Where Integrity Meets Action
Liberty Values & Strategy Foundation stands as a beacon for those committed to a future where democracy, liberty, justice, and human rights are protected by strong, trusted institutions and informed, empowered citizens.
The Foundation's creation stems from extensive reflection spanning multiple years, during which the founder's commitment to integrity and dignity made participation in previously announced organizational structures untenable. This decision reflects the fundamental principle that institutional alignment must correspond with personal values, particularly when those values encompass the sanctity of life and the preservation of liberty. This inspiration for this endeavor draws from extraordinary women throughout history who refused to compromise their principles despite societal constraints and personal costs.
Jane Dieulafoy seated at her desk, circa late 19th century
Zora Neale Hurston, prominent writer during the Harlem Renaissance
Rosa Bonheur, a French artist known for animal paintings
Woizero Shewareged Gedle
Liberty Values & Strategy Foundation
A Legacy Reborn
June 11, 2025 – 249 years ago, on this very date, History pivoted on the axis of human possibility.
June 11, 1776. The Continental Congress, meeting in the hallowed chambers of Independence Hall, appointed five extraordinary visionaries to a committee that would forever alter the trajectory of human civilization. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston—men of profound intellect and unwavering conviction—were entrusted with the sacred task of drafting the Declaration of Independence. In that momentous decision, they established not merely a political document, but a philosophical foundation upon which the principles of liberty, self-governance, and human dignity would rest for generations yet unborn.
Today, We Stand at Another Threshold.
On June 11, 2025—exactly 249 years later—the Liberty Values & Strategy Foundation emerges to carry forward the luminous torch of those founding principles into the complexities of our modern age. Just as Jefferson and his fellow committee members understood that true independence required both visionary thinking and strategic action, the Liberty Values & Strategy Foundation recognizes that preserving and advancing liberty in the 21st century demands sophisticated analysis, bold leadership, and unwavering commitment to the fundamental values that define human flourishing.
A Foundation Built on Timeless Principles
The parallels between then and now are profound:
- Then, Five visionary leaders gathered to articulate the philosophical foundations of a new nation. Now, a new Foundation emerges to advance strategic thinking on Liberty's most pressing challenges
- Then, the Committee of Five understood that ideas must be coupled with practical wisdom. Now, the Liberty Values & Strategy Foundation bridges timeless principles with contemporary strategic insight
- Then, they recognized that Liberty requires constant vigilance and thoughtful stewardship. Now, we commit to that same vigilance in an increasingly complex world
In the shadow of Ethiopia’s Omo Valley, where the Mursi people etch resilience into their skin through lip plates and the Hamar tribe’s bull-jumping rites forge indomitable courage, a new chapter in the global fight for liberty begins. The Liberty Values & Strategy Foundation (LVS Foundation) launches today as a Vanguard of 21st century research, merging scholarly rigor with actionable strategy through its revolutionary Cohesive Research Ecosystem (CORE). Founded by Dr. Fundji Benedict—a scholar whose lineage intertwines Afrikaner grit, Ethiopian sovereignty, and Jewish perseverance—this institution embodies a legacy of defiance inherited from history’s most audacious truth-seekers, from Zora Neale Hurston to the warrior women of Ethiopia. This duality—scholarship as sword and shield—mirrors Dr. Benedict’s own journey. For 10+ years, she navigated bureaucratic inertia and geopolitical minefields, her resolve hardened by the Ethiopian women warriors who once defied Italian fascism.
The Hurston Imperative - Truth as a Weapon
Zora Neale Hurston, the Harlem Renaissance icon who “broke through racial barriers” and declared, “Truth is a letter from courage” is the Foundation’s spiritual lodestar. Like Hurston, who documented Black life under Jim Crow with unflinching authenticity, the LVS Foundation wields research as both shield and scalpel. BRAVE, its human rights arm, intervenes in crises with the precision Hurston brought to folklore studies, transforming marginalized voices into policy. When Somali warlords displace the Gabra people or Ethiopian officials seize tribal lands, BRAVE acts with the urgency of Hurston’s anthropological missions, ensuring that “truth-telling becomes liberation”.
Dr. Benedict’s decade-long journey mirrors Hurston’s defiance. “My ancestors did not bow. I will not bow” she asserts, her cadence echoing the Omo Valley’s ceremonial chants. This ethos permeates the Foundation’s CORE model, where BRAVE, COMPASS, and STRIDE operate in symphonic unity. “CORE is our answer to siloed thinking” Dr. Benedict explains. “Through this cohesive ecosystem, BRAVE, COMPASS and STRIDE work in concert—breaking down barriers between academic research, fieldwork, and strategic action. This enables us to develop innovative solutions and stride toward lasting change”.
