Safe Communities Program
THE SAFE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM RELAUNCHED IN JANUARY 2025 AS PART OF THE MIAMI FOUNDATION’S SIGNATURE GRANT PROGRAM, COMMUNITY GRANTS.
We are grateful to our partners at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office for their continued partnership and support to ensure a safer Miami for everyone. The Safe Communities program will shift from a standalone program to a funding priority that offers two-year mission building support to our nonprofit community.
Click here to learn more about Community Grants.
What We Have Funded
The Safe Communities Program supported nonprofit work in five categories. These descriptions will remain consistent under the Community Grants program.
Safe Communities Program Categories
Crime Prevention and Deterrence: Build a safe community that offers opportunity for all people by activating residents to improve community safety as well as investing in economic and educational mobility to develop alternatives to illicit activity, particularly for people who were previously incarcerated or involved in the justice system. This may include job training or placement programs as well as educational programs about illicit substances to prevent impaired driving.
Human Trafficking: Support minors or adults who are survivors of human trafficking through high-quality services such as health care, substance abuse treatment, mental health services, housing, immigration services or other critical needs.
Substance Dependence Services: Guide people to overcome substance dependence or misuse by providing wraparound services that may include substance abuse counseling and treatment, mental health services, or support strategies to develop personal resilience.
Survivor Assistance: Help survivors and their loved ones overcome the financial, health, or other challenges they face as a result of being victims of gun violence or other crimes. This may include education assistance.
Youth Development: Prepare youth to successfully reach their full potential in academics, career, and life by supporting youth whose life experiences or environments put them at risk for becoming involved in crime or violence. This may include mentoring, educational support, employment and career preparation, or personal development.
State Attorney’s Office & Denise Moon Fund
The Miami Foundation is grateful to the State Attorney’s Office and Denise Moon fund for their long-standing partnership and dedication to the health and safety across Miami-Dade. The Safe Communities Program, supported by the Denise Moon fund. strives to ensure safety and opportunity for all Greater Miami residents by investing in education and economic mobility, health services to overcome substance dependence, and collective action to improve community safety.
The Fund is particularly focused on supporting survivors of human trafficking, gun violence, and other crimes as well as justice-connected individuals who reside in Miami-Dade.
About the Fund
Effective August 2024, the Safe Communities will operate as the seventh designated funding category as part of the Foundation’s signature grant program, Community Grants. The Safe Communities program, under the 2025 Community Grants will be administered as a two-year, mission building general operating grant. The Safe Communities program will not-reopen as an independent program in 2024.
Funding for the Safe Communities program is supported by the Denise Moon Memorial Fund and the Safer and Healthier Communities Fund. Charitable contributions to both Funds come primarily from criminal defendants at the time of sentencing or from elections to participate in pre-trial diversion programs.
To effectively invest these community resources, the Safe Communities Program was established as one comprehensive grant program in 2021. The program will continue to pursue the Funds’ shared mission to ensure Greater Miami safety and opportunity for all residents.
We encourage you to stay connected with The Miami Foundation for additional updates on the launch of the upcoming Community Grants cycle.
We invite you to get to know the organization that have been supported by the Safe Communities program in past cycles and join us in investing in them.
Fund for a Safer and Healthier Community
Denise Moon Memorial Fund
Connect with us
Questions? Please contact Vicky Checo, Community Investment Officer.