(Washington, DC) – The Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) and the Greater Washington Community Foundation is pleased to announce a matching grant partnership for 27 community and faith-based organizations that previously received FY24 Gun Violence Prevention Mini-Grant awards from the ONSE. The organizations provided summer programming for youth focusing on confidence building, health and wellness, and preparing them for the next stages of life.
The announcement was recently made at Arena Stage in Ward 6 during an end-of-summer celebration recognizing the organization’s successful programming for young people throughout the District. The matching funds of $280,000, to be distributed equally, will allow mini-grant recipients to continue addressing gun-violence prevention in FY25 in areas including crisis intervention, therapeutic arts, and conflict resolution, and by assisting families dealing with grief and trauma caused by the occurrences of gun violence.
“We are incredibly grateful to The Community Foundation for their generous matching funds. These resources will directly support the 27 mini-grant awardees, empowering them to expand their initiatives and create lasting, positive change in our communities,” said Interim Executive Director Kwelli Sneed. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to fostering innovation and addressing the needs of those we serve.”
The Community Foundation’s Health Equity Fund makes funding for the match possible. The fund seeks to improve health outcomes and equity for DC residents by addressing the social determinants of health through an economic mobility lens. The match will allow each grantee to provide full programming throughout FY25 by allowing the organizations to select a quarter in the fiscal year to provide services. A number of grantees are anticipated to continue programming each quarter.
“The Community Foundation has a long history of supporting the ecosystem for community safety in the District,” said Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of The Community Foundation. “We continue to make intentional investments in health and safety with the understanding that while gun violence impacts everyone, there are those in the region who unjustly bear this impact more profoundly than others. This partnership with ONSE is just one example of our ongoing commitment to creating a just, equitable, and thriving community in DC.”
For over 50 years, The Community Foundation has used the power of philanthropy to respond to critical community needs and build a thriving region where every person can prosper. As the region’s largest local funder, The Community Foundation has invested $1.7 billion since 1973 to build racially equitable, just, and thriving communities so that residents of all races, places, and identities may reach their full potential.
The ONSE was established in 2018 to address gun violence in the District while assisting families dealing with the grief and trauma caused by gun violence. The ONSE strategy to significantly reduce gun violence in the District is rooted in a public health approach to violence prevention that includes working with community-based organizations at the ground level.
For a full list of awardees, visit ONSE FY24 Gun Violence Prevention Mini-Grants. To learn about future ONSE grant opportunities, please visit applying for a grant with ONSE and Serve DC.