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Economic Democracy Weekly

Welcome to the latest Economic Democracy Weekly. This week, our lead feature is an article in our Economy Remix series that takes a look at where donor-advised fund (DAF) dollars went in 2020. Did the “rainy day” premise of DAFs amid the twin pandemics of racism and COVID-19 pan out? The answer is complicated. Also included this week are a book excerpt from Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries by Katie Martin, a nonprofit practitioner who calls for changing the language we use to talk about hunger and emphasizes why nonprofits must act from a mindset of strength, not scarcity; and an article from the Economic Hardship Reporting Project about the past year’s pandemic from the perspective of a grocery cashier, which doubles as a meditation on class and the nature of work. Last but not least, there is an article looking at present efforts to curtail voting rights at the state level and the impact of restricted voter access on racial and economic justice. To learn more, read on!

Features

Russ Allison Loar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

COVID-19 and Donor-Advised Funds in 2020: What Do the Numbers Tell Us?

What is the role of philanthropy in a social crisis, and where do DAFs fall within that broader picture? Amid COVID, the call to action is clear. That said, it should also be a call for humility. Read more...

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“My Balloons don’t float (excerpt),” Helen HatesPeas

Moving Beyond the Scarcity Mindset

This book excerpt from Katie Martin’s Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries: New Tools to End Hunger says that to partner effectively with low-income communities, nonprofits must see their residents as having strengths, dreams, and goals of their own. Read more...

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My Pandemic Year Behind the Checkout Counter

Maybe a key to ensuring that all “essential jobs” are less horrible and better paid is to make sure that everyone has to spend at least some time doing the ones that count. Read more...

Policy

“Voting Rights.” Mural by Shepard Fairey. Photo by @urbanmuralhunter. Edit by Terence Faircloth.

What’s at Stake in the Wave of Voter Suppression Bills?

A total of 43 states are considering bills to roll back voting rights. The costs—in terms of democratic norms, as well as racial and economic justice—could be high. Read more...