Koch-Backed Donor Network Wants to Blame COVID Deaths on Public Health Measures A billionaire-backed fund is promoting a deregulation agenda critical of prevailing public health recommendations. William_Potter via Getty Images By DonorsTrust, the preferred donor conduit of the Koch political network, has launched a new funding stream to resist public health measures in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and use the crisis to further its broader policy goals. The $422 million donor advised fund often referred to as the Right’s “dark money ATM” pins the “humanitarian crisis” created by the pandemic not on the 549,000 deaths in the U.S., but on “the actions of elected officials” who have tried to limit the virus’ spread.