St. Louis Office of Violence Prevention

What St. Louis Office of Violence Prevention does

The St. Louis Area Violence Prevention Commission (VPC), also referenced as the St. Louis Office of Violence Prevention, is a regional, cross-sector nonprofit collaborative that coordinates policies, support systems, and interventions to reduce violent crime in the St. Louis metro area. It serves individuals and families most at risk of violent crime, youth at high risk for involvement in violence, and residents of high-violence neighborhoods, operating through a coalition of approximately 80 member organizations spanning healthcare, education, law enforcement, social services, government, and community-based groups governed by a Leadership Council that includes SSM Health, Washington University, the St. Louis County Police, and the U.S. Attorney's Office, among others.

VPC's core offering is violence prevention coordination rather than a discrete product. Its principal programs are (1) the Gun Violence Response Network (GVRN), a referral and victim-services network accessed through United Way's 211 infrastructure and delivered via eight channel partners including Crime Victim Center, Life Outside of Violence, SLMPD Victim Advocates, and Behavioral Health Response; (2) the New Opportunities for Wellness (NOW) community healing initiative, launched in 2023 in partnership with the Black Healers Collective and Freedom Community Center to train neighborhood-based healers in trauma-informed care; (3) a Youth Events Grant Program that funds nonprofit-hosted safe events for St. Louis County youth 19 and under at high violence risk (up to $2,500 for first-time recipients, up to $5,000 for returning recipients); and (4) a paid Youth Grant Reviewer Program engaging youth ages 16-25 in application review. VPC also publishes a Racial Equity Toolkit and advances recommendations from regional public safety plans.

VPC is a private nonprofit funded primarily by grants, with no disclosed revenue figure and a small staff of 1-10 employees. It does not sell products or services; downstream grantmaking flows to community organizations, and core funding comes from philanthropic and government partners such as St. Louis Children's Service Fund. As of 2025, VPC has narrowed its Youth Events funding scope to St. Louis County only, having previously funded both the City and County, signaling a deliberate contraction of one program line concurrent with the broader regional expansion of NOW and GVRN.

Name

St. Louis Office of Violence Prevention

Legal name

STL Area Violence Prevention Commission

Website

https://stlareavpc.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The St. Louis Area Violence Prevention Commission (VPC) is a nonprofit cross-sector collaborative that coordinates violence-prevention programs across approximately 80 member organizations in the St. Louis metro area, serving youth and families at high risk of violent crime through the GVRN referral network, the NOW community healing initiative, and Youth Events grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Violence Prevention Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)

Keywords

• Violence prevention services
• Community safety programs
• Public health approach
• Youth intervention services
• Trauma-informed support

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: VPC receives funding from core funding partners to support evidence-based violence prevention programs. Funding includes Youth Pop Up Grants for community events (up to $2,500 for first-time recipients, up to $5,000 for returning recipients) and is supported by organizations such as St. Louis Children's Service Fund.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The St. Louis Area Violence Prevention Commission (VPC) is a regional, cross-sector collaboration that reduces violent crime by coordinating policies, support systems, and interventions among area governments, institutions, and agencies serving individuals and families most at risk of violent crime. Its deliverables are community-level violence prevention programs, including the New Opportunities for Wellness (NOW) community healing initiative, the Gun Violence Response Network (GVRN) accessed via 211, the Youth Events Grant Program, the Youth Grant Reviewer Program, and a Racial Equity Toolkit for member organizations.

