Fund for a Safer Future (FSF) is a gun control organization that is part of an umbrella group called the New Venture Fund (NVF). ¹ New Venture Fund is a funding and fiscal sponsorship nonprofit that supports the creation of left-of-center advocacy groups considered charitable under the Internal Revenue Code such as Fund for a Safer Future. ² NVF and FSF are part of the network of organizations controlled by left-of-center philanthropic consultancy Arabella Advisors. ³

Present Activities

In 2014, along with the gun control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety, Fund for a Safer Future funded a study on illegal gun trafficking in Boston, Massachusetts. ⁴

In 2018, along with the Joyce Foundation, FSF funded a study led by the University of Washington, Northeastern University and Harvard University to show that “the presence of a firearm increases the risk for suicide…may lead people to think twice about whether or not firearm ownership and their storage practices are really the safest options.” ⁵

FSF, along with other left-wing charitable foundations, donated to organizations to advocate for gun control in the United States after a 2018 school shooting in Florida. The Langeloth Foundation gave $500,000 to Guns Down America, another gun control organization, and has contributed to FSF for similar measures. ⁶

FSF has funded studies to show the dangers of storing firearms around children⁷ and campaign for Extreme Risk Protection Orders or “red flag” laws. ⁸

FSF funds the pro-gun-control advocacy journalism organization The Trace. The Trace publishes articles on gun control, the National Rifle Association, and mass shooting events. ⁹

Funding

Fund for a Safer Future has received grants from the CEO of Vail Resorts Rob Katz,¹⁰ the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation,¹¹ the MacArthur Foundation, the McCormick Foundation, the Broad Foundation, the Crown & Goodman Family Foundations,¹² the David Bohnett Foundation,¹³ the True North Foundation,¹⁴ the Jacob and Valeria Langeloth Foundation,¹⁵ the Joyce Foundation,¹⁶ the Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund,¹⁷ the Arrow Family Fund,¹⁸ and the Alphawood Foundation. ¹⁹

In 2013, liberal donors Eli Broad and David Bohnett wrote an op-ed asking for donors to support philanthropic efforts to support gun control, specifically mentioning Michael Bloomberg’s Mayors Against Illegal Guns (a predecessor to Everytown for Gun Safety) and Fund for a Safer Future. ²⁰

1. “New Venture Fund – for the Fund for a Safer Future.” William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, 27 Aug. 2018, hewlett.org/grants/new-venture-fund-for-the-fund-for-a-safer-future/.
2. “New Venture Fund – for the Fund for a Safer Future.” William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, 27 Aug. 2018, hewlett.org/grants/new-venture-fund-for-the-fund-for-a-safer-future/.
3. “Five Steps Funders Should Take to Prevent Gun Violence.” Arabella Advisors, 8 Nov. 2016, www.arabellaadvisors.com/blog/5-steps-funders-should-take-to-prevent-gun-violence/.
4. “Mayor Walsh Convenes Mayors, Municipal Leaders, Law Enforcement for New England’s First Regional Gun Trafficking Summit | City of Boston.” Official Web Site of the City of Boston, City of Boston, 24 Apr. 2014, www.cityofboston.gov/news/default.aspx?id=7611.
5. UW News Staff. “Suicide More Prevalent than Homicide in US, but Most Americans Don’t Know It.” UW News, University of Washington, 30 Oct. 2018, www.washington.edu/news/2018/10/30/suicide-more-prevalent-than-homicide-in-us-but-most-americans-dont-know-it/.
6. Phillips, Ariella. “March for Our Lives Movement Sparks Broader Foundation Response to Gun Violence.” The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 2 Aug. 2018, www.philanthropy.com/article/March-for-Our-Lives-Movement/244118.
7. Scott, John, et al. “Firearm Storage in Homes With Children With Self-Harm Risk Factors.” Pediatrics, American Academy of Pediatrics, 1 Mar. 2018, pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/141/3/e20172600.
8. Swanson, Jeffrey, et al. “IMPLEMENTATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF CONNECTICUT’S RISK-BASED GUN REMOVAL LAW: DOES IT PREVENT SUICIDES? .” RISK-BASED GUN REMOVAL LAWS, Duke University School of Law, scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4830&context=lcp.
9. “Donor and Financial Transparency.” The Trace, Trace Media, Inc. , www.thetrace.org/donor-financial-transparency/.
10. report, Daily staff. “Vail Resorts CEO Announces Donation of $31 Million to His Family’s Foundation.” VailDaily.com, Swift Communciations, 13 June 2018, www.vaildaily.com/news/vail-resorts-ceo-announces-donation-of-31-million-to-his-familys-foundation/.
11. “New Venture Fund – for the Fund for a Safer Future.” Hewlett Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, 27 Aug. 2018, hewlett.org/grants/new-venture-fund-for-the-fund-for-a-safer-future/.
12. “The Fund for a Safer Future – 2013 Action Fund .” New Venture Fund, New Venture Fund, 2013, www.newventurefund.org/wp-content/uploads/FSF-2013ActionFund.pdf.
13. “Grants: David Bohnett Foundation.” Grants | David Bohnett Foundation, www.bohnettfoundation.org/grants/category/gun-violence-prevention/.
14. A 990-PF: True North Foundation, a 501(c)3 exempt private foundation, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2016, Form 990-PF, Part XV, Line 3a.
15. “NFG Member Spotlight: The Jacob & Valeria Langeloth Foundation.” NFG, 12 July 2019, www.nfg.org/member_spotlight_langeloth_foundation.
16. “Joyce Foundation Awards $10 Million in Grants.” The Joyce Foundation, www.joycefdn.org/news/joyce-foundation-awards-10-million-in-grants.
17. “Grants Database.” Lisa Douglas Goldman Fund Grants Database Comments, www.ldgfund.org/our-grants/grants-database/page/3/?orderby=grantee-grant-amount&order=desc&program=democracy-and-civil-liberties.
18. “2018 Grants.” Arnow Family Fund, www.arnowfamilyfund.org/2018-grants.
19. “Advocacy.” Alphawood Foundation Chicago, www.alphawoodfoundation.org/advocacy-grantees.
20. Broad, Eli, and David Bohnett. “If You Back Gun Reform, Write a Check.” CNN, Cable News Network, 19 Feb. 2013, www.cnn.com/2013/02/19/opinion/broad-bohnett-gun-reform/index.html.