You Can’t Fight Autocracy by the Spoonful with Ralph Lewin feat. Skye Perryman

This is philanthropy’s rainy day.

Across communities, the escalation of ICE activity is terrifying. Families are living in fear. Core pillars of our democracy are under attack. Meanwhile, too many funders are still holding back, waiting for a crisis that’s already here.

In this episode, Glen and Ralph Lewin weigh in on why escalating ICE actions should be a wake-up call for philanthropy to step up in real ways to protect our communities. They challenge the persistent myth that philanthropy must conserve resources for a future emergency.

Spoiler alert: this is the emergency.

Special guest, Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward, joins the conversation to share how ongoing litigation is actively defending our democracy. Skye brings both urgency and hope—reminding us that, despite efforts to flood the zone, the people are winning more than they’re losing. But we will only win if philanthropy fully funds the legal, advocacy, and organizing efforts that make those wins possible.

💡 Skye Perryman: The cost of inaction in this moment is far higher than the cost of taking action.

Learn more about Democracy Forward and their initiative, Democracy 250, and find out how you can support the work of defending democracy

Preorder your copy of Glen’s book, CONTROL: Why Big Giving Falls Short.

Learn about the Stupski Foundation.

Co-Hosts: Ralph Lewin & Glen Galaich

Guest: Skye Perryman

Executive Producer: Claire Callahan

Production Team: Podfly

Graphic Design: Middle MGMT