Democracy is under threat globally, presenting urgent challenges for funders and civil society leaders. How can, and should, Jewish funders respond? Hosted by democracy scholar and longtime foundation leader Dr. Tali Yariv-Mashal along with funders and guest experts, this eight-session series will dive deep into the challenges and opportunities in pro-democracy philanthropy.

Branching out from a popular and well-received workshop at the 2025 JFN International Conference, this series will address a wide range of pro-democracy funding areas from education to politics, activism to communication, and will consider the relationship between Jewish and democratic values in Israel, the United States, and around the globe.

Session 8
Supporting Activism in Times of Democratic Backsliding

In this session, we’ll explore how philanthropy can support civic activism in moments of democratic crisis—activism that includes, among other forms, advocacy, mobilization, and resistance to anti-democratic trends. 

Expert presentation: Yonatan Levy - PhD candidate at the London School of Economics and Research Fellow at Molad – the Center for the Renewal of Israeli Democracy.

Yonatan is a comparative researcher of democratic backsliding social movements. Drawing on his research he will explore common patterns in how democracies unravel and how civic activism can respond with creativity, persistence, and strategic clarity. 

Key questions we’ll explore: 

• What kinds of activism can philanthropy support, and what types of impact can be expected? 
• What are the ethical and strategic considerations when funding civic activism, especially when it includes elements of resistance? 
• How can philanthropic investment in activism also help build long-term democratic infrastructure? 
• What is the unique role that individual donors can play in moments of civic mobilization—when defending democratic values depends not on party politics, but on public engagement and democratic norms.

Additional speakers TBA.

While each session can be attended on its own, participants will gain the most insight and value by attending the full series, as each conversation builds on the ideas and themes introduced in earlier sessions.

Session 7: Higher Education and Democracy
Tuesday, October 21st | 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Click here to register

Session 9: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and the Crisis of Democracy in Israel 
Tuesday, November 18th | 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Click here to register