Mission Statement
The Fund for Nonviolence cultivates and supports community-based efforts to bring about social change that moves humanity towards a more just and compassionate coexistence.

Philosophy
Universal justice and peace are essential conditions for realizing individual and collective human potential. Violence is a dehumanizing obstacle to human potential. We recognize that violence can be direct or indirect, overt or built into social structures. Moreover, all forms of violence are interdependent and are best addressed in relation to one another.

We believe in the transformative power of nonviolence as a means of inspiring progressive social change. By nonviolence, we mean a process of change that reflects today the new relations/new society that we seek to create in the future. This future is one of justice and peace, inseparable and for everyone. For us, the practice of nonviolence recognizes the interconnectedness of all beings, acknowledges the humanity of any opponent, and honors the spiritual dimension of human experience.

Grantmaking Priorities
We seek and encourage proposals that, in addition to meeting the criteria of our funding programs, come from organizations that:
• reflect the spirit of nonviolence in their organizational relations, structure, and process
• focus on structural changes to root causes of injustice
• demonstrate the capacity to reflect on their experience and adapt to lessons and insights
• have a gender perspective that addresses the role of women within the organization and an analysis regarding the implication and impact of the work on women
• value the active involvement of the constituencies most impacted by the violence and social injustice being addressed

Institutional Goals
• Operate with the high standards and excellent practices of a foundation striving to be a leader in progressive philanthropy.
• Be strategic in our grantmaking, setting thoughtful goals for each grantmaking program.
• Have a user-friendly grantmaking process that offers respectful, open communication with grantees and grantseekers.
• Support reflection and self-assessment in the ongoing operation of the foundation and in grantee organizations.