How can you help the victims of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting?

On February 14, a heavily-armed young man opened fire on students and teachers in his former school in Broward County, Florida. He killed 17 students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, devastating families and an entire community, which is still reeling from this sudden tragedy. Our hearts and thoughts go out to all of those affected.

If you are a donor who seeks to help, consider the following nonprofit organizations in the area.

• Broward Education Foundation: Directly supporting victims and families of the shooting. This fund serves as the official victim fund and is administered in partnership with National Center for Victims of Crime.
• National Compassion Fund (part of National Center for Victims of Crime): Directly supporting the victims by compensating for injuries
• Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry: Offering emotional support dogs to victims
• Jewish Federation of Broward County: Addressing the immediate and long term mental health needs
• NAMI Broward County: Offers support to individuals who are experiencing increased feelings of anxiety, depression or PTSD in the aftermath of this crisis. Does not have a method for giving directly to victims.
• Henderson Behavioral Health: Providing counseling and support to affected individuals and families.

Below are organizations working to stem the ongoing tide of violence and hurt from shootings like the one at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Through advocacy or education, these nonprofits are devoted to making sure that shootings like this do not happen again.

• Arms with Ethics: seeks common ground in safety.
• Everytown for Gun Safety: working together to end gun violence and build safer communities through lobbying and advocacy.
• Newtown Action Alliance: provides comfort, education, scholarship and other support and resources to people and communities impacted by or living in the aftermath of violence in American society, and to help them lead the way toward positive cultural change.

Your philanthropic officer can provide additional recommendations or help you to make a grant.

Photo: Creative Commons / Tony Webster