STROIKA, Inc.

Join us as we launch our monthlong series today at noon. See the speakers and register at https://lnkd.in/ePnVdAFz. Today we have YeleYelena V Litvinov, Eric Ward, Dorian Warren.

Honored to be speaking at a virtual panel this Friday organized and moderated by the brilliant Alethia Jones, hosted by the Murphy Institute at CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies. Some very light subject matter for a Friday afternoon -- "From Multiracial Democracy to Multiracial Fascism?:?What is the Future of the American Experiment?" Friday, March 7, 12-1:30pm ET. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eaXikSPF

On STROIKA, Inc.’s 3rd birthday, we wanted to share one of our earliest?Cassandra moments (circa 2022, from a report for a group of donors): ‘…[O]ther country contexts are on a path that is resembling Russia’s, and both funders and activists are insufficiently prepared for repressions and restrictions that are likely to come in the future. Capturing the lessons from those currently funding in Russia can help shape more appropriate preparedness strategies for donors supporting at-risk communities in Brazil, India, and Kenya, among many others.’ The U.S. was a loud omission from this list, but we tried to make up for it by devoting significant time and resources to building up the preparedness?of U.S. civil society since then, alongside our international work. STROIKA, Inc.’s mission of building?resilience against rising authoritarianism is even more critical today than on the day of our founding. We are deeply grateful for our community that nurtured us from our early days. You can support our work with a donation of any amount: https://lnkd.in/e2jggnKx. With gratitude, Yelena V Litvinov and Tatyana Margolin [Image: earliest brainstorm of our logo 3 years ago.]

"'[Foundations] are still able to do their work, and they shouldn’t take it for granted,' said STROIKA’s Margolin. The impulse of philanthropy in times of crisis is to pause, map, and restrategize — and all the while, funding is paused. 'We don’t need another mapping of the problem,' she said. 'We know what the problem is. It’s here. You have to walk and chew gum at the same time.'" Tatyana Margolin spoke with Devex about philanthropy's slow response to the all-out assault on USAID and foreign aid, which will have profound consequences for civil society both in the U.S. and globally. It's not too late for philanthropy to take action and rise to the challenge. You can read Lauren Evans' excellent article here: https://lnkd.in/e5xXSfYN

Drawing on our direct experience from global authoritarian contexts, STROIKA, Inc. has authored an op-ed in the The Chronicle of Philanthropy to provide the US donor community with practical, actionable steps for the current moment. Read the latest from Yelena V Litvinov and Tatyana Margolin here: https://lnkd.in/eEchMN5K

Only three weeks into the year and the fires of 2025 are already raging - figuratively, and quite literally. Octavia Butler (whose hometowns of Pasadena and Altadena have been ravaged by the LA fires) is on a lot of our minds.?But this is a good time to reread not just the “Parable” books, but also Octavia Butler's "A Few Rules for Predicting the Future,” an essay published in Essence magazine in 2000 (https://lnkd.in/ehWSPa3D). Preparing for the future doesn’t just mean imagining the worst possible futures — though STROIKA certainly did help our partners do a whole lot of that in 2024. It also means envisioning possibilities and opportunities, even when hope feels hard to find. If there’s one thing we’ve learned over all these years, it’s that so much is still possible, even in the darkest times. Governments can criminalize our work and our very existence — and yet we persist. This has been the lesson of so many activists, popular movements, and independent journalists working bravely across time and across the globe. It is a luxury to despair. It is a disservice to those who came before you to give up hope. “It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.”

Read STROIKA’s 2024 end-of-year message here - https://lnkd.in/eHyZzUHG - for what we’ve been up to, where we’re headed, and how we’re building hope & resilience across movements - despite the formidable challenges ahead.

Please take four minutes to listen to my friend Yelena V Litvinov of STROIKA, Inc. describe the perilous moment we are in as a country, what we can learn from the people in and outside Russia still fighting for democracy, and what it will take to do the same in America.

Five ways for nonprofits and funders to build preparedness for January Over the past year, STROIKA, Inc. has worked closely with U.S. human rights and civil liberties groups, climate justice activists, and philanthropic donors to prepare for potential impacts of a Trump re-election. What we’ve found is consistent: organizations, regardless of size, are woefully underprepared for potential targeting. This readiness gap is critical—and one we must address now. This isn’t a drill. Recently, Congress introduced a bill that would allow the Secretary of the Treasury to designate U.S. nonprofits as “terrorist-supporting organizations” and revoke their tax-exempt status. Though defeated, similar legislation is likely to return. This move is part of the authoritarian playbook, used successfully in countries like Hungary, Turkey, Russia, and Uganda. Leaving us exhausted before battles even begin is also a tool in the authoritarian toolbox. So conserve your energy and focus on proactive steps that build resilience. Even small, low-cost actions can make a difference. Here are five key areas to focus on for nonprofits, funders, activists, and independent media: ?? Consider Legal Structure?? The nonprofit model is particularly vulnerable to scrutiny. Consult a trusted attorney about establishing for-profit entities in other states, and advocate for donor flexibility to support non-501(c)(3) entities. ?? Clean Up Finances? Ensure your financial records are audit-ready. Consider opening additional bank accounts and developing contingency plans for payroll and expenses. ?? Diversify Communications?? Establish alternative channels with staff, partners, and networks, using encrypted messaging and secure platforms. Introduce these now to prepare your network for January. ?? Secure Data and Information?? Review data retention policies and avoid storing excess data while staying compliant. Conduct a digital security audit, and if you aren’t already, begin using VPNs regularly. ?? Scenario Plan?? We often assume that the future will be a small variation on the past – that Trump 2 may be a slightly worse version of Trump 1. But history shows that change can be rapid and unpredictable. Consider both likely and unlikely scenarios and map out the practical ways in which you’ll respond. If you want more insight into managing risk in any of these areas—or if you feel uncertain about where to begin—please reach out. STROIKA, Inc. is committed to building the resilience of U.S. and global civil society, informed by anti-authoritarian movements worldwide. To partner with us, email [email protected].?

Friends going to Skoll Foundation's Skoll World Forum - please see below for what's guaranteed to be an incredibly moving, concrete and actionable session. STROIKA, Inc. will renew your hope, give you a to-do list, inspire and empower you. And if you can, take Yelena Vicki Litvinov and Tatyana Margolin up on this chance for coffee with them in Oxford!