Start a conversation before another moment of silence needs to happen.

Independently Funded Grants

Let us help you find the words to help others.

The August 2025 tragedy during First Mass at Annunciation left us all speechless. A Twin Cities non-profit and its partners created the Find the Words campaign to help schools initiate a proven, preventive program to end gun violence in schools.

The Find the Words campaign provides grants of up to $3,000 to Twin Cities metro schools or parent-teacher organizations (PTOs) to review and implement Sandy Hook Promise’s (SHP) “Say Something” gun violence prevention programs to make schools safer.

Funds may be used to cover printing materials, pay a volunteer to prepare and teach the Say Something program’s content, and more.

A follow-on grant is available to schools that choose to implement some of the Say Something resources or another program/service from SHP.

Grants are provided by the Johari Family Foundation (JFF) with partnership from other independent donors.

Funds may be used to cover printing materials, pay a volunteer to prepare and teach the Say Something program’s content, and more.

A follow-on grant is available to schools that choose to implement some of the Say Something resources or another program/service from SHP.

Grants are provided by the Johari Family Foundation (JFF) with partnership from other independent donors.

Funds may be used to cover printing materials, pay a volunteer to prepare and teach the Say Something program’s content, and more.

A follow-on grant is available to schools that choose to implement some of the Say Something resources or another program/service from SHP.

Grants are provided by the Johari Family Foundation (JFF) with partnership from other independent donors.

Application Process

How to get started

The grant campaign consists of two phases. In Phase 1, schools or PTOs receive a grant of up to $1,000 by committing to review the Say Something program from SHP. In Phase 2, schools or PTOs that choose to implement Say Something or another program/service from SHP can apply for a follow-on grant of up to $2,000. For more details, please see the Overview page.

Phase 1

1. Submit the application by January 17, 2026.

2. Implement Phase 1 (i.e., review the Say Something content).

Phase 2

1. Contact JFF at findthewordsmn@protonmail.com for information on next steps to be eligible to receive the second grant (after completion of Phase 1). Phase 2 involves implementing a program from SHP such as Say Something, SAVE Promise Club, or Anonymous Reporting System.

2. Implement Phase 2 by April 17, 2026.

3. Contact JFF at findthewordsmn@protonmail.com to provide updates (after completion of Phase 2).

4. Receive the second grant after JFF verifies the implementation information.

Information and Support

For implementation support for both phases and information on Say Something and SAVE Promise Club (school level), refer to the Sandy Hook Promise Learning Center Getting Started Guide. To learn more about the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System and how to bring it to your district, please contact Blair Freedman at blair.freedman@sandyhookpromise.org.

Download Application

Getting Started Guide

About the Organization

Sandy Hook Promise

Sandy Hook Promise educates and empowers youth and adults to know the signs to prevent violence and school shootings. The nonprofit was founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.

Sandy Hook Promise's Programs

Say Something

The Say Something program empowers students to recognize warning signs of potential harm and report them to trusted adults.

Learn more

SAVE Promise Club

Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) Promise Club is the youth leadership initiative of SHP and aims to empower young leaders to take an active role in increasing school safety and preventing violence in their schools and communities.

Learn more

Anonymous Reporting System

The Say Something ARS allows students in grades
4-12 to share a concern, privately and safely, allowing for intervention and assistance before a crisis occurs.

Learn more

Sandy Hook Promise Learning Center

Johari Family Foundation

The Johari Family Foundation (JFF) is a family foundation located in the Twin Cities. JFF’s mission is to give strategically to causes that may be overlooked by traditional institutions but could provide high social returns on dollars granted.

Download Application