A diverse group of people sits around a large table, engaged in a collaborative meeting. They are actively discussing ideas, with notebooks and laptops open in front of them. Some participants are pointing at charts and documents, while others are listening attentively and taking notes.

Who We Are

End Community Violence Now is a public-private partnership to address community gun violence.

We serve as a community-based Office of Violence Prevention for Delaware

Community violence is a complex and persistent issue that requires a coordinated, sustained response. At the heart of this response is the need for a backbone organization that can provide both technical assistance and grant-making support to local organizations working on the ground.

Our Mission

Grow a unified, statewide community gun violence reduction ecosystem that breaks the cycle of violence and fosters safer communities in Delaware. 

Our Vision

Every person in Delaware will be safe from community gun violence.

End Community Violence logo in orange, black and white, with different municipalities spelled out

What is Community Gun Violence?

Community Violence is the intentional use of physical force to cause injury, harm, or death to an acquaintance or stranger. Within Community Violence lies Community Gun Violence, which is a form of interpersonal gun violence between non-intimately related individuals.

This type of gun violence is often driven by a small percentage of a city’s population, and is not random; it is intentional, usually resulting from conflicts between individuals and is often retaliatory in nature.

The Effects of Community Gun Violence on Delaware

While Delaware ranks 12th lowest for gun deaths in the nation, the state still faces a significant crisis, with one person killed every three days by a firearm. Gun homicides disproportionately affect certain communities. Males are five times more likely than females to die by gun homicide, and Black people are 15 times more likely to die by gun homicide compared to their white counterparts. Among the most vulnerable, young Black males aged 15-34, who make up just 6% of Delaware’s population, accounted for 46% of all gun homicide deaths in 2022.

In 2022, Delaware recorded 48 gun homicides, part of the 124 total gun deaths in the state. However, this figure only captures fatalities and does not include the many non-fatal shootings, which further exacerbate the problem of gun violence in the state. These non-fatal incidents, while not resulting in death, often leave victims with life-altering injuries, psychological trauma, and significant medical costs, impacting both individuals and communities.

The need for urgent intervention is clear. To reduce both fatal and non-fatal gun violence, coordinated, sustained investment in evidence-based programs is essential. These programs must focus on prevention, intervention, and community support, particularly in high-risk areas. By addressing the disparities in gun violence and investing in proven solutions, Delaware can begin to reduce the devastating impact of gun homicides and work toward a safer future for all.

Source: Villarreal, S., Kim, R., Wagner, E., Somayaji, N., Davis, A., & Crifasi, C. K. (2024). Gun Violence in the United States 2022: Examining the Burden Among Children and Teens. Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Our Theory of Change

We seek to advance community gun violence reduction through 6 key areas strategy, coordination, fundraising , grant making, advocacy, and education.

Strategizing As the backbone organization, we facilitate the coordination of stakeholders—such as local organizations, healthcare providers, community leaders, and advocacy groups—to refine and implement evidence-based strategies for reducing gun violence. We help ensure that efforts are aligned with local needs and that best practices are identified and shared. Our role is to provide strategic guidance and structure to ensure that violence reduction efforts are impactful, sustainable, and scalable across Delaware. Coordinating We serve as the central hub for aligning and coordinating stakeholders at both the state and local levels around a shared agenda to reduce community violence. By facilitating communication, collaboration, and resource-sharing among partners, we ensure that efforts are unified and that partners are working together toward common goals. Our focus is on creating synergy across sectors and ensuring that all partners have the support they need to address violence from multiple perspectives. Fundraising We actively secure new funding for statewide and local violence reduction initiatives, working closely with community partners, foundations, government agencies, and the private sector. In addition, we help partners align and leverage existing funding sources to maximize resources. Our goal is to ensure that adequate funding is available to support the implementation and sustainability of violence reduction strategies across the state. Grant Making As the designated grantmaking agency, we provide critical funding and support to community-based organizations and initiatives focused on reducing gun violence. We administer grants to evidence-based programs addressing prevention, intervention, and recovery, and provide oversight to ensure funds are used effectively. In addition to financial support, we offer training, technical assistance, and capacity-building to grantees, ensuring that they have the tools and resources needed to deliver successful outcomes and make measurable progress in reducing violence. Advocating We advocate for policy and systems changes that create a supportive environment for meaningful reductions in gun violence. Our role is to provide partners—including policymakers, community organizations, and advocates—with the data, research, and strategic insights needed to push for effective laws and policies. We work to influence public discourse and policy decisions, ensuring that gun violence reduction is prioritized within state and local government agendas through public health and health equity lenses. Educating We support community education and public awareness campaigns by providing the necessary resources, data, and guidance to help inform residents, local organizations, and other partners about violence reduction efforts. Our goal is to empower the community with information through public reports, data sharing, and engagement initiatives. We also help coordinate educational campaigns and outreach activities that raise awareness about the impact of gun violence and the effectiveness of evidence-based strategies.