Necropolitics and the Battle for Human Dignity
The Foundation’s research agenda confronts necropolitics—a term coined by Achille Mbembe to describe regimes that decide “who may live and who must die”. In Somalia, where Al-Shabaab turns villages into killing fields, and South Africa where post-apartheid politics increasingly marginalize minorities, the LVS Foundation exposes systemic dehumanization. STRIDE, now correctly positioned as the bulwark against terrorism and antisemitism, dismantles networks fueled by Qatari financing and ideological venom. COMPASS, the geopolitical hub, maps Qatar’s $6 billion influence campaigns, revealing how Doha’s alliances with Islamist groups destabilize democracies from Sahel to Paris, France.
“Qatar hides behind diplomatic immunity while funding mass murder” Dr. Benedict states, citing Israeli intelligence linking Qatari funds to Hamas’s October 7 massacre. Meanwhile, BRAVE echoes fieldwork in Ethiopia’s Babille Elephant Sanctuary—where Dr. Benedict has studied bee barriers to resolve human-wildlife conflict—and epitomizes the Foundation’s ethos: “We turned conflict into cooperation, just as our ancestors turned adversity into art”.
The Ethiopian Woman Warrior - A Blueprint for Ferocity
The Foundation’s DNA is steeped in the legacy of Ethiopian women who weaponized intellect and audacity. Woizero Shewareged Gedle, who orchestrated prison breaks and ammunition heist during Italy's occupation, finds her echo in STRIDE's Intelligence operations. She struck an Italian officer mid-interrogation and declared “You may imprison me, but you will not insult me”. Her defiance lives in STRIDE’s intelligence operations and BRAVE’s land-rights advocacy for all minorities like the Hamar, who endure ritual whipping to cement bonds of loyalty - a fight as visceral as it is cerebral - but also the tribes or the Afrikaners in South Africa who face expropriation of their property without compensation. Dr. Benedict’s leadership rejects the false binary between academia and activism: “Research is not abstraction—it is alchemy. We transmute data into justice”.
Lighting the Torch for Generations
The Liberty Values & Strategy Foundation stands as more than an institution—it is a living testament to the unyielding spirit of those who refuse to let darkness prevail. In a world where necropolitics reduces human lives to chess pieces and terrorism metastasizes in the shadows, the Foundation’s CORE research ecosystem illuminates a different path: one where rigorous scholarship becomes the catalyst for liberation. Every report published, every policy advocated and every community defended is a reaffirmation of democracy’s most sacred tenet—that every life holds irreducible value.
Dr. Benedict’s vision transcends academic abstraction: BRAVE’s defense of pastoralist communities, COMPASS’s geopolitical cartography, and STRIDE’s dismantling of hate networks are not isolated acts but threads in a tapestry woven with the same audacity Zora Neale Hurston brought to anthropology and Woizero Shewareged Gedle to resistance. The Foundation’s decade-long gestation mirrors the patience of Ethiopian honey hunters who wait years for the perfect hive—a reminder that enduring change demands both urgency and perseverance.
As a beacon for Liberty, the LVS Foundation invites collaboration across borders and disciplines. To governments grappling with Qatar’s influence campaigns, to activists documenting human rights abuses, to citizens weary of complacency, the Foundation offers not just data but a blueprint for courage and defiance. Its research ecosystem—dynamic, interconnected and unapologetically action-oriented—proves that knowledge, when wielded with integrity, can dismantle even the most entrenched systems of oppression.
The Torch Burns Bright
Over the past decade, Dr Benedict has combined rigorous academic work with on-the-ground engagement, building the knowledge and networks required to create this institution. Now, as the Foundation opens its doors, it stands as a testament to principled scholarship and action. In the legacy of Zora Neale Hurston’s fearless truth-telling, the LVS Foundation embraces the power of knowledge guided by values. Crucially, the LVS Foundation maintains strict independence from any partisan or governmental funding. This non-partisanship is a cornerstone of its identity. “From day one, we refuse to be anyone’s instrument – no government, no party. Our independence guarantees that our voice remains unbiased and our research uncompromised” Dr. Benedict emphasizes. “We owe that to the truth we seek. Hurston taught us about authenticity and courage. In that spirit, we will not pander or censor ourselves. We will ask the hard questions and pursue answers – wherever they lead – in service of Liberty and Human Dignity”.
The revolution Dr. Benedict ignited is not hers alone. It belongs to every individual who dares to believe that democracy can be defended, that integrity can be restored, and that liberty is worth every sacrifice. Zora Neale Hurston once wrote “There are years that ask questions and years that answer”. For the LVS Foundation, this is the year of answers and a responsibility to honor Hurston’s legacy by ensuring Truth is not just spoken but lived. Those seeking to support Liberty Values & Strategy Foundation—through funding, fieldwork or amplification—are welcomed at to join us [email protected] or [email protected].
