What Peace Development Fund does

Peace Development Fund (PDF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public foundation founded in June 1981 in Amherst, Massachusetts by Bob Mazer and Meg Gage. The foundation has distributed over $56.8 million across nearly 2,100 grassroots organizations since inception, focused on peace, social justice, human rights, and environmental protection. PDF operates four grant programs — Seeding the Movement (avg $7,500), Braiding New Worlds (avg $5,000, youth-led), Western Mass Transformation (avg $3,000), and De Colores Rapid Response (up to $1,500) — reviewed via participatory 'Reviewer Circles' of volunteer community organizers. With ~20 employees and a cumulative grantee network spanning the United States, Haiti, and Mexico, PDF serves two complementary customer segments: grassroots organizations (typically with budgets under $250,000) seeking flexible unrestricted funding and administrative infrastructure, and donors/families seeking tax-efficient vehicles and movement-grounded philanthropic advising.

The foundation's product surface extends beyond grants to include Model C fiscal sponsorship (extending PDF's 501(c)(3) status to projects without their own at a 7.5% processing fee plus $250 application and $105 annual program fees), donor-advised funds with a $5,000 minimum and $250 minimum grant, the Peace Legacy Society for planned giving, stock gift processing via Veris Wealth Partners, and the Blue Heart program partnership (added 2026) for pooled donor circles. Technology stack is intentionally modest: a Grant Interface web portal for application management, a donor management system for DAF and contribution administration, and broker-based electronic stock transfer — no AI/ML, APIs, or proprietary digital products are present in the data. Marketing and community engagement run through a multi-channel mix (website, email newsletter, Facebook/Instagram/YouTube, the 'Reframing Philanthropy' webinar series, the Say Your Peace podcast, annual reports back to 2015, Drag Bingo nights at Four Phantoms Brewing in Greenfield MA at $20/person, and the inaugural Grassroots Gala with Truth Awards held in January 2025).

Revenue is donation-led with diversified auxiliary streams. FY '25 total contributions reached approximately $1,208,014 from 1,292 donors across 3,107 gifts; the foundation also generates fiscal sponsorship processing fees, DAF administration fees, and event revenue. FY '25 grants distributed totaled $2.4M (181 organizations across 22 states and 4 countries), down from $2.9M in FY '24 — implying reserves drawdown against prior-year fundraising. Charity Navigator awards a 4-star rating. Customer concentration risk is structurally low on both sides: 1,500+ donors over time and 2,100+ grantees historically, with no individual donor or grantee disclosed as a material share of activity.

Name

Peace Development Fund

Legal name

Peace Development Fund

Website

https://peacedevelopmentfund.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Peace Development Fund is a 501(c)(3) public foundation founded in 1981 in Amherst, Massachusetts, providing community-led grants, donor-advised funds, and fiscal sponsorship to grassroots social justice organizations and their donors across the United States, Haiti, and Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropic Grantmaking Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Philanthropic & Charitable Trust Services (FSAAANAI)

Keywords

• Community-led grantmaking
• Grassroots philanthropy services
• Fiscal sponsorship programs
• Donor-advised fund administration
• Movement building grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Amherst

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals who pool resources through PDF to support grassroots organizations. Includes monthly 'Peace Builder' sustainer program.
2. Donor-Advised Funds: Donors establish DAFs with minimum $5,000 contribution. Staff manages administration and compliance while donors recommend grants. Generates administrative fees.
3. Fiscal Sponsorship Program: Model C fiscal sponsorship extending 501(c)(3) status to sponsored projects. Charges 7.5% processing fee on donations, $250 application fee, and $105 annual program fee.
4. Planned Giving: Bequests, charitable gift annuities, life insurance beneficiaries, and retirement account designations. Donors join 'Peace Legacy Society' through legacy gifts.
5. Stock Gifts: Accepts appreciated stock, bonds, and mutual fund shares. Donors may claim charitable deduction and avoid capital gains taxes.
6. Event Revenue: Drag Bingo events and grassroots galas generate ticket revenue ($20 per person for bingo events) that supports grant programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Peace Development Fund is a public foundation that channels philanthropic resources to grassroots community organizations through four grant programs (Seeding the Movement, Braiding New Worlds, Western Massachusetts Transformation, and De Colores Rapid Response). It also provides Model C fiscal sponsorship extending 501(c)(3) status to emerging projects, donor-advised fund administration with a $5,000 minimum, philanthropic advising, and planned giving services. Grant decisions are made through participatory, community-led processes involving volunteer Reviewer Circles of organizers and movement leaders.

Product overview

Peace Development Fund is a public foundation offering a comprehensive suite of philanthropic services centered around community-led grantmaking. The organization provides four distinct grant programs: the Seeding the Movement Fund (largest national fund), Braiding New Worlds Fund (youth-focused), Western Massachusetts Transformation Fund (regional), and De Colores Rapid Response Fund (urgent needs). Complementary services include Model C Fiscal Sponsorship for grassroots organizations lacking 501(c)(3) status, Donor-Advised Funds with $5,000 minimum, philanthropic advising for strategic giving, planned giving through the Peace Legacy Society, and stock gift processing. All programs are designed to move resources to communities on the frontlines of social justice organizing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Seeding the Movement Fund: PDF's largest grantmaking fund supporting grassroots organizing across a broad range of issues and geographic regions.
• Braiding New Worlds Fund
• Western Massachusetts Transformation Fund
• De Colores Rapid Response Fund

