Philosopher Jason Bell (New Brunswick) writes, a propos the SSHRC issue we recently discussed, with a useful suggestion:

One of the valuable things that world philosophers can do to promote academic freedom is to apply for grants. When they win, they later on get put on the committees that judge research. There they can be important voices for excellent research and academic freedom.

If your blog ever has the chance to pitch the idea of grant-writing to your readers, I would certainly appreciate it. It will help out the cause of academic freedom in the long run.  In my experience, philosophers are under represented on judging committees because we don't tend to apply for grants.

Even 'failed' grants help as a draft of a new area of research; and the chances of winning some grants is actually quite good (e.g. some SSHRC competitions are around 25% success). When you do win, money can go to funding student research, travel, etc., and help to develop a scholar's research profile.