If you are in danger due to domestic violence, dial 911
About the Program
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program?
- Why is the Allstate Foundation taking leadership on the issue of domestic violence?
- What are the key components of The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program?
- How large is the financial commitment that The Allstate Foundation is making to the Domestic Violence Program?
- Who is eligible to receive funding from The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program?
- What is the Financial Empowerment Curriculum?
- What is the Education and Job Training Assistance Fund?
- What is The Allstate Foundation Annual National Poll on Domestic Violence?
- What is The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program Advisory Board?
- How is The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program different from other domestic violence programs?
- Who can I contact for more information about The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program?
- What is The Allstate Foundation?
- What is the National Network to End Domestic Violence Fund?
1. What is The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program?
Domestic violence is a pervasive, often overlooked social crisis that will affect one out of every four adult women at least once in her lifetime.1 In response to this problem, The Allstate Foundation developed a program to address the barrier domestic violence poses to the safety and financial security of victims and their families.
The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program provides comprehensive programming and resources to energize, empower and equip domestic violence survivors with the resources, knowledge and skills they need to achieve economic empowerment.
The Allstate Foundation is working in partnership with the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) Fund to reach survivors and advocates across the country. NNEDV and its membership of domestic violence coalitions assist The Allstate Foundation in effecting social change, while providing valuable grassroots support to local service providers.
Studies from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Institute of Justice, and Centers for Disease Control studies all conclude that victims of intimate partner violence are overwhelmingly female. A 2005 study reports that women comprise 84 percent of spousal abuse victims and 86 percent of victims of abuse by a boyfriend or girlfriend. In terms of victimization, intimate partner violence against men is overwhelming committed by male perpetrators.
2. Why is the Allstate Foundation taking leadership on the issue of domestic violence?
The Allstate Foundation is committed to helping all members of society feel better protected today and better prepared for the future, by lending support to communities throughout the United States. With more than 1.35 million American women and their children accessing domestic violence services each year,2 The Allstate Foundation believes that targeting resources to end domestic violence will effect the real, long-term social change that is crucial to building healthy, strong communities.
Experts agree that there is a significant gap in resources for programs designed to assist survivors with the many economic challenges that they face. No other corporation is working with domestic violence survivors and advocates to address these economic hurdles on a national level. As the corporate foundation of a financial services company, The Allstate Foundation has unique expertise and resources to provide economic empowerment options to survivors of domestic violence. The Domestic Violence Program provides knowledge and skills – particularly those related to financial security and economic independence – to help survivors connect to resources that will help them live safer and more financially secure lives.
3. What are the key components of The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program?
Through The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program, The Allstate Foundation serves as a leader on the important issue of domestic violence, and a catalyst for social change within our communities. The Program provides a holistic network of economic and personal empowerment services and support to energize and equip domestic violence survivors and their advocates. Through its partnership with the NNEDV Fund and its network of state coalitions, The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program focuses on enabling domestic violence survivors to transition to more stable and financially secure lives. The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program accomplishes this through:
- Direct services: Providing programming and funding support through a financial empowerment curriculum and training materials; community volunteerism by Allstate employees, agents and agency staff; and a grant program that allows service providers to address the complex, broad and often immediate range of survivors’ needs.
- Thought leadership: Supporting domestic violence advocates and service providers through national conferences, other events and research.
- Public awareness: Creating a national effort to raise public awareness and change societal attitudes about domestic violence.
4. How large is the financial commitment that The Allstate Foundation is making to the Domestic Violence Program?
Through The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program, The Allstate Foundation has established a multi-year, multi-million dollar commitment to address domestic violence issues. Since the program’s inception in spring 2005, The Allstate Foundation has awarded over $2.6 million to domestic violence organizations.
- The Allstate Foundation has provided the NNEDV Fund with three $400,000 grants to support the program and economic empowerment initiatives throughout the movement.
- At its First Annual National Economic Empowerment Conference in September 2005, The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program awarded five $50,000 grants ($250,000 total) to domestic violence coalitions collaborating with local programs to support the immediate and long term economic needs of domestic violence survivors.
