Zuckerberg's Foundation Lists 5k+ Grants to Far-Left NGOs

O B J E C T I V E

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), established by Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, has been noted for its significant grants to various organizations, including those often described as left-leaning or progressive. 

You can view the grants paid out by CZI HERE

Critics argue that what should be apolitical philanthropy has instead become a vehicle for advancing a particular political ideology, specifically in the areas of:

• Election Influence: Perhaps the most contentious aspect of CZI's philanthropy was the massive infusion of funds into the 2020 election cycle. Under the guise of supporting election integrity, CZI donated hundreds of millions to organizations like the Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL). These funds, while ostensibly for nonpartisan purposes like increasing voter turnout, were disproportionately allocated to areas with Democratic leanings. This has led to accusations of "buying" elections, with critics dubbing the money "Zuckerbucks." The lack of transparency in how these funds were utilized at the local level further fuels skepticism about the true intentions behind such philanthropy.

  
  

• Social Engineering through Education: CZI's focus on education reform, particularly in K-12, is laudable on the surface. However, the organizations it chooses to fund often push for curricula and educational policies that critics argue are more about ideological indoctrination than educational merit. There's a concern that CZI is using its financial clout to shape young minds in a specific political direction, under the banner of "equity" and "inclusion."

  
  

• Racial and Social Justice Grants: While the commitment to racial equity is something many can support, the manner in which CZI allocates these funds often bypasses the need for balanced discourse. By supporting groups that advocate for specific, sometimes controversial, social justice reforms without engaging with opposing viewpoints, CZI risks polarizing society further rather than fostering true dialogue and understanding.

There are transparency and accountability issues as well. CZI operates as an LLC rather than a traditional foundation, allowing for more flexible funding but also less transparency. This structure means that while CZI can innovate in its approach to philanthropy, it also escapes some of the rigorous reporting required of nonprofit foundations. Critics argue this opacity could veil the true impact and motivation behind its grants.

There's also the question of influence. CZI's choice of grantees raises questions about the extent to which one can use philanthropy to sway public policy or political outcomes. There's a thin line between charitable giving and political manipulation, and many believe CZI has crossed it. By focusing predominantly on progressive causes, CZI may inadvertently or intentionally contribute to economic policies that favor one side of the political spectrum over another, potentially skewing market dynamics or legislative priorities.

S U B J E C T I V E

This all coming after Mark Zuckerberg's recent public image makeover, which includes his announcement for Meta to break with Fact-Checkers, putting UFC-owner Dana White on the company's board of directors, kissing the ring down at Mar-a-Lago and of course his hot new look.

Gone are the days of the quiet coder; in his place now stands a man who's taken to the wilds, grappling with jiu-jitsu, tasting the sweet, primal rush of adrenaline, and speaking in tongues about the metaverse like some digital prophet in the desert. His face, where once shown the earnestness of youth, now bears the scars of combat sports and the weight of a digital empire's sins.

He's become a hybrid, part tech wizard, part wanna-be zoomer f-ck-boy, navigating through a landscape where privacy battles rage like thunderstorms, and every social media post is a bullet in the endless war for our attention. This isn't just evolution; it's a freak show of adaptation, where the only constant is change, and the only truth is that in this new world, Zuck has become the strangest creature in the digital zoo.

Metaphorically, the boy-lizard is grappling with a distrusting public at a weird crossroads, where Silicon Valley bleeds into the swamp of politics; and this story about the enigmatic tech baron who's taken to playing god with other people's money is a large obstacle to his desire to be liked.

Natalie Winter's recent scathing assessment of the CZI grants on Steve Bannon's War Room this morning could be a fatal blow to Zuckerberg's quest to reinvent himself, but it could also be drowned out by the cacophony of habbenings that is the political and cultural reality of Trump 2.0's first month in office.

These grants aren't just gifts; they're strategic moves on a chessboard where every piece is a social cause, every move a step closer to reshaping the narrative. Most people are still dangerously unaware of the fact that we live in world where---especially after the recent USAID shake-up---every act of philanthropy could be a covert operation, we're left to ponder the true nature of power in the 21st century.