Products and services

• Seeding the Movement Fund PDF's largest grantmaking fund supporting grassroots organizing across a broad range of issues and geographic regions. Provides general operating support with average grants of $7,500.
• Braiding New Worlds Fund Youth-focused fund supporting youth-led and youth-oriented organizations around the country. Average grants of $5,000 with decisions made by youth committee members aged 18-25.
• Western Massachusetts Transformation Fund Community-advised fund supporting grassroots efforts in Hampden, Hampshire, Berkshire, and Franklin counties of Western Massachusetts with average grants of $3,000.
• De Colores Rapid Response Fund Rapid response fund providing flexible grants up to $1,500 for grassroots groups facing urgent social and political crises. Proposals accepted year-round with weekly reviews.
• Fiscal Sponsorship Program Model C fiscal sponsorship that legally extends PDF's 501(c)(3) status to sponsored projects, processing donations and providing technical assistance. Charges 7.5% processing fee plus $250 application fee and $105 annual program fee.
• Donor-Advised Funds Tax-efficient giving vehicle allowing donors to establish funds with $5,000 minimum, recommend grants to nonprofits, and benefit from PDF's grassroots grantmaking expertise. Minimum grant size of $250.
• Philanthropic Advising Partnership with donors, families, and foundations to develop thoughtful giving strategies grounded in relationships with grassroots organizations and emerging movements.
• Peace Builders Sustainer Program Monthly or annual automatic donation program providing reliable foundational support for community partners through automatic contributions of any size.
• Planned Giving / Peace Legacy Society Legacy giving program allowing donors to include PDF in estate plans through bequests, charitable gift annuities, or beneficiary designations. Partnership with FreeWill for online will creation.
• Stock and Appreciated Securities Gifts Donation of appreciated stock, bonds, or mutual fund shares allowing donors to claim charitable deductions at full market value and avoid capital gains taxes.

Quantifiable outcome

• $2.4 Million in grants distributed to 181 organizations in FY '25
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Blue HeartcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Bay Area-based donor community that pools monthly contributions and grants to one grassroots organization each month. Many of Blue Heart's grant recipients are part of PDF's existing network. The partnership will pilot how the two communities can grow together in 2026.
• Veris Wealth PartnersminorOthersWealth management firm serving as PDF's broker for electronic stock transfers. Donors can transfer appreciated securities through Veris to PDF. Contact: Tim Kingsbury.
• FreeWillminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFree online tool for creating or updating wills and making gifts to PDF. Also enables designation of PDF as beneficiary of non-probate assets (IRAs, 401(k)s, life insurance).
• Paul Haible (Land Justice Fund)minorOthersFormer Executive Director (2004-2024) with history of partnering with Indigenous organizing groups. Land Justice Fund established in his honor to recognize his work and continue resourcing land back projects.
• Fiscally Sponsored Projects NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiverse network of 23+ fiscally sponsored projects including: ACT for Women and Girls, American Indian Prison Project Working Group, BIPOC Collective, Black Sex Workers Collective, Brew & Forge, Decarcerate WMass Bailout Project, and others working toward social justice.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Three Jerrys Fund: National grassroots grantmaking fund supporting LGBTQI organizing, including a Trans Justice Funding Collaborative. Direct peer — both fund small-budget LGBTQIA+ and progressive grassroots organizations with community-led decision-making and focus on under-resourced movements.
• Borealis Philanthropy: Resource intermediary that pools donor funds into collaborative funds supporting racial justice, LGBTQ, disability, and immigrant rights movements. Direct peer — both function as grantmaking intermediaries serving progressive social justice movements with pooled donor capital.
• Headwaters Foundation: Montana-based community foundation focused on social justice, particularly Indigenous rights and environmental organizing. Direct peer — both are community-rooted foundations using participatory grantmaking to resource grassroots organizations in specific regions.
• Common Counsel Foundation: Oakland-based public foundation supporting grassroots organizing through pooled funds and participatory grantmaking. Direct peer — ED Allistair Mallillin was previously Director of Strategy there, and both organizations deploy community-led grantmaking models to social justice movements.
• Thousand Currents: Public foundation supporting grassroots-led social change globally through participatory grantmaking and fiscal sponsorship. Direct peer — both serve as fiscal sponsors for grassroots projects lacking 501(c)(3) status and use community-led decision-making models.
• Grassroots International: Boston-based public foundation supporting social justice movements globally with a solidarity philanthropy model. Direct peer — PDF's Donor Organizing Catalyst Sasha Russell-Ciardi previously worked there, and both pool individual donor resources to fund grassroots organizing.
• Chorus Foundation: Family foundation supporting movement-building organizations working on social justice, particularly in communities of color and LGBTQ movements. Direct peer — both provide multi-year general operating support to grassroots groups with values-aligned, participatory approaches.
• Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism: Provides rapid response grants to feminist and LGBTQ+ activists facing urgent security or crisis needs. Direct peer — both operate rapid response grantmaking (PDF's De Colores Fund up to $1,500; UAF similar model) with participatory decision-making and focus on under-resourced movements.

Emerging players

• Blue Heart: Bay Area-based donor community that pools monthly contributions and grants to one grassroots organization per month. Emerging player / new partner — joined PDF as a program partner in 2026, with significant grantee overlap and shared grassroots focus.

Others

• Justice Funders: Bay Area network of philanthropic donors and foundations working to shift resources toward Just Transition. Others / ecosystem partner — multiple PDF staff came from Justice Funders (Kawaoka-Chen, Russell-Ciardi, Mallillin), and both advance solidarity philanthropy and field-building for progressive grantmaking.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_slUduOI-XZ8jaPu-lR7jQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/peacefund
• Instagraminstagram.com/peacedevfund
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/peace-development-fund

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Peace Development Fund