More than thinkers, we are doers
Exposing corruption, combating extremism, and strengthening democracies through strategic alliances and legal reforms, powered by experts from diverse fields such as government, intelligence, academia and more, LVS Foundation delivers sharp, open-source research and strategic insights to tackle today's toughest challenges. With this unique blend of rigorous analysis and bold action, we empower policymakers and communities while maintaining strict independence and neutrality, working across political lines and prioritizing the needs over ideology.
Central to LVS Foundation's methodology, we adopt an inclusive framework that engages all peaceful and non-radical actors, and independently determines the scope of its activities, as well as the modalities of their design and execution, free from external interference. Concurrently, LVS Foundation pursues rigorous academic research from a comparative vantage point, aimed at bolstering the defense of democratic institutions, promoting transparency, and upholding the rule of law. Nevertheless, when exigencies arise, our Foundation retains the prerogative to act decisively to neutralize imminent threats to these foundational principles, thereby balancing its scholarly neutrality with a proactive commitment to safeguarding democratic integrity.
Our Vision
Empowering Trust. Strengthening Democracy
- Trust between citizens and governments, within communities, and across borders is the foundation for resilient, just and prosperous societies.
- The contemporary landscape of Sub-saharan governance, especially in South Africa and the Horn of Africa, is marked by the convergence of necropolitical regimes that weaponize death, deprivation and exclusion to maintain power, the marginalization of indigenous communities and the erosion of democratic institutions. Simultaneously, the Middle East’s political dynamics are shifting, with Qatar leveraging humanitarian aid, diplomacy, and economic investments to expand its influence in the Horn of Africa.
- These developments intersect with the persistent threat of terrorism and a global surge in antisemitism, triggering an imperative for innovation in research that is both locally grounded and globally networked.
Our Core Values
United by Integrity. Driven By Justice
Our People
A Knowledge Consortium
People are key to Liberty Values & Foundation success. All People do matter to us.
Our leadership is composed of Trustees, Board Members and Legal Advisors who are steamed leaders - from public service, business and academia. Our Trustees and Board Members make sure that LVS Foundation pursues its mission, wisely manages its resources, and meets its obligations as a non profit. Trustees also support fundraising and outreach which helps LVS Foundation have a positive impact on public policy and communities around the world.
Our staff is a combination of experts in their fields who are comfortable working across disciplines because we know at LVS Foundation that it takes nuance and collaboration to get things right.
Knowledge and Expertise are the connective tissues in all aspects of our research and advocacy work - supported by our culture of integrity and dignity.
Our Organization at a Glance
At Liberty Values & Strategy Foundation, people are our greatest strength and collaboration is our driving force. United by integrity, transparency, and mutual commitment, we bring together passionate individuals from diverse backgrounds to tackle some of the world’s most complex challenges. Our cross-departmental teamwork fuels innovation, enabling us to break new ground and redefine what’s possible. We are relentless in our pursuit of excellence, embracing hard work and resilience because we know the issues we face demand nothing less. As pioneers of a new paradigm in the think tank landscape, we are not just responding to change—we are shaping it. Together with our members, we are building a top-tier, 21st-century think tank that stands at the forefront of thought leadership and transformative impact.
While we champion openness and collaboration, we also deeply respect the privacy of our team and partners, fostering an environment of trust where bold ideas can flourish. And we believe that by working together with integrity and vision, we can inspire lasting change and set new standards for the future.
Our Cohesive Research Ecosystem (CORE)
At the nexus of democratic resilience and ethical governance, LVS Foundation has architected a groundbreaking research paradigm that transcends traditional NGO models and redefines think tank efficacy. Unlike conventional models constrained by disciplinary silos or reactive policymaking, CORE integrates four foundational, interdependent pillars collectively driving transformative change across geopolitical landscapes into a unified operational matrix. This innovative structure, unique in the NGO sector integrates our three specialized research centers - COMPASS, BRAVE, STRIDE - and cross-cutting task forces to dynamically address global threats while maintaining methodological rigor, agility, and ethical fidelity.
Pillar 1
Research & Policy Innovation Knowledge as catalyst for Change
Our multidisciplinary independent Research agenda focuses on several areas:
- Countering Hybrid Threats : conducting in-depth actionable research on threats to democracy, on the rule of law; analyzing disinformation networks targeting country’s elections using methodologies refined by the European Democracy Shield (EUDS) to map foreign interference
- Address governance collapse in multicultural states: integrating insights from political theory, data governance, and digital ethics to design adaptive systems (decentralized power-sharing, technological empowerment, institutional reinforcement)
- Economic Sovereignty: developing metrics to assess “hostile foreign influence” in critical sectors
- Antisemitism , Terrorism & Hate Crime Mitigation: design early warning systems for online radicalization; expose and disrupt networks that propagate radical ideologies and violence aimed at undermining peace and security
Pillar 2
Strategic Global Alliances Collaborative Leverage for Systemic Impact
Our Foundation fosters partnerships with multilateral organizations, academic institutions, policymakers, and civil society actors. This alliance architecture enables unprecedented resource optimization through:
- Collaborative Intelligence Networks: these networks facilitate secure exchange of open-source intelligence on illicit financial flows impacting critical sectors, such as extractive industries in sub-saharan Africa. By creating protected information-sharing protocols among trusted partners, LVS Foundation establishes verification mechanisms that enhance analytical precision and operational impact.
