Ben & Jerry's Invests $3 Million in Community and Nationwide Organizing with People's Action Institute's Organizing Revival

The values-led ice cream company is providing a $3 million unrestricted investment to support long-term grassroots organizing beyond the 2026 midterm elections.

BURLINGTON, Vt., Sept. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its broader commitment to protecting democracy and fighting authoritarianism, Ben & Jerry's today announced a $3 million unrestricted investment in People's Action Institute (PAI), a national network of power-building organizations with more than a million members. The grant supports PAI's Organizing Revival, an initiative dedicated to strengthening and sustaining the organizing infrastructure needed to defeat the authoritarianism playbook.

For over 50 years, PAI has been a leader of the grassroots organizing traditions fueling U.S. democracy. With its 'Neighborhoods First' strategy, PAI has brought people together around shared concerns and values, including issues like climate justice, healthcare access, and housing. Now, with its Organizing Revival, PAI is rapidly expanding community training programs, developing community leaders, and building grassroots power that helps communities win campaigns that improve their lives and build an inclusive democracy that works for everyone.

This investment builds on the company's broader commitment to stand against authoritarianism and support people-powered movements. Earlier this year, Ben & Jerry's set out its commitment to people power and collective action, and more recently launched Razz Up!, its 2026 midterm campaign focused on mobilizing communities to use their voices and votes. While Razz Up! is focused on this election cycle, this PAI investment supports the long-term grassroots organizing and infrastructure needed to build power beyond any one election.

"People power has always been what democracy runs on, and this moment is no different," said Carleen Pickard, Ben & Jerry's Global Social Mission Director. "History is clear that lasting progress doesn't come from the top down, it comes from sustained, grassroots organizing, from the people and organizations showing up every single day for an inclusive democracy. That's why we're investing in the Organizing Revival. Unrestricted funding gives organizers the freedom to meet this moment, protect hard-won rights and freedoms, and build the kind of durable organizing infrastructure that outlasts any one election cycle."

Organizations have emphasized the urgent need for significant investment in the people and groups building the collective power to counter authoritarianism, a call reflected in PAI's 2023 paper, "The Antidote to Authoritarianism." Through its unique three-part mission and business structure and through its first direct unrestricted grant of this scale, Ben & Jerry's is meeting that need, supporting those closest to social challenges to lead with the most effective solutions.

"People's Action Institute is proud to have Ben & Jerry's strong support for our work to deepen the craft of community organizing," People's Action Institute Executive Director Sulma Arias said. "Protecting our democracy means more than just elections; it means we connect neighbors and create spaces for organizers to develop their skills so people can discover their own power and take responsibility for their community. This kind of funding, given in this way, gives us the flexibility and support we need to grow this Organizing Revival."

About Ben & Jerry's
Ben & Jerry's is built on the concept of Linked Prosperity, the idea that as the company grows, everyone connected to it, from farm workers to communities, should prosper and thrive, not just shareholders. We do this with our three-part mission: to make great ice cream, to build a sustainable economic enterprise, and to advance social progress.

We make a wide variety of super-premium ice cream and Non-Dairy/vegan desserts using high-quality ingredients and lots of big chunks and swirls. As a Certified B Corp, Ben & Jerry's incorporates its vision of Linked Prosperity into its business practices via values-led sourcing initiatives when purchasing ingredients. Ben & Jerry's is distributed in over 40 countries in supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, franchised Scoop Shops, and via on-demand delivery services.

About People's Action Institute
People's Action Institute's mission is to advance a long-term agenda for racial, economic, and gender justice by investing in powerful state and local organizations and campaigns that win real change in people's lives. The organization is a proud national network of 42 member-based, power-building organizations in 30 states with more than a million members and tens of thousands of national volunteers. Its members include people from every background and kind of community. Learn more at peoplesactioninstitute.org.

People's Action Institute's roots extend back to the Freedom Summer of 1964, with policy victories that include the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Community Reinvestment Act, and Superfund. That same spirit of bold, community-rooted organizing lives in us today. The organization has long sought to align the movement for social justice around a Long-Term Agenda to meet the needs of working families of every race, gender, and background. We now work to mobilize this movement to defend and expand our democracy. We believe in the power of everyday people to transform our country—and we've been proving it for generations. People's Action Institute's Organizing Revival builds and strengthens the ability of our movement to advance in every step of this work, in every corner of the country.

SOURCE Ben & Jerry's