- In honor of Allstate’s 75th anniversary, the corporation awarded $210,000 in grants to domestic violence organizations across the country.
- In July 2006, The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program launched $400,000 in grants to domestic violence survivors. The EJTA Fund, administered by NNEDV, helps survivors of domestic violence gain access to the job training and education that will move them toward more secure financial futures.
- The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program awarded $25,000 to the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence in December 2005 to provide seed money for an Economic Empowerment Program.
- At its Second Annual Economic Empowerment Conference in September 2006, the Program awarded 10 grants totaling $500,000 to state domestic violence coalitions for programs and services supporting the economic empowerment of domestic violence survivors.
- Numerous regional Allstate offices are also financially supporting domestic violence programs operating in their home communities.
- The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program awarded the Decade for Change grants in 2006 and 2007, totaling $300,000. The goal of the Decade for Change is to measurably reduce domestic violence by the year 2016 and support public awareness initiatives of the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH).
In addition to grants, Domestic Violence Program funding has been used for a variety of other program activities, including conducting a national poll; developing a financial empowerment curriculum; holding events for national and local domestic violence leaders; and hosting annual Economic Empowerment Conferences for domestic violence advocates, direct service providers and policymakers from across the country.
5. Who is eligible to receive funding from The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program?
The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program continually evaluates ways it can provide support to the domestic violence community. It currently offers funding to national, state and local organizations. To date, funding has been provided to partner organizations, state domestic violence coalitions and local domestic violence service providers who partner with coalitions to provide economic empowerment services to survivors of domestic violence. Local funding is provided through The Allstate Foundation in Allstate’s 13 regional offices and Allstate New Jersey. As new funding opportunities become available, The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program will announce the criteria and priorities for these grants.
6. What is the Financial Empowerment Curriculum?
A key component of The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program is its Financial Empowerment Curriculum – a comprehensive package of financial tools and information designed to (1) empower victims of domestic violence to achieve economic self-sufficiency, and (2) educate and train advocates and Allstate volunteers to work with domestic violence victims as they move forward on the path to financial security. The curriculum includes the following components:
- Approaches for locating and effectively accessing local, state and national personal safety and financial resources;
- Information on how to protect personal and financial safety while remaining in an abusive relationship and after leaving an abusive relationship;
- Strategies for dealing with the misuse of financial records;
- Strategies for addressing the complex financial and safety challenges of ending a relationship with an abusive partner;
- Strategies for working through the financial and safety challenges of identity change;
- Tools to help people of all incomes and earning power work toward long-term economic empowerment.
In addition, Allstate personal financial representatives partner with domestic violence coalitions to train local domestic violence service providers to use the curriculum. A five state three-month pilot of the Financial Empowerment Curriculum concluded in April 2007.
7. What is the Education and Job Training Assistance Fund?
The Education and Job Training Assistance (EJTA) Fund assists domestic violence survivors in overcoming financial obstacles by helping them access education and job training opportunities. It provides individual grants of up to $1,000 each to survivors to help with the costs of tuition, school supplies, books, public transportation and other expenses that allow them to finish school, secure and keep a job, and support their families.
The EJTA Fund supports career-advancement activities such as professional licenses, workforce tools and additional job training. Domestic violence service providers may apply for grants on behalf of survivors.
The Allstate Foundation has contributed $400,000 to the fund since its launch in June of 2006.
8. What is The Allstate Foundation Annual National Poll on Domestic Violence?3
The Annual National Poll on Domestic Violence is conducted to gauge public awareness of domestic violence, to reveal how Americans view the issue, and to determine the resources and tools needed to best assist in economically empowering victims.
The 2005 Allstate Foundation National Poll on Domestic Violence demonstrates the pervasiveness of domestic violence in the United States.
- Nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of respondents personally know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence.
- Eight out of 10 respondents strongly agreed that domestic violence has a deep and lasting impact on individuals, families, communities and society as a whole.
- 83 percent of respondents strongly agreed that domestic violence affects people in all racial, ethnic, educational, social and economic backgrounds.
The 2005 National Poll on Domestic Violence also demonstrates the need for economic empowerment programming