$25 Million in Grants is a Milestone
in Gun Violence Prevention
The Fund for a Safer Future (FSF) is proud to announce a major milestone: $25 million in grants awarded to support gun violence prevention initiatives across the United States. As a donor collaborative, we recognize that when communities are faced with gun violence, going it alone is not an option. Since our inception in 2011, we have been dedicated to engaging communities, advocating for policies, and supporting innovative approaches to address gun violence.
One of our most notable contributions has been our early and sustained investments to help advance state-based policy reforms including the implementation of Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs). These laws, now in 21 states, allow law enforcement and family members to intervene when someone poses a risk to themselves or others.
“Our Center has been the leader in the development and implementation of Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO)”, shares Josh Horwitz, Co-Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions. “At every critical opportunity for advancement, the Fund for a Safer Future (FSF) has provided crucial support for our work. Most notably, FSF jumped in as one of the first early funders when ERPO was no more than an idea.”
Adding to this, Jess Marks of the Oregon Alliance for Gun Safety says, “In a space where constant cycles of shootings and tragedy have left many feeling hopeless, the Fund for a Safer Future has been instrumental in creating a pathway for action and change. FSF’s support has brought together individuals and organizations in Oregon to move forward community-driven solutions to prevent gun tragedies.”
Supporting Innovation, Shifting Culture
FSF’s funding has also been instrumental in advancing a shift in the narrative and culture around gun use, including organizations like Project Unloaded. “The Fund for a Safer Future is an invaluable partner to Project Unloaded,” says Nina Vinik. “FSF recognized the potential in our innovative approach to gun violence prevention, focused on changing the culture around gun use. That support and confidence helped us grow and attract other funders.”
Amplifying Collective Learning
Scott Moyer, President of the Jacob & Valeria Langeloth Foundation and an executive committee member of FSF, highlights the organization’s unique collaborative approach. “By bringing together funders with different focuses and resources, FSF not only amplifies the impact of each grant but also builds a learning community. Our grants, even when modest, are targeted and flexible, allowing us to support community-driven efforts and state-level initiatives that might otherwise be overlooked.”
Scott also notes that FSF’s ability to provide support beyond direct grants—such as funding conferences and meetings—helps build capacity within the field. “These kinds of contributions are crucial for building the field and creating connections that lead to broader, lasting change.”
The Next $25 Million of Change: Courage is Contagious
The $25 million milestone is a testament to the power of collaboration and the difference collective funding can make. FSF’s model not only amplifies the impact of each dollar but also inspires others to join the growing movement. In addition to our direct grantmaking, FSF members have made more than $200 million in aligned grants to end gun violence. Courage is contagious, and the collective efforts of our partners have brought more philanthropy into the fold, creating momentum for change.
While gun violence remains the leading cause of preventable death and injury in the United States, philanthropy—including FSF—has helped fill a crucial funding gap in gun violence research. Between 1996 and 2019, the federal government largely stopped investing in firearms-related research. It only now funds this research at $25 million annually. During this gap, FSF and others in philanthropy stepped in, ensuring that vital research on gun violence could continue.
Research Projects FSF has Awarded to Date
Shani Buggs, Assistant Professor for the Violence Prevention Research Program at UC Davis and co-founder of the Black and Brown Collective, highlights FSF’s role in this research. “Gun violence is the leading cause of preventable death and injury in the U.S., disproportionately impacting Black and Brown communities. Yet over the last three decades, Congress has massively underfunded research into the causes and responses to gun violence. Thankfully, philanthropy—and more specifically, the Fund for a Safer Future—has supported this work when Congress would not.”
In addition to research, our efforts have also supported broader victories in the gun violence prevention ecosystem, from the establishment of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention to the Community Violence Intervention (CVI) Action Plan.
“Through collective funding and partnerships, we’re building a movement that is creating real, lasting change,” says Tim Daly, Director of Gun Violence Prevention & Justice Reform Program at the Joyce Foundation, as well as a founding member and current chair of FSF. “The next $25 million will allow us to continue supporting evidence-informed strategies and expanding our understanding of the causes and solutions to gun violence.”
Join Us in Creating a Safer Future
As we celebrate this milestone, we invite partners, supporters, and communities to join us in our collective efforts and help spread the word that change is happening and lives are being saved. Let’s continue to prove that courage is contagious, expand our impact, and create a future where every community is safe from gun violence. Join our movement.
– TALIA WRIGHT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FUND FOR A SAFER FUTURE