MMM Chapters Finding Grants to Continue Mission

WAGCEVP · February 21, 2002, 10:32 PM

MMM Chapters Finding Grants to Continue Mission
http://www.jointogether.org/gv/news/...548275,00.html

As individual chapters of the Million Mom March (MMM) look to continue their work on the local level, many have succeeded in winning financial support from foundations in their communities.

The Million Mom March Foundation's Orange County chapter, for example, sought and won a $50,000 grant from the California Wellness Foundation to support a legal education and assistance project, designed to provide information about youth violence to policymakers and community leaders.

Julio Marcial, a spokesperson for the foundation, told Join Together that the project was an excellent fit for a funder whose interests include youth violence prevention in general, and limiting access to guns in particular. "We feel it is really pivotal to provide leadership development and promote public policy on this issue," he said.

Further, Marcial noted, the foundation was well aware of the track record of MMM leader Mary Leigh Blek, having previously funded Orange County Citizens for the Prevention of Gun Violence, which Blek co-founded.

Philadelphia's William Penn Foundation has also worked closely with gun-control groups in recent years, including providing funding to the Mid-Atlantic Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence. Further, the foundation was familiar with the work of the Million Mom March's Pennsylvania chapter prior to receiving the group's application for funding last year.

Jean Hunt, director of the Penn Foundation's Children, Youth, and Families program area, said she had noted the group's work on the state level to propel legislative action against straw purchases of guns. "They were interested in community advocacy and issues that concerned the foundation," she noted, "and they were the only game in town willing to address these issues statewide."

The foundation already had made reducing the high youth murder rate in its hometown of Philadelphia a priority, and was aware that 80 percent of all homicides in the city are committed with guns, said Hunt. So, despite the funder's geographic focus on Philadelphia and its surrounding communities, Penn awarded the statewide MMM chapter $255,000 in general support over two years. "We pitched it as a way to protect the children and youth of Pennsylvania," said Ona Hamilton, president of the Pennsylvania MMM.

"In looking at what it takes to decrease the epidemic of murder, dealing with the flow of guns into our neighborhoods is one piece of the strategy," explained Hunt. The MMM leaders brought the funder good data on Pennsylvania's status as a gun-supplier state, and had a detailed plan of action to confront the issue, she noted.

The Pennsylvania MMM will use the money to build local chapters statewide, hoping to change an environment where urban support for gun control contrasts sharply with the attitude of rural communities, where gun-rights groups hold sway. "The only people legislators hear from now is NRA members and lobbyists," said Hunt. "The Moms are a grassroots organization, and that part of who they are really appealed to us."

Thanks to the Penn Foundation money, the Pennsylvania MMM will be able to pay an executive director and an assistant, as well as office space and related expenses, said Hamilton. The group plans to target its advocacy efforts on a number of races for state government, ramp up its media advocacy, promote public education on issues like a pledge to keep guns in the home locked up, and encourage local newspapers to drop classified ads for guns.

In the state of Washington, the Million Mom March of Seattle/King County also was able to hire an executive director, Deborah Gandolfo, because of a successful local fundraising effort. The $18,000 in salary support came from Committee for Children, the Seattle-based developer of the acclaimed "Second Step" violence-prevention curriculum.

Gandolfo tells Join Together that the grant sprung from a chance meeting between the MMM chapter's co-president, Marilyn Canfield, and the Committee for Children's director of development. By paying a half-time executive director, she noted, the MMM chapter is able to maintain a single, reliable point of contact for the organization and -- equally important -- avoid burnout of volunteers like Canfield, who already had been putting in part-time hours on a daily basis.

As noted, in each of these cases the funders knew about the MMM's previous work, and professional relationships already existed between grantmaker and grantee. "Even though we stay focused on gun violence, we interact with a lot of people, including those in the faith community, substance abuse groups, and others," said Blek. "By interacting, it will bring you into contact with potential funders."

The needs of the Moms closely matched the interests of the funder, as well. Marcial advised grantseekers to research the funder's interests carefully, especially their past grantees, which funders like the California Wellness Foundation list on their website or annual report.

Finally, these grantees came to the funder with a clear idea of the problem in the community and how they planned to address it. Also, "a new organization that doesn't have any infrastructure has to come in and demonstrate knowledge of what has to be done" to get established, said Hunt. That could include applying for nonprofit status, lining up technical expertise and other support systems, and hiring qualified people.

At the same time, said Hunt, "The passion that people have for their work is very important. Without it, the work can't take place."

More Funding News

dZ · February 22, 2002, 12:17 AM

gee, i wonder if we could find a lawyer willing to sue the PA MMM for 250,000 dollars

**4V50 Gary** · February 22, 2002, 01:16 AM

Lawsuits cost money. Here's what I would do instead. Apply for a job with them. Yes, work for the enemy. Doctor up a great looking resume, BS 'em into hiring you and consider your ineptly spent time as a paid vacation. Surf TFL and other pro-Second Amendment sites all day long and get paid. Go to expensive conferences and stay and the best hotels, eat at the best restaurants and tip heavily. Don't take public transit when you can catch a cab! Why eat out when there's room service? Why, Wwen I retire, I'm going to apply for a job with the Brady Bunch.

