The Abby Lab
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Are you seeing funders doing this right? Share with us what you see working.
February 9, 2026 at 10:57 PM
Are you seeing funders doing this right? Share with us what you see working.
The call to action is simple, even if it is not easy: fund courageously.
Fund pro-democracy work deeply, flexibly, and at scale. It could make the difference.
Fund pro-democracy work deeply, flexibly, and at scale. It could make the difference.
February 9, 2026 at 10:57 PM
The call to action is simple, even if it is not easy: fund courageously.
Fund pro-democracy work deeply, flexibly, and at scale. It could make the difference.
Fund pro-democracy work deeply, flexibly, and at scale. It could make the difference.
And sorry to say – history tells us that the slide into authoritarianism won’t spare philanthropy.
There is no version of an authoritarian regime where philanthropy that values pluralism, accountability, civil rights, or an independent civil society is ultimately left alone.
There is no version of an authoritarian regime where philanthropy that values pluralism, accountability, civil rights, or an independent civil society is ultimately left alone.
February 9, 2026 at 10:57 PM
And sorry to say – history tells us that the slide into authoritarianism won’t spare philanthropy.
There is no version of an authoritarian regime where philanthropy that values pluralism, accountability, civil rights, or an independent civil society is ultimately left alone.
There is no version of an authoritarian regime where philanthropy that values pluralism, accountability, civil rights, or an independent civil society is ultimately left alone.
Risk tolerance has disappeared.
Fear of being targeted caused funders to retreat, believing that avoiding certain buzzwords will help them fly under the radar.
That fear is understandable, but it isn’t neutral.
Fear of being targeted caused funders to retreat, believing that avoiding certain buzzwords will help them fly under the radar.
That fear is understandable, but it isn’t neutral.
February 9, 2026 at 10:57 PM
Risk tolerance has disappeared.
Fear of being targeted caused funders to retreat, believing that avoiding certain buzzwords will help them fly under the radar.
That fear is understandable, but it isn’t neutral.
Fear of being targeted caused funders to retreat, believing that avoiding certain buzzwords will help them fly under the radar.
That fear is understandable, but it isn’t neutral.
Are others missing the mark on the 3.5% rule?
Who do you think it gets right?
Who do you think it gets right?
February 5, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Are others missing the mark on the 3.5% rule?
Who do you think it gets right?
Who do you think it gets right?
The civil rights movement didn’t win because of marches alone.
Marches worked because they were tied to boycotts, training, voter drives, court fights, funding, and coordination.
Numbers without strategy are noise.
Marches worked because they were tied to boycotts, training, voter drives, court fights, funding, and coordination.
Numbers without strategy are noise.
February 5, 2026 at 7:42 PM
The civil rights movement didn’t win because of marches alone.
Marches worked because they were tied to boycotts, training, voter drives, court fights, funding, and coordination.
Numbers without strategy are noise.
Marches worked because they were tied to boycotts, training, voter drives, court fights, funding, and coordination.
Numbers without strategy are noise.
The 3.5% rule doesn’t promise change.
It says change is possible > if participation is sustained, organized, and strategic.
Mass protest alone isn’t enough. It never has been.
It says change is possible > if participation is sustained, organized, and strategic.
Mass protest alone isn’t enough. It never has been.
February 5, 2026 at 7:42 PM
The 3.5% rule doesn’t promise change.
It says change is possible > if participation is sustained, organized, and strategic.
Mass protest alone isn’t enough. It never has been.
It says change is possible > if participation is sustained, organized, and strategic.
Mass protest alone isn’t enough. It never has been.