Urgent Support for Georgia's Democratic Future

KEEP PRO-DEMOCRACY EFFORTS IN GEORGIA AFLOAT!

We urgently need your direct support to Georgian organizations for which the U.S. government has stopped funding.

On January 20th, 2025, tens of thousands of Georgians took to the streets to show their support for the decades long friendship between Georgia and the United States.

On January 25th, this partnership was abruptly disrupted by the immediate freeze on all U.S. foreign assistance.

For Georgia’s vibrant, yet fragile civil society, even a temporary unplanned pause in funding will devastate their ability to sustain the journalists, lawyers, human rights defenders and gap-filling service providers who serve Georgians. Salaries, court fees, basic office supplies, etc all will disappear.

This pause comes at a critical time for Georgia and its democratic, pro-Western path. We need to step in and help.

Georgia is at a crossroads with competing visions for how to pursue a secure and independent future. And this debate has moved from the ballot box to the streets. As this current struggle continues in its third month, the importance of the free press and safeguarding civil liberties is even more urgent.

Steadfast U.S. support has been and remains critical for Georgia’s community organizations and free press to continue to work for their country’s democratic future as a U.S. ally and partner and member of the European Union – a future that is overwhelmingly supported by the Georgian people.

Many of us, Americans and other friends, believe that our 30+ year friendship and support for Georgians as they pursue their vision for their democracy must continue -

and we must do something NOW.

We are launching this campaign to provide urgent funding support to brave pro-democratic groups, and to show that their friends - including the American people - stand with them.

We will focus this stop-gap funding to support the most urgent needs:

** Protections for vulnerable members of society

** Legal aid to protect freedom of expression

** Legal aid for civil servants

** Monitoring of relevant court proceedings

** Documenting human rights violations in public spaces.

To provide an immediate stop-gap, we are aiming to raise 66,000 USD, which is 1/3 of the original funding committed for three months by USAID to a consortium of Georgian civil society organizations. This level will help keep the teams going at least at a basic level at this critical time.

Other countries have indicated they will increase funding, it will take months for funds to flow to organizations in Georgia – months that these organizations cannot survive, even in the best of times

97% of funds raised will be donated to these organizations supporting the Georgian people as they stand up for their democracy and their future as a U.S. ally.

(If you would like to cover Gofundme's 2.9% transaction, we welcome you adding +2.9% to your donation!) Note: the tip goes to Gofundme

This support is not just an investment in Georgia's future as a democracy and a U.S. & EU friend and ally.

We must not walk away from our friends at such an important moment.

Thank you for your consideration and support.