¡Ya basta! – Enough is Enough. All by April - Women's Foundation California

You’re Invited — May 13th: Celebrate The Feminist Agenda

¡Ya basta! – Enough is Enough. All by April

by Bia Vieira |
all by april - no kings protest

Our democracy is teetering on the precipice. 

Over the past year, the U.S. federal government has become an agent of destruction, canceling hard-won legal protections and billions of taxpayer dollars, using a de facto secret police force to brutalize and arrest nearly 400,000 U.S. residents, and pocketing billions of taxpayer dollars while securing bribes at the highest levels. . Through these actions, it is clear that the executive branch is dedicated to dismantling democratic institutions while targeting the most vulnerable members of society: immigrants, people of color, women, trans and nonbinary people, unhoused people, elders, and of course, children.

This Administration also knows when their policies and actions are this unpopular, Americans will vote them out of office. From the President’s ultimatums around the SAVE Act, which would severely restrict voting for low-income people, married women, and trans folks, to the U.S. Supreme Court’s indications that they will likely limit the counting of mail-in ballots, the party in power has made it clear that they will do everything possible to steal this year’s midterm elections.

We say: ¡Ya basta! – enough is enough.

One of the brightest spots of the past year has been what we at Women’s Foundation California see as extraordinary levels of grassroots solidarity across races, genders, faiths, incomes, and geographies. While businesses have capitulated at scale, complying in advance or diving headfirst into corruption, we have also seen the average American push back in ways we never would have imagined. From corporate boycotts and No Kings Marches to school foot patrols and altercations with masked ICE agents, we know that the only real answer to this violence and chaos is: we keep us safe.

And now it is entirely up to us to safeguard the midterms, and our fragile democracy. Which is why Women’s Foundation California has joined All by April, a philanthropic commitment to completing civic engagement and democracy grantmaking for the midterms by the end of April 2026.

All By April

WFC knows that our grant partners are deeply embedded in their communities and that they have brilliant, proven, and effective civic engagement strategies. We know that if we can build enough grassroots people power across the entire country, we will win. But organizers need time to do their work.

By sending all of the money for the midterms out by April or earlier, the philanthropic sector would ensure that the communities who are a massive and critical piece of helping to protect our democracy have the funds to do the necessary organizing—slow, person-to-person, relationship-based work—by November. 

Too often, funders approach community-based organizations in September or October of an election year, expecting herculean results when they can’t even guarantee payment before Election Day. This year, the stakes are far too high for this type of systemic failure. Funders and donors must give big and without restrictions, if we want to have a chance of saving our democracy. 

Grassroots communities are doing their part, now what about you? 

For our part, Women’s Foundation California has accelerated our commitment by completing our civic engagement and 501(c)4 grantmaking by March. We have invested a total of $280,000 in our exceptional community partners who are doing everything they can to defend and protect our democracy, including: 

Each of these organizations is already performing critical work around the midterms in their communities, undertaking public education and outreach, registering and mobilizing voters, and supporting candidates and policies that represent authentic community values.

Join us in giving for the midterms by April. Whether you’re an individual or you represent a philanthropic institution, whether you can give $1 or $1 million, this is the time to possibly step beyond your comfort zone and directly support political organizing.

In particular, please consider stretching your giving to include c4 organizations, which will not afford you a tax break but could very well help to secure and sustain your ongoing rights and future freedoms.

Because many of us are wondering: Am I next? 

Support the Innovators Shifting Culture

We know that not everyone will be able to provide philanthropic support for political activities, but there are other ways to invest around the midterms.

Another underrecognized way to help protect democracy is by funding culture change work, which is when social justice activism intersects with culture, through art, media, social networks, third spaces, and anywhere culture is created or shaped, to influence people’s perspectives. And culture itself can precede and create room for policies and politicians, so whatever happens in our culture this year will inevitably impact the midterms.

Women’s Foundation California’s Culture Change Fund supports reproductive and gender justice groups strategically shifting culture, using art as an organizing tool, creating values-based media and entertainment, and developing welcoming third spaces to build community alongside culture. Over the past five years, we have given more than $10M to groups shifting culture in California, Georgia, Michigan, and nationally.

From abortion films like The Devil is Busy, to history podcasts such as American Genocide, to live, curated spaces like the Trust Black Women Universe at the Essence Festival of Culture, our incredible grant partners are shifting audience hearts and minds through culture in support of racial and gender justice.

A full list of culture change partners and a new report detailing strategies and lessons live on our website, but some key groups influencing culture in ways that affect the midterms include:

Now is the moment to give for the future of our country, and for our collective liberty. Please consider broadening your grantmaking, your donations, your philanthropic commitments, and giving All by April. Because it will truly take all of us to protect ourselves.