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Looking for perspectives: how to donate effectively [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2025-07-03

As the dangerous developments in Washington DC accelerate, I have been thinking about how to donate money effectively to oppose everything that MAGA, the current president, and the current Republican party are doing. And in doing so, it matters to me that I am donating effectively to support something that is extremely important to me. We’re not talking about “big donor” amounts here, but I am also lucky enough that I can give more than $25 or $50 dollar donations, which I know is what many people here and around the country can afford.

Of course, there are many flavors of opposition, from ‘mainstream party supporter’ to adherents of alternate political movements from Greens to Libertarians, and many many more. There are overtly partisan but also non-partisan ways to donate. And there are ways to support opposition with charitable donations, though that’s not what I’m looking for here. (I do support media like the Guardian and DK, and some non-profit organizations that support democracy and open societies, like the Brennan Center, but today I’m thinking about outright political donations). I know that many DK members will have strong ideas about who will be good stewards, in contrast to donees who will direct my donations mostly into the pockets of well-connected political consultants while wasting trees and electrons on pointless barrages of additional fund-raising.

Indeed, as you might guess, I am already on the radar of the main Democratic party organizations. I typically get 1-2 paper letters, plus 5-20 texts and e-mails a day from the DLCC, the DSCC, and the DNC, and from random candidates via ActBlue. The fact that they are wasting so much money on pretty pointless fund-raising aimed at me is discouraging, and makes me want to NOT donate to these party arms. I want to donate for political action and advocacy, not for more fund-raising. I do donate to the DLCC, which is much lower on the radar, and has quickly removed me from their daily barrage, and instead send me a more targeted message every week or two. That suggests they will use my money more effectively, and fighting back in the states seems like an effective way to defend American democracy, though not the only way. In 2024, I also donated directly to local congressional candidates, and will do so again soon, on the basis of my own research.

I would genuinely appreciate your insights as DK members and readers, and as politically engaged citizens (of multiple, diverse stripes), on what form of financial support you have concluded actually helps most in our current situation. I know myself, and I am more likely to donate, and less likely to be out on the streets, or knocking on doors. I was there for our local No Kings! demonstration — which was both emotional and important — and will keep showing up to similar events, but direct action is not the main way I am likely to engage — it’s just how I am.

I will be reading your replies carefully. I hope that you as a DK reader will forcefully express your best ideas about how to support our causes in the most effective way. I also humbly ask that anyone who chooses to reply also avoids attacking other answers, in favor of answering the question from their perspective -- but of course, everyone is free to express themselves within the DK posting guidelines. Thank you!

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/7/3/2331558/-Looking-for-perspectives-how-to-donate-effectively?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web

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