Now, none of you guys or gals will fink on me when I run it to the ground, will you?

coonan357 · February 22, 2002, 05:16 AM

you can use me as a job reference

February 21, 2002, 10:32 PM	#1
WAGCEVP Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2000 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,995	MMM Chapters Finding Grants to Continue Mission MMM Chapters Finding Grants to Continue Mission http://www.jointogether.org/gv/news/...548275,00.html As individual chapters of the Million Mom March (MMM) look to continue their work on the local level, many have succeeded in winning financial support from foundations in their communities. The Million Mom March Foundation's Orange County chapter, for example, sought and won a $50,000 grant from the California Wellness Foundation to support a legal education and assistance project, designed to provide information about youth violence to policymakers and community leaders. Julio Marcial, a spokesperson for the foundation, told Join Together that the project was an excellent fit for a funder whose interests include youth violence prevention in general, and limiting access to guns in particular. "We feel it is really pivotal to provide leadership development and promote public policy on this issue," he said. Further, Marcial noted, the foundation was well aware of the track record of MMM leader Mary Leigh Blek, having previously funded Orange County Citizens for the Prevention of Gun Violence, which Blek co-founded. Philadelphia's William Penn Foundation has also worked closely with gun-control groups in recent years, including providing funding to the Mid-Atlantic Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence. Further, the foundation was familiar with the work of the Million Mom March's Pennsylvania chapter prior to receiving the group's application for funding last year. Jean Hunt, director of the Penn Foundation's Children, Youth, and Families program area, said she had noted the group's work on the state level to propel legislative action against straw purchases of guns. "They were interested in community advocacy and issues that concerned the foundation," she noted, "and they were the only game in town willing to address these issues statewide." The foundation already had made reducing the high youth murder rate in its hometown of Philadelphia a priority, and was aware that 80 percent of all homicides in the city are committed with guns, said Hunt. So, despite the funder's geographic focus on Philadelphia and its surrounding communities, Penn awarded the statewide MMM chapter $255,000 in general support over two years. "We pitched it as a way to protect the children and youth of Pennsylvania," said Ona Hamilton, president of the Pennsylvania MMM. "In looking at what it takes to decrease the epidemic of murder, dealing with the flow of guns into our neighborhoods is one piece of the strategy," explained Hunt. The MMM leaders brought the funder good data on Pennsylvania's status as a gun-supplier state, and had a detailed plan of action to confront the issue, she noted. The Pennsylvania MMM will use the money to build local chapters statewide, hoping to change an environment where urban support for gun control contrasts sharply with the attitude of rural communities, where gun-rights groups hold sway. "The only people legislators hear from now is NRA members and lobbyists," said Hunt. "The Moms are a grassroots organization, and that part of who they are really appealed to us." Thanks to the Penn Foundation money, the Pennsylvania MMM will be able to pay an executive director and an assistant, as well as office space and related expenses, said Hamilton. The group plans to target its advocacy efforts on a number of races for state government, ramp up its media advocacy, promote public education on issues like a pledge to keep guns in the home locked up, and encourage local newspapers to drop classified ads for guns. In the state of Washington, the Million Mom March of Seattle/King County also was able to hire an executive director, Deborah Gandolfo, because of a successful local fundraising effort. The $18,000 in salary support came from Committee for Children, the Seattle-based developer of the acclaimed "Second Step" violence-prevention curriculum. Gandolfo tells Join Together that the grant sprung from a chance meeting between the MMM chapter's co-president, Marilyn Canfield, and the Committee for Children's director of development. By paying a half-time executive director, she noted, the MMM chapter is able to maintain a single, reliable point of contact for the organization and -- equally important -- avoid burnout of volunteers like Canfield, who already had been putting in part-time hours on a daily basis. As noted, in each of these cases the funders knew about the MMM's previous work, and professional relationships already existed between grantmaker and grantee. "Even though we stay focused on gun violence, we interact with a lot of people, including those in the faith community, substance abuse groups, and others," said Blek. "By interacting, it will bring you into contact with potential funders." The needs of the Moms closely matched the interests of the funder, as well. Marcial advised grantseekers to research the funder's interests carefully, especially their past grantees, which funders like the California Wellness Foundation list on their website or annual report. Finally, these grantees came to the funder with a clear idea of the problem in the community and how they planned to address it. Also, "a new organization that doesn't have any infrastructure has to come in and demonstrate knowledge of what has to be done" to get established, said Hunt. That could include applying for nonprofit status, lining up technical expertise and other support systems, and hiring qualified people. At the same time, said Hunt, "The passion that people have for their work is very important. Without it, the work can't take place." More Funding News

February 22, 2002, 12:17 AM	#2
dZ Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 1999 Location: the Fetid Swamp, DC Posts: 7,565	gee, i wonder if we could find a lawyer willing to sue the PA MMM for 250,000 dollars __________________ "O tell the Lacedomecians to damn the torpedoes." BOTR, Chapter V: Some Monsters

February 22, 2002, 01:16 AM	#3
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: California Posts: 13,263	Lawsuits cost money. Here's what I would do instead. Apply for a job with them. Yes, work for the enemy. Doctor up a great looking resume, BS 'em into hiring you and consider your ineptly spent time as a paid vacation. Surf TFL and other pro-Second Amendment sites all day long and get paid. Go to expensive conferences and stay and the best hotels, eat at the best restaurants and tip heavily. Don't take public transit when you can catch a cab! Why eat out when there's room service? Why, Wwen I retire, I'm going to apply for a job with the Brady Bunch. Now, none of you guys or gals will fink on me when I run it to the ground, will you? __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

February 22, 2002, 05:16 AM	#4
coonan357 Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2002 Location: in a state of confusion and disbelief ! Posts: 726	you can use me as a job reference __________________ N.R.A. Lifer and proud of it ! You can't argue with a .357 Mag. Well, you can try, but you'll end up bleeding an aweful lot. -GEORGE HILL 4-08-2002 My Coonan is Not For Sale please do not ask!