In 2023 there were 1,291 nonfatal and 375 fatal shooting victims in Philadelphia, a more than 20 percent decrease from 2022. But this is by no means a success story. Gun violence remains perhaps the most serious challenge to the lives, health, and well-being of far too many Philadelphians. Over the last several years, the Stoneleigh Foundation has deepened its investment in projects and public dialogues focused on addressing Philadelphia’s gun violence epidemic, and we are proud that our Fellows and grantees have become leaders and innovators in tackling this challenge. What we have learned from them is that the roots of the gun violence problem go much deeper, and its consequences are farther reaching, than some of our current prevention and intervention strategies might seem to indicate.
Our Fellows
We believe that meaningful and effective efforts to address gun violence must integrate a broad array of strategies and stakeholders working collaboratively to accomplish specific and clearly articulated goals.
2025-27 Emerging Leader Fellowship
The Stoneleigh Foundation is seeking unique and well-developed applications from nonprofit, academic, and public sector organizations interested in hosting an Emerging Leader Fellowship project that focuses on the prevention or reduction of gun violence in Philadelphia through the lens of the youth justice, health (including behavioral health), education and/or child welfare systems or that addresses the social-ecological underpinnings contributing to gun violence.
Bridging the Divide: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Philadelphia’s Gun Violence Epidemic
In March 2023, the Stoneleigh Foundation convened city officials, community organizers, representatives from law enforcement and the judiciary, physicians, advocates, researchers, journalists, and funders for a day of candid conversation, civil exchange, and problem-solving around Philadelphia’s gun violence epidemic. The convening featured Stoneleigh’s Fellows, grantees, and partners working on gun violence, who shared diverse perspectives on the root causes of the crisis and how these perspectives impact the ways we choose to prevent, address, and resource the issue. In addition, participants engaged in three problem-solving sessions focused on improving coordination of services and access to data, changing the gun violence narrative from inevitable to preventable, and building community agency and authentic partnerships. The following document provides a summary of the ideas and suggestions generated during those discussions.
Addressing Philadelphia's Gun Violence Epidemic Virtual Convening Series
During fall 2022, the Stoneleigh Foundation hosted an action-oriented virtual convening series featuring expert researchers, practitioners, organizers, and advocates who examined the urgent gun violence epidemic from a wide array of perspectives and explored evidence-based solutions to this crisis.
Virtual Convening 1
Perspectives on Gun Violence: Schools, Police, Community & Public Health
The Stoneleigh Foundation held a panel discussion about the impacts of and solutions to Philadelphia’s gun violence epidemic from an education, law enforcement, public health, and community perspective.
View the recording
Virtual Convening 2
Changing the Narrative on Gun Violence: The Role of Media
The Stoneleigh Foundation held a panel discussion about the importance of changing the narrative in gun violence reporting and the role of news media in reducing trauma, educating the public, and elevating solutions.
View the Recording