That's an impressive collection of qualifications on the board.
I recall thinking during the most recent elections here, just how key investigative journalists were in identifying and documenting the many nefarious schemes for moving money illegally, and vote buying. It's an area where any state police department in the world struggles I think.
I'm particularly thinking of ZDG and Nokta - I took out a subscription to ZdG and donated at the time, but you make an excellent case for operating at a higher level.
Thanks Nick! I agree about ZdG and Nokta. Also Cu Sense and RISE had some impressive work this time around. Beyond their work though there are lots of civic organization engaged in youth civic education, polling, debate clubs, etc. It sounds like softer work but it really isn't. When the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) ceased operations and all of the orgs they funded folded that rang major alarm bells. One friend told me that every major politician in every party had benefited from campaign trainings, party organization workshops and youth civic education from organizations like NDI. Every party really meant it - these programs supported the Socialists as well as PLDM, etc.
He thought that long term this would be so much bigger of a loss than USAID programming.
My hope with MRF is that we can provide a platform for individual and company donors (especially in the US because of tax reasons) to help keep this important work alive.
Fantastic initiative David!
Thanks Tom!!
That's an impressive collection of qualifications on the board.
I recall thinking during the most recent elections here, just how key investigative journalists were in identifying and documenting the many nefarious schemes for moving money illegally, and vote buying. It's an area where any state police department in the world struggles I think.
I'm particularly thinking of ZDG and Nokta - I took out a subscription to ZdG and donated at the time, but you make an excellent case for operating at a higher level.
Thanks Nick! I agree about ZdG and Nokta. Also Cu Sense and RISE had some impressive work this time around. Beyond their work though there are lots of civic organization engaged in youth civic education, polling, debate clubs, etc. It sounds like softer work but it really isn't. When the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) ceased operations and all of the orgs they funded folded that rang major alarm bells. One friend told me that every major politician in every party had benefited from campaign trainings, party organization workshops and youth civic education from organizations like NDI. Every party really meant it - these programs supported the Socialists as well as PLDM, etc.
He thought that long term this would be so much bigger of a loss than USAID programming.
My hope with MRF is that we can provide a platform for individual and company donors (especially in the US because of tax reasons) to help keep this important work alive.