite resources in a fast-changing environment to meet the urgent needs of the field?
I applaud the many foundations that have already reached into their endowments in recognition of this extraordinary moment and encourage others to join them. As a foundation without an endowment, Democracy Fund doesn’t have the option to tap into large reserves. We are instead exploring other avenues for expanding our giving, which I look forward to sharing more about in the near future.
At the same time, we’re doing everything we can to stand up for our democracy. Right now, that looks like:
- Staying anchored in our commitment to racial justice, allyship, and the belief that a country as diverse as ours must have a just and inclusive democracy.
- Encouraging donors who have not yet engaged in democracy-related funding to step in now, and in turn, helping democracy donors (including ourselves) ground pro-democracy work in issues that matter most to everyday people.
- Looking ahead to next year’s elections and building on the momentum of the All by April campaign, which encouraged donors to get nonpartisan resources to grantees when it matters most to ensure free and fair elections.
- Partnering with others to push back against attacks on our free and independent civil society.
- Supporting Courage Calls Us, an effort to defend the rule of law, protect civil society, and ensure future elections are free and fair.
- Making major investments in safety, security, and legal support for the field.
- Helping new donors join the fight by investing in frontline pro-democracy organizations for the first time.
- Relaxing our guidelines and adapting our grantmaking to ease administrative burdens on grantees and get money out faster.
Our Commitment
Especially in the current environment, I know it is unsettling to hear that a foundation is shifting its strategies. But I want to be clear: This process is not about pulling back. It’s about standing firm in our commitment to our mission. It’s about making sure that we’re doing everything we can to address the urgency of the current challenges we face. We are committed to:
- Resourcing the Field: Our overall grant making over the next few years will not go down — if anything we will make changes to see where we can increase resources going to pro-democracy groups and other efforts upon which democracy depends.
- Transparency and Speed: We will move as quickly and with as much transparency as we can. We plan to complete our strategy adaptation process by the first quarter of next year. We will let our partners know of any decisions that are made sooner.
- Careful Decision Making: Any changes we make will be done with respect and consideration for our partners and staff, ensuring we act thoughtfully and with care.
- Expanding the Coalition: We will continue to support new donors and funders looking to enter the democracy space and expand support for frontline grantees.
Looking Ahead
I am inspired by our many partners and friends who are choosing hope, courage, and solidarity right now. Democracy Fund remains committed to building a more inclusive, multiracial democracy, and we’ll continue to be a strong partner to those working toward that shared goal. I will keep you updated throughout the process of refreshing our strategy.