Since 2022, the NICJR Giving Initiative has distributed more than $5.17 million in 13 US cities and counties.
These awards are made possible through generous contributions from the Ballmer Group, Langeloth Foundation, Microsoft Justice Reform Initiative, Public Welfare Foundation, Schusterman Family Philanthropies, and Walmart Foundation, as well as federal grants from the Bureau of Justice Assistance and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
Awards as of December 2025 Giving by Jurisdiction
Oakland, CA
- Total awarded: $1,555,250
- Number of grantees: 7 (plus family giving)
Washington, DC
- Total awarded: $655,000
- Number of grantees: 8
Milwaukee, MN
- Total awarded: $500,000
- Number of grantees: 5
Indianapolis, IN
- Total awarded: $760,000
- Number of grantees: 8
Baltimore, MD
- Total awarded: $580,000
- Number of grantees: 3
Columbus, OH
- Total awarded: $250,000
- Number of grantees: 1
Jackson, MS
- Total awarded: $250,000
- Number of grantees: 1
Portland, OR
- Total awarded: $250,000
- Number of grantees: 1
Knoxville, TN
- Total awarded: $135,000
- Number of grantees: 2
Birmingham, AL
- Total awarded: $100,000
- Number of grantees: 1
Atlanta, GA
- Total awarded: $70,000
- Number of grantees: 5
Memphis, TN
- Total awarded: $50,000
- Number of grantees: 1
Southern Pike County, MS
- Total awarded: $10,000
- Number of grantees: 1
Support to Grassroots Organizations
The NICJR Giving Initiative provides financial support and capacity building for grassroots organizations that are crucial to the work of community violence intervention but often passed over for large government and philanthropic grants. Giving Initiative awards happen within the context of various NICJR initiatives, two of which are highlighted below.
Coalition to Advance Public Safety
The Coalition to Advance Public Safety (CAPS), established in 2022, is a partnership between NICJR, the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention, the Community Based Public Safety Collective, and Cities United that focuses on reducing near-term violence by expanding and strengthening local community violence intervention ecosystems in multiple US cities.
The Ballmer Group and Schusterman Family Philanthropies have both provided core support for CAPS that includes dedicated pass-through funding for grassroots community violence intervention organizations receiving training and technical assistance in CAPS cities. In total, NICJR has made more than $2 million in Giving Initiative awards to 21 organizations in the CAPS cities of Baltimore, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and Oakland.
Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative
In 2024, NICJR selected five community-based organizations from across the US as grantees through the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI). Each organization received $250,000 to implement or expand effective community violence intervention strategies serving individuals at the highest risk of gun violence involvement. These subawards were funded by the federal Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance.
Grantee Spotlights
Operation Good Foundation
Job Position: Jackson, Mississippi
$250,000
Operation Good Foundation
Jackson, Mississippi
$250,000
Founded in 2014 by Fredrick Womack and Ira Henry, Operation Good Foundation strives to bring “Unity to the Community” by “Changing the Environment in Order to Change the Mindset.” Operation Good uplifts the less fortunate, impoverished, formerly incarcerated, and youth as well as those at high risk of experiencing violence, systemic racism, and classism. Through CVIPI support, Operation Good was able to hire additional community and school-based Violence Interrupters and complete much-needed renovations to its building, which has become a critical community space in one of the most under-resourced and violent neighborhoods in Jackson.
Learn more about their work in the news.
VOICES
Indianapolis, IN
$220,000
VOICES is a community based organization whose mission is to enhance the lives of youth and families through the expression of self, community involvement, and providing options that will empower them to change their lives. For over a decade, VOICES has leveraged its expertise in juvenile justice, social work, and education to meet the needs of over 3,000 youth and adults from 36 zip codes across Marion County as well as from over 15 Indiana counties. With support from the NICJR Giving Initiative, VOICES is partnering with the City of Indianapolis and NICJR to launch the Indianapolis Youth Violence Reduction Initiative (YVRI). This innovative initiative expanded the City’s Gun Violence Reduction Strategy by identifying and intensively engaging the small number of youth who are involved or at very high risk of being involved in gun violence. VOICES provides these young people with intensive life coaching, family services, counseling, financial incentives, and connections to other needed community-based services and supports.
Learn more about their YVRI work.
Yaay Me
Washington, DC / PG County, Maryland
$200,000
Yaay Me, Inc. (YMI), is a nonprofit organization founded in 2009 that is committed to transforming historically underserved DC and Prince George’s County communities by transforming youth, adults, their families, and those who serve them. YMI achieves this through a variety of training, education, and mentorship programs. With support from the NICJR Giving Initiative, Yaay Me is providing intensive mentoring, case management, and financial incentive stipends to high-risk youth and young adults referred by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services and Prince George’s County Police Department. This work is part of the Prince George’s County Youth Violence Reduction Initiative being developed through collaboration between Yaay Me, State and County officials, and NICJR.
Support to Families
Through the Giving Initiative, NICJR also supports the families of youth and young adults who are in the justice system, have been diverted from the justice system, or have been identified as being at high risk of gun violence involvement. In times of higher prices for groceries and other necessities, even modest financial support can go a long way towaxrd addressing family instability that drives youth violence.
For example, with support from the Ballmer Group and Langeloth Foundation, we have provided significant financial assistance to families of participants in two Oakland programs operated by NICJR: the Neighborhood Opportunity and Accountability Board, a youth development and diversion program, and Oakland Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that served young adults at high risk of gun violence. In 2022 and 2024, NICJR hosted dinners where families were provided financial support between $1,500–$2,500. The Life Coach of each participant presented the family with their check and made remarks about their work with the family. Local business owners, community leaders, and City Councilmembers attended the dinners to support the families as well.
Looking Ahead
NICJR is taking steps to ensure the Giving Initiative lasts well into the future. Ongoing discussions with generous funders and partners will continue to highlight the need for pragmatic, on-the-ground support for system-involved and/or vulnerable youth, young adults, families, and the organizations providing them with direct services. We are honored to distribute funding across the country to directly support families in need and who have been involved in the justice system and organizations working to reduce gun violence.