For the past few years, funders have stepped up significantly to move money into the South, resulting in some of the most notable Democratic electoral wins of the Trump era, specifically in Georgia and North Carolina. But this level of philanthropy was largely distributed through the lens of electoral math, creating a scenario where political dollars were withheld in non-election years, where support rushed in only to support high-profile races when they are deemed noteworthy on a national scale, and where electoral losses are viewed as a sign for further disinvestment.

This is a major issue for long-term strategies working to liberate the South through a reliable organizing infrastructure. For this reason, Women Donors Action and Solidaire Action came together last year to better coordinate and emphasize the need for 501(c)(4) resources in the South outside of the lens of electioneering. Then came the SCOTUS decision.

On top of the ongoing issue of a serious lack of foundational funding in the South, the Louisiana v. Callais decision has made the situation even more dire, ushering in one of the largest consolidations of conservative power since the backlash to Reconstruction. As Justice Elena Kagan said in her dissent, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, this is “the latest chapter in the majority’s now-completed demolition of the Voting Rights Act.” Since that decision, Black leaders in the South are ringing the alarm, and it’s our role as funders to hear them and show up.

In alignment with several other funding partners, Women Donors Action and Solidaire Action have signed on to 5 shared commitments and collectives asks for funding in the South. We are asking other funder networks and individual donors alike to adhere to these shared commitments:

  1. Commit to believing that building Southern governing power on a state level is achievable, and when we do so we will see long-term change nationwide. 
  2. Commit to funding the South regardless of “battleground status” rankings
  3. Commit to trusting the organizations to do the work and  allow organizations to not center “metric-driven direct voter contact” and “costs per vote.” 
  4. Commit to learning how to move towards multi-year, flexible 501(c)(4) grants to basebuilding organizations and the alignment hubs they govern.
  5. Commit to organizing and educating your networks in order to move catalytic investments directly to the South, even beyond contributions made through their donor networks.

This is about operating from a place of abundance and strategic clarity. We know the money is there, so let’s do what we do best: organize the money to move resources now and within a long-term context.

We must remember that the South is the soul of the nation. It’s been the battleground of human and civil rights since the dawn of our country, and it’s the original and ongoing testing grounds of American authoritarianism. This is more than the urgency of upcoming elections. This is the vision for how to fight authoritarianism where its grip is tightest, so we can finally find liberation and release for a new era of our country through long-term and committed efforts. 

We invite you to join us in funding responsibly in the South, and you can reach out to [email protected] to learn more.