The philanthropic community has grappled mightily in recent years with the threat to U.S. democracy from rising authoritarianism at home and abroad. Among many other priorities, democracy donors have poured billions of dollars into efforts to defend democratic norms and institutions, protect the integrity of our electoral system, and defeat autocratic leaders. But we have failed to fully consider the implications for philanthropy itself - and for civil society more broadly - should the U.S. become a more autocratic country.
Because funders and nonprofits are independent actors in society, they are often targeted by authoritarian leaders looking to consolidate power. How would such a threat play out in the U.S. given our uniquely robust philanthropic sector? In this program we will hear from the authors of a new DFN paper exploring this question, along with funders who have already experienced or are preparing for autocratic threats. The events of 2022 may have given the democracy field well-deserved wind in its sails, but this discussion will remind us about the stakes for our work from the ongoing challenges to American democracy.
Ari Eisenstadt, Senior Researcher, Democracy Funders Network
Lara Flint, Managing Director of Elections and Institutions, Democracy Fund
Laleh Ispahani, Co-Director, Open Society Foundation
Peter Teague, Strategic Advisor, PT Philanthropic