Dear MoveOn member,
This is Cheryl Zando, MoveOn's chief operating officer. I don't typically write emails to you, but I told our staff that we need to be transparent about what's happening at MoveOn.
I'll get right to the heart of it: MoveOn's fundraising is down by just over 16,000 monthly donations so far in 2023. And that comes on top of a tough 2022.
I understand why: When President Joe Biden took office, many of us were exhausted from fighting Donald Trump 24/7, excruciating year after excruciating year. At the same time, the cost of living surged in 2022, and the number of Americans living paycheck to paycheck jumped to 64%—making it harder for many people to donate.1
MoveOn isn't alone. Donations to progressive organizations are down across the board since President Biden took office. But unlike most other organizations that are largely funded by big grants or wealthy donors, MoveOn is funded primarily by small-dollar, grassroots donations from people like you!
Focusing on small donations of $5, $15, or $35 has been a core tenet of MoveOn's mission since our founding in 1998, because it ensures that we can remain fiercely independent and responsible to only our members, not the whims of corporate interests or the 1%.
Meanwhile, MoveOn's work truly is as urgent as ever: A single judge in Texas may this week attempt to ban the abortion pill nationwide; the MAGA Republican House is holding our economy hostage and refusing to pay our debts, threatening a global economic crisis; and Republican presidential hopefuls are trying to gain an upper hand by denying LGBTQ+ people, and especially trans youth, their rights, dignity, and humanity.
Andra, that's why I need to ask you: Will you start a $5 monthly donation now to help keep MoveOn strong and close our fundraising gap? Monthly donations are so important to MoveOn, because they allow us to have a more stable income and solidify our future plans.
No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.
Just as MoveOn's been grappling with a sustained dip in fundraising, Politico is reporting that Republican PACs and dark-money groups that support far-right MAGA extremists entered 2023 with tens of millions of dollars in the bank—ready to fund candidates, ballot measures, and terrifying anti-democratic policies.2
The good news is that MoveOn has never needed to match these groups dollar for dollar. For nearly 25 years, we have been nimble, innovative, and lean—but given how hard it has been to meet our fundraising goals so far this year, I'm concerned that we are not going to have the money we need to fight back.
So I'm asking, Andra: Can you help us close our budget gap by chipping in $5 a month? Every single monthly donation makes a difference.
No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.
You may be wondering what MoveOn does with the money we raise.
The short answer is: a lot!
Some will go immediately to turning out voters to win the Wisconsin Supreme Court election on April 4, which will decide whether the far right controls the court or not and could end up deciding the 2024 presidential election in one of the most critical battleground states in the country.
Some of the money will be put toward research and development of new techniques to identify and energize young voters and voters of color as we quickly prepare for the 2024 elections.
Some will go to supporting, training, and amplifying member-led organizing to unseat the Complicit Caucus—18 House Republicans who represent swing districts that President Biden won in 2020—and end Republican control of the House in 2024. The 18 Republicans got elected by masquerading as moderates, but in reality they vote in lockstep with a hard-right MAGA agenda. A gift of $10, for instance, can allow a volunteer to send up to 500 personal text messages to organize voters in those key districts.
Some will be put into campaigns to combat the disinformation that pervades the United States, from exposing Fox News for knowingly lying about the 2020 election results to campaigning for young people to have access to accurate information about how to access abortion.
And some will be used to ensure that MoveOn is able to continue paying our incredible, hardworking staff the good, fair wages that we believe every single worker in America deserves.
I fully understand that many people aren't in a place now to donate. But if you are, Andra, please make a $5 monthly gift to help us close our budget shortfall and keep MoveOn strong and fighting day in and day out for a world in which everyone can thrive.
No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.
Thanks for all you do.
–Cheryl Zando, Chief Operating Officer
Sources:
1. "64% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck — here's how to keep your budget in check," CNBC, January 31, 2023
https://act.moveon.org/go/171509?t=8&akid=348267%2E53570607%2E-bxy-t
2. "Haley, Pence and other potential '24 candidates buff up their dark money groups," Politico, December 2, 2022
https://act.moveon.org/go/169995?t=10&akid=348267%2E53570607%2E-bxy-t
No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.
PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, https://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate, candidate's agent, or committee.
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