Peace Development Fund - Capacity Building Program

Built from the more than 25 years of experience partnering with grassroots community groups, PDF’s capacity-building program was developed in direct response to the articulated needs and aspirations of our community partners. With their input and recommendations, PDF has developed an integrated strategy to build the capacity of grassroots organizations through a combination of multi-year grants, training, organizational development assistance, strategic convening and support for collaboration among groups working on common issues. Through this program PDF hopes to offer credible alternatives to current realities in these communities.

Our Capacity Building Program is funded through the support of individuals and other foundations, and where possible, through PDF’s general funds. While each element of the Capacity Building Program has special characteristics and unique issues, they share similar movement building goals of respect for human rights, peace and social justice.

As our Capacity Building Program grows, we will do more work with the United Nations and international grantees. On the home front, we will work more meaningfully with Criminal Justice, nuclear and anti-WMD organizing. We feel strongly that we are on the cutting edge of our human rights and social justice movement here in the U.S. We must reach across boundaries in our organizing, grant-making and training, and be deeply involved in current affairs, such as voter education, get out the vote, and stopping the wars in which our country is engaged.

BASE is a comprehensive, multi-year initiative designed to support the efforts of communities adversely impacted by the production cycles of nuclear energy, and nuclear and chemical weapons. Located throughout the continental United States and Puerto Rico, the BASE Community Partners are from predominantly low-income African-American, Latino, and Native-American communities. PDF provides these community-based organizations with resources to enhance their ability to advocate for their communities as part of regional and national movements. Through this capacity-building initiative, participating groups are building expertise in such areas as organizational and strategic planning, environmental and health research, outreach and media strategies, fundraising, the development of sustainable leadership, and effective coalition building. In addition, the increased participation of these groups in regional and national coalitions broadens and strengthens the existing environmental justice movement.

The epidemic of incarceration and the widespread injustice within the criminal “justice” system is one of the most pressing issues facing the marginalized communities with which PDF works. These communities have described their struggles with police brutality, the effects of racial profiling, the criminalization of youth, as well as the privatization of and worsening conditions in prisons. In light of this, PDF conducts a multi-year Criminal Justice Initiative designed to support and build the capacity of groups seeking justice in our courts and prison system, to promote practical and effective alternatives to incarceration and to oppose new prison construction. PDF’s Community Partners in this initiative include organizations led by members who are formerly incarcerated, family members of incarcerated people, political prisoners and those unjustly convicted, youth who have had experiences in the juvenile justice and or criminal justice system, as well as people opposing new facilities. To read more about how PDF establishes authentic relationships with our Criminal Justice Initiative partners read this paper presented at the 2006 National Network of Grantmakers Conference.