By The Resist Staff
The countdown has officially begun. We are just two years away from our 50th anniversary. Approaching this milestone has sparked some collective reflection within the dedicated and impassioned Resist community on where we have been and where we are going.
At the heart of Resist is the idea of supporting the breaking down of the most destructive complexes that exploit ordinary people and enrich the already powerful. It is what this community does and has done for almost five decades.
From the military-industrial-complex to the prison-industrial-complex, over 7,000 donors this past year, with an average gift of $129, believed in Resist and the 146 grassroots groups that are putting wrenches in the gears of those destructive, powerful machines. And because of you, we had one of the strongest years in our history.
We know we are outspent. But we are far from being out powered. Every year the movement grows and you help fuel that.
There are some simple yet major reasons Resist is able to do this and to do justice to those on the ground putting their bodies on the line. We ourselves must resist a very seductive complex - the non-profit-industrial-complex.
If you are unfamiliar with the non-profit-industrial complex, it is also an extremely dangerous machine. It seeks to contain and limit the type of activism that forces systemic change. The worst thing about traditional philanthropy’s role in the non-profit industrial complex is the brutal hierarchy – those with money and power “bestow” their knowledge and control to the grassroots.
We believe the opposite should be the goal. We strive to be less of a traditional “foundation” and more of a community resource. This is a constant struggle and we are always looking to improve.
But that is why five decades ago we were able to support draft resisters who refused to fight in the Vietnam War (an illegal act) and today are able to support the grassroots activists who are shaking the ground that the powerful stand on. This is how we are able to contribute to groups fighting on issues that other foundations won’t touch and with the type of cutting edge actions they won’t support. No matter what, we will always support the groups that are chopping down the pillars that prop up everything from militarism to capitalism, from racism to patriarchy, and the intersections that connect them all.
We hope this Newsletter gives a little glimpse into the special work of Resist. It is because of you, the donors, and most importantly, the activists across the country that are standing up, resisting these complexes, and making the impossible possible.
Onward,
Miabi, Ravi, Saif, Seth, and Yafreisy
The countdown has officially begun. We are just two years away from our 50th anniversary. Approaching this milestone has sparked some collective reflection within the dedicated and impassioned Resist community on where we have been and where we are going.
At the heart of Resist is the idea of supporting the breaking down of the most destructive complexes that exploit ordinary people and enrich the already powerful. It is what this community does and has done for almost five decades.
From the military-industrial-complex to the prison-industrial-complex, over 7,000 donors this past year, with an average gift of $129, believed in Resist and the 146 grassroots groups that are putting wrenches in the gears of those destructive, powerful machines. And because of you, we had one of the strongest years in our history.
We know we are outspent. But we are far from being out powered. Every year the movement grows and you help fuel that.
There are some simple yet major reasons Resist is able to do this and to do justice to those on the ground putting their bodies on the line. We ourselves must resist a very seductive complex - the non-profit-industrial-complex.
If you are unfamiliar with the non-profit-industrial complex, it is also an extremely dangerous machine. It seeks to contain and limit the type of activism that forces systemic change. The worst thing about traditional philanthropy’s role in the non-profit industrial complex is the brutal hierarchy – those with money and power “bestow” their knowledge and control to the grassroots.
We believe the opposite should be the goal. We strive to be less of a traditional “foundation” and more of a community resource. This is a constant struggle and we are always looking to improve.
But that is why five decades ago we were able to support draft resisters who refused to fight in the Vietnam War (an illegal act) and today are able to support the grassroots activists who are shaking the ground that the powerful stand on. This is how we are able to contribute to groups fighting on issues that other foundations won’t touch and with the type of cutting edge actions they won’t support. No matter what, we will always support the groups that are chopping down the pillars that prop up everything from militarism to capitalism, from racism to patriarchy, and the intersections that connect them all.
We hope this Newsletter gives a little glimpse into the special work of Resist. It is because of you, the donors, and most importantly, the activists across the country that are standing up, resisting these complexes, and making the impossible possible.
Onward,
Miabi, Ravi, Saif, Seth, and Yafreisy