- Cross-sectoral Policy Laboratories: we convene trans-disciplinary stakeholder groups to translate research insights into implementable policy frameworks based on an innovative approach (traditional NGO partnership models often lacking structured knowledge transfer mechanisms).
- Anti-Corruption Coalitions: we strategically align with specialized entities at all levels to create mutually reinforcing advocacy platforms, enhancing transparency and accountability across governance systems. This alliance architecture distinguishes LVS Foundation from conventional NGO partnership models (often operating in isolation).
Pillar 3
Grassroots Empowerment Democratizing Expertise and Access
LVS Foundation operationalizes its commitment to inclusive governance through a comprehensive support infrastructure for civil society actors in vulnerable contexts.
- Providing Professional Consultation Services
This pillar represents a fundamental departure from top-down NGO interventions by offering consulting and legal assistance to grassroots activists, researchers and journalists in high-risk environments, creating pathways for civil society engagement in contested spaces.
- Establishing Community Justice mechanisms
In subsaharan Africa, not only do we partner with local NGOs to (re)establish community tribunals that address disputes through culturally appropriate frameworks, ensuring marginalized perspectives shape governance responses. Our approach recognizes that sustainable democratic resilience must be locally rooted and contextually relevant.
- Amplifying Diverse Epistemologies
The Foundation creates platforms for knowledge exchange that recognize and elevate diverse ways of understanding complex social phenomena, ensuring policy responses reflect the lived experiences of those most affected by governance failures.
Unlike conventional capacity-building programs that often impose external models, LVS Foundation's grassroots engagement strategy emphasizes mutual knowledge production and community-defined priorities.
Pillar 4
Legal & diplomatic Advocacy
LVS Foundation's advocacy architecture operates at the intersection of international law, diplomatic engagement, and strategic communication to create sustainable accountability mechanisms.
- Upholding Justice and Accountability: We rigorously investigate and pursue legal action against corruption, human rights abuses, and illicit financial activities that undermine democratic institutions.
- Multilateral Engagement: LVS Foundation submits meticulously documented, evidence-based recommendations to multilateral bodies such as the UN Human Rights Council, emphasizing compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and other international legal frameworks. These interventions transform abstract principles into concrete accountability mechanisms (procedural justice through strategic litigation and legal advocacy).
- Diplomatic Dialogue Facilitation: We empower policymakers, civil society, and media with incisive open-source intelligence and actionable research delivering direct intervention and support wherever the defense of freedom demands it. We also convene dialogues between policymakers and International stakeholders to de-escalate geopolitical tensions. Finally, we advise governments, civil society, and communities to strengthen legal frameworks, transparency, and democratic resilience.
Impact
Restoring Confidence: by promoting transparency and accountability, LVS Foundation helps rebuild public confidence in institutions and the democratic process.
Strengthening the Rule of law: equips nations and communities to close the gap between legal rights on paper and rights in practice, empowering the marginalized and fostering economic growth
Driving Change: through research, advocacy, and direct action, LVS Foundation. catalyzes policy reforms, supports anti-corruption efforts, and advances justice and human dignity globally.
Expertise and Cooperation
LVS Foundation operates internationally, with a special focus on regions facing acute threats to democracy and sovereignty like sub-saharan Africa. Powered by a diverse, dynamic, multidisciplinary team of experts from government, law, intelligence, military, private industry, academia, finance and beyond, by civil society leaders, and international partners, we ensure that every project is informed by real-world insight and specialized expertise (open source research) with a strong balance decision-making and regional representation, fueling smarter decisions and elevating public debate. Beyond our accomplished in-house team, we tap into a global network of distinguished experts, keeping our work innovative, independent, and credible as we advance our mission to protect liberty and democracy worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Liberty Values & Strategy Foundation represents a unique approach to defending liberty, democracy, and human rights; it transcends conventional nonprofit models by merging strategic agency, ethical rigor, and systems thinking. It reimagines members not as donors but as co-architects of democratic resilience, setting a benchmark for mission-driven engagement in an era of geopolitical complexity.
These FAQs provide a short overview of the organization's purpose, methods, and values. For more detailed information about specific programs, recent initiatives, or current priorities, you are encouraged to consult the LVS Foundation's official resources and publications. Should you need more information, please ask away (see the form below).
Have a Question? Ask away.
