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Non-profit

Fund for a Safer Future

Parent Organization: New Venture Fund (NVF)
Website:

www.fundforasaferfuture.org/
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Formation:

2006
Type:

Donor Collaborative
President:

Lee Bodner [21]
President's Salary:

$261,680[22]

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 children[7] 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]

References

  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. ^
  21. Fund for a Safer Future, a project of the New Venture Fund, a 501(c)3 public charity, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2016, Form 990, Part VII, Section A, Box (8). Compensation of Officers, Directors, Trustees, Key Employees, Highest Compensated Employees, and Independent Contractors. ^
  22. Fund for a Safer Future, a project of the New Venture Fund, a 501(c)3 public charity, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2016, Form 990, Part VII, Section A, D, F, and (8). Compensation of Officers, Directors, Trustees, Key Employees, Highest Compensated Employees, and Independent Contractors. ^
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