Product overview

The St. Louis Area Violence Prevention Commission is a regional, cross-sector collaborative partnership that does not operate as a traditional product company. Its core offering is violence prevention coordination services, comprising multiple interconnected programs: the New Opportunities for Wellness (NOW) community healing initiative, the Gun Violence Response Network (GVRN) victim services hotline, and the Youth Events grant program. These programs work together to address gun violence through community-level response coordination, evidence-based prevention programs, and direct services to individuals and families most at risk. Additional offerings include a Racial Equity Toolkit for member organizations and a Youth Grant Reviewer program that engages young people in funding decisions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NOW (New Opportunities for Wellness): Community healing initiative for neighborhoods that have experienced high rates of violence, partnering with Black Healers Collective and Freedom Community Center to train community healers on wellness and healing techniques
• Gun Violence Response Network (GVRN)

Products and services

• New Opportunities for Wellness (NOW) Community healing initiative for neighborhoods that have experienced high rates of violence. Recruits and trains community healers on wellness and healing techniques to help residents recover from trauma and respond to neighbors' needs. Delivered in partnership with Black Healers Collective and Freedom Community Center.
• Gun Violence Response Network (GVRN) Victim services network accessed by dialing 211, entering zip code (or pressing 4), then pressing 6 to reach a navigator. Provides counseling, help with MO Crime Victims' Compensation applications, and connections to police, courts, or corrections. Services delivered through partners including United Way 211, Crime Victim Center, Life Outside of Violence, SLMPD Victim Advocates, St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Victim Services, Employment Connection, Behavioral Health Response, and Places for People.
• Youth Events Grant Program Funding program for nonprofit organizations to host safe youth events targeting St. Louis County youth ages 19 and under who are at high risk for involvement in violence. Two funding tiers: up to $2,500 for first-time recipients and up to $5,000 for returning recipients with approved past performance. Rolling deadline on the 7th of each month.
• Youth Grant Reviewer Program Paid program that engages St. Louis County youth ages 16-25 to participate in reviewing youth grant applications. Youth reviewers are compensated via Zelle, digital gift card, or physical gift card.
• Racial Equity Toolkit Resource compilation for member organizations that includes the Path to Racial Equity Worksheet, Racial Equity 6-Month Foundation, Advancing Positive Change toolkit, and Regional Equity Indicators Dashboard. Supports the organization's racial equity focus and committee work.

Quantifiable outcome

• Increased number of individuals affected by gun violence who access services through coordinated community-level response
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Black Healers CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity healing partnership supporting the New Opportunities for Wellness (NOW) initiative. Black Healers Collective provides video content and expertise on community healers, contributing to the training of community healers on wellness and healing techniques for neighborhoods experiencing high violence.
• Freedom Community CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in the New Opportunities for Wellness (NOW) community healing initiative. Works with VPC to recruit and train community healers on wellness and healing techniques to help neighborhoods recover from trauma and violence.
• United Way 211coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary access point for the Gun Violence Response Network (GVRN). Individuals dial 211, enter zip code or press 4, then press 6 to reach a navigator for gun violence referrals. United Way provides the 211 infrastructure for service access.
• Crime Victim CentercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGVRN partner that receives referrals from navigators and provides follow-up services and additional help to individuals affected by gun violence.
• Life Outside of ViolencecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGVRN partner organization providing violence prevention and intervention services as part of the gun violence response network.
• SLMPD Victim AdvocatescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGVRN partner providing victim advocacy services and connections to law enforcement support for individuals affected by gun violence.
• St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Victim ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGVRN partner providing victim services and court-related support for individuals affected by gun violence.
• Employment ConnectioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGVRN partner providing employment assistance and workforce development services to individuals affected by gun violence.
• Behavioral Health ResponsecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGVRN partner providing mental health and behavioral health services as part of the comprehensive response network.
• Places for PeoplecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGVRN partner providing comprehensive services to individuals with serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders, integrated into the gun violence response network.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern MOminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a partner organization doing direct work with kids and families affected by violence, providing mentorship and youth development services.
• Mission St. LouisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity partner organization working directly with families impacted by violence, providing youth and family support services.
• St. Louis Public Schools FoundationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEducation-focused partner supporting violence prevention programming in schools through the VPC network.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/stlareavpc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC--ABjUriKX8AEc7Si2rwvQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/STLAreaVPC
• Instagraminstagram.com/stlvpc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 St. Louis Office of Violence Prevention