Help Support Moldova's Democratic Resilience

We believe that Moldova Matters. This small country with a big heart was thrust into Europe's geopolitical crisis when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, but for much longer, outside actors have sought to hinder Moldova's democratic progression. Whether hostile states, or corrupt oligarchs, Moldova has huge challenges for such a small country.

The Moldova Resilience Fund supports grassroots, civil society organizations and independent media in their struggle for an open, accountable and democratic society. Our goal is to quickly and flexibly deploy funding and support to local organizations where it is needed most.

The Moldova Resilience Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization registered in the United States (EIN: 39-2756802). Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

About

Our Mission

Strengthening independent media & civil society in Moldova

The Moldova Resilience Fund supports independent media, civil society, and civic activism by providing flexible assistance to strengthen organizations and fill critical funding gaps. We work to promote press freedom, civic engagement, and democratic resilience in collaboration with local and international partners.

Board of Directors

David Smith

Co-founder & Chair
David is a journalist and entrepreneur based in Chisinau. He first came to Moldova in 2012 as a Peace Corps Volunteer and never left. David writes the Moldova Matters Newsletter, the top source of English language news and analysis in Moldova (cited by the New York Times, Washington Post, FAZ, RFERL and others). He is also the President of the Moldova Small Enterprise Alliance, the largest cross-sectoral small business association in Moldova. David previously co-founded and operated the Smokehouse BBQ restaurant in Chisinau (2015-2023). He is a dual American-Moldovan citizen.

Clayton King

Co-founder and Treasurer

Clayton is the Founding Director of the Alliance for Competitive Elections. He is a former Program Officer for Moldova with the International Republican Institute, where he administered grants and programming, including conducting election observation missions for the 2024 Moldovan Presidential Election and the 2025 Moldovan Parliamentary Election. He was also a Peace Corps Volunteer in Moldova (2017-2019) and holds a Master’s in Public Policy from the Korbel School of International Studies.

Lyndon Allin

Co-Founder and Board Member

Lyndon Allin is currently a Senior Advisor at CMI - Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, focused primarily on CMI's programs in Ukraine. From 2021-24 he served as Head of Investigations for VEON Group, a mobile telephone operator with operations in Ukraine, Central Asia, and other emerging markets. Prior to that, he was a Senior Associate with the law firm of Baker McKenzie in Washington. In 2011-16, he served as a US State Department secondee to OSCE missions in Moldova, where his portfolio included the “5+2” settlement process, and Ukraine, where he helped establish the Special Monitoring Mission and participated in negotiations in Donetsk Oblast which resulted in the release of 21 hostages in 2014. In 2010-13, he co-organized and participated in the Track 2 Transnistrian Conflict Resolution Task Force. He began his legal career with Skadden Arps in London and also practiced law with Akin Gump in Washington. Earlier in his career, Lyndon worked at the US Embassy in Chisinau in 2008-09 as an IREX Embassy Policy Specialist focused on Russia's non-military means of influence in Transnistria and at Harvard's Kennedy School in 2000-01 on the US-Russia National Security Project . He is a graduate of Duke University, Georgetown's School of Foreign Service, and Georgetown Law, and is a member of the bar in New York State and the District of Columbia.

Mark Sawyer

Board of Directors

Mark Sawyer is an open-source investigator and freelance journalist. To his friends, he’s “the Moldova guy.” His investigative work has focused on online narratives impacting trust in elections as well as foreign influence campaigns targeting communities in Europe, the United States, and Africa. He previously worked as a Program Officer at the International Republican Institute (IRI), where he designed and managed taxpayer-funded programs to support democracy in Moldova. He joined the Moldova Resilience Fund to support Moldova’s independent media and show the positive power that private networks of citizens can have apart from government funding.

Donate

Donate to the Ongoing Resilience Fund

Your donation will make a huge difference in supporting the resilience of Moldova's independent media and civil society actors. Donations here support the MRF general fund, and will be used as flexible grants to support independent media, civil society and democratic resilience work in Moldova.

Moldova Resilience Fund is a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 39‑2756802). Donations are tax‑deductible as permitted by law. No goods or services were provided in exchange for your contribution.

Patreon

Want to directly support Independent Media in Moldova?

MRF subscribes to the Patreon accounts of the news and investigative media outlets that we think have the highest impact. We publish this list for people interested high-impact small dollar donations directly to the organizations who need it most. Whether you donate to MRF, or directly to these organizations, you are making a difference in helping support Moldova's democratic resilience.

Our Subscriptions:

Newsmaker (Patreon link)
A leading independent news outlet providing fast, reliable coverage of Moldovan politics, policy, and current events. We recommend Newsmaker for its consistent, fact-based reporting and ability to explain complex developments in real time.

Ziarul de Gardă (Patreon link)

Moldova’s flagship investigative newspaper, known for uncovering corruption and holding powerful actors accountable. We recommend ZdG for its fearless reporting and long track record of high-impact investigations.

Nokta (Patreon link)

A regional outlet focused on Gagauzia, offering critical local reporting in a region often shaped by disinformation and external influence. We recommend Nokta for its role in bringing independent journalism to underserved and strategically important communities.

RISE (Patreon link)

An investigative journalism organization specializing in cross-border corruption, financial crime, and illicit networks. We recommend RISE for its deep, data-driven investigations and collaborations with international investigative networks.

Agora (link to the Agora subscriptions page)

A widely read digital platform covering daily news, politics, and social issues, with a strong focus on accessible and engaging reporting. We recommend Agora for its broad reach and ability to connect with younger, digitally engaged audiences.

Cu Sens (Patreon link)

An independent media project focused on in-depth video journalism and social issues, often highlighting underreported stories and communities. We recommend Cu Sens for its creative storytelling and commitment to public-interest journalism.

Zona de Securitate (Patreon link)

A specialized outlet reporting on Transnistria and security issues, providing rare insight into one of Moldova’s most complex regions. We recommend Zona de Securitate for its unique access, expertise, and consistent on-the-ground reporting.

A leading independent news outlet providing fast, reliable coverage of Moldovan politics, policy, and current events. We recommend Newsmaker for its consistent, fact-based reporting and ability to explain complex developments in real time.

Sign Up for the MRF Newsletter

We're also looking for new followers who are interested in this work! If you aren't in a position to give, or if you just want to hear more about our programming in the coming months, sign-up for our contact list on our website and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Whether you donate or subscribe for updates (or both!), your action helps keep these outlets' lights on—literally and symbolically—as they pursue stories that inform the public and strengthen democracy.

Contact Us

If you'd like to get in contact, email us at contact@moldovaresilience.org