the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Democratic Party’s financial struggles just took another major hit. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has officially halted funding to Arabella Advisors, a consulting and fundraising powerhouse long tied to Democratic causes. The move, first reported by The New York Times, signals a major shift that could leave Democrats scrambling to recover from an already devastating fundraising slump in 2025.
Why the Gates Foundation Pulled Funding
According to reports, the Gates Foundation decided in late June to stop making grants to nonprofit funds managed by Arabella Advisors, an influential firm overseeing several “dark money” networks that funnel millions into progressive campaigns and organizations.
Arabella operates complex funding pipelines, including the New Venture Fund and Sixteen-Thirty Fund, which direct money toward Democratic candidates and PACs. While Arabella insists its efforts are legal and nonpartisan, critics say the group has long served as a financial backbone for Democratic operations.
Now, with Gates pulling support, other nonprofits are reportedly distancing themselves from Arabella to maintain strong relations with the billionaire foundation—further weakening Democrats’ financial standing.
Democrats’ 2025 Money Crisis
The funding loss comes at a critical moment. The Democratic Party’s war chest sits at less than $15 million, with much of it earmarked for paying down debts from the Kamala Harris presidential campaign. Meanwhile, donor enthusiasm has dwindled as the party faces declining poll numbers and internal disarray.
Earlier this year, Democrats’ main fundraising platform, ActBlue, was rocked by turmoil after seven top executives abruptly resigned. Two unions representing its workers even issued a public letter blasting the instability, warning of an “alarming pattern” of dysfunction.
Costly Gambles That Aren’t Paying Off
Instead of tightening spending, Democrats have continued to invest heavily in questionable projects. One example: a $20 million initiative called SAM (“Speaking with American Men”), designed to win back disillusioned young male voters. Critics mocked the move as elitist, noting that much of the research was conducted at luxury resorts while party leaders brainstormed messaging strategies.
At the same time, Democrats launched a YouTube venture, The Daily Blueprint, aimed at mimicking viral creators like Joe Rogan. The effort has flopped, drawing only a few thousand views per video.
Meanwhile, the Courier Newsroom, a network of partisan “local news” sites, is now begging donors for help after years of funding shortfalls.
A Party in Decline?
Once a dominant political force, the Democratic Party is now struggling with:
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Record-low approval ratings
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Diminished voter registration compared to GOP gains
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Infighting and leadership shake-ups (including the short-lived vice chairmanship of activist David Hogg)
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A shrinking donor base as big-money supporters step back
With the Gates Foundation pulling out and other donors reconsidering their ties, Democrats’ financial crisis appears poised to deepen ahead of 2026 midterms and beyond.
As one observer put it: “This is like watching someone install a $5,000 catalytic converter in a $500 Yugo—expensive, desperate, and unlikely to go far.”
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