Image of Kirsten Klein (Holstebro Kunstmuseum)

Historically, movements such as abolitionism, the suffrage movement, and the Civil Rights movement were not funded by governments. They emerged in opposition to existing systems of power and oppression and were sustained largely through grassroots organising, private donations, and the support of individuals willing to use their resources, social standing, and influence to challenge the status quo. Progress depended on people who were prepared to accept personal risk in order to confront deeply entrenched injustice.