FY25 Gun Violence Prevention Mini-Grant - Summary

The DC Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) builds partnerships and implements strategies that reduce gun-related violence in the District. As a mission-driven organization dedicated to preventing gun violence, we seek to invest in organizations that share our commitment to addressing the root causes of gun violence and advancing sustainable solutions. To further this mission, the Family Survivor Support (FSS) and Violence Intervention (VI) divisions accepted applications for funding under the Consolidated Grief and Bereavement Support and Gun Violence Prevention mini-grants. 

The funding is targeted for youth (8-17) and individuals between the ages of 18-35 who are at the highest risk of violence and are often resistant and / or not eligible for other services. 

The Request for Applications (RFA) makes available up to twenty-five (25) grants under the following program areas:

• Grief and Bereavement Support - up to $100,000

• Violence Prevention - up to $150,000

Division Information:
Violence Intervention (VI)

VI is proactive, community-based engagement strategy designed to reduce gun-related violence by:

• Addressing and de-escalating potential conflicts before they become violent 
• Stabilizing communities after violent incidents 
• Providing intensive support to individuals at high risk of being directly involved in violence, either as a victim or a perpetrator
   

Family and Survivor Support Program (FSS)

FSS focuses on providing compassionate care and services to individuals and families impacted by gun violence. This includes:

• Case management and advocacy

• Trauma-informed support services 

• Community-based approaches to healing 

List of Grantees

The following community-based organizations were awarded mini-grants through this initiative:

• A Better Choice – Provides a safe, supportive space for families in Washington, DC who are grieving the loss of loved ones due to violence. 
• Beacon House — Piloted a two-month violence prevention program in Ward 5 focused on youth facing challenges such as prior exposure to violence, justice system involvement, or chronic instability.
• Beta Omega Social Services— Delivers weekly group sessions during advisory or after-school periods that teach conflict resolution, emotional regulation, and self-advocacy.
• Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School  – Leads transformative outdoor social and emotional learning (SEL) programs for secondary students from urban communities in Baltimore and the Washington metropolitan area.
• CitiLife Development – Offers a half-day, arts-infused grief support program combining therapeutic arts, wellness practices, peer support, caregiver education, and structured follow-up.
• Do The Write Thing Foundation – Works to reduce gun and street violence by empowering at-risk youth with communication and conflict resolution skills.
• Ethiopian Community Services – Implements a culturally responsive, community-driven violence prevention initiative developed by the Ethiopian Community Services and Development Council (ECSDC) to address the complex needs of at-risk youth and young adults in Washington, DC.
• Exodus Treatment Services – Provides grief support and outreach to children of adult clients, extending its established mental health services and trauma-informed programming.
• Father Factor – Runs an eight-session program for participants focused on addressing violence and grief, character development, anger management, forgiveness, life skills, and positive coping strategies.
• GOODProjects – Delivers a trauma-informed initiative to prevent violence, support at-risk youth, and promote intergenerational healing in Southwest DC.
• InnerCity Collaborative Community Development Corporation (ICCDC) – Promotes positive youth engagement through music education, talent development, behavior redirection, and sustainable opportunities.
• Momma's Safe Haven – Provides healing-centered, trauma-informed care to young people experiencing grief caused by violence in their community.
• Many Languages One Voice – Conducts a culturally responsive, trauma-informed summer intensive for rising 11th and 12th grade BIPOC immigrant and English Learner (EL) youth in Washington, DC.
• MRG Services – Offers a short-term, high-impact grief support program for youth and young adults ages 8–35 directly or indirectly affected by gun violence in Washington, DC.
• Next Level Enterprise – Supports aspiring entrepreneurs with mentorship, strategic guidance, and resources to help them launch and grow sustainable businesses.
• Open Goal Project – Provides a trauma-informed program to reduce youth violence and promote healing through behavioral wellness services, mentoring, conflict resolution skill-building, body-based therapies, and leadership development.
• Schmidt's Electrical Enterprise PC – Prepares young people for careers in the electrical field while contributing to violence prevention efforts in Washington, DC.
• School Talk Inc – A trauma-informed, arts-based program that provides high-impact creative experiences designed to promote healing, connection, and violence prevention among vulnerable youth.
• Seeding Stories/ Sembrando Historias – Facilitates the Grief in Action curriculum, a popular education training series tailored toward young people from a trauma informed and culturally responsive approach that explores various facets of grief.
• Sister4Sister – Provides in-person and school-based art therapy group grief meetings with certified grief counselors, focusing on families impacted by gun violence and domestic violence.
• So, What Else Inc – Engages adolescents ages 13–19 in paid leadership roles that foster safety, mutual respect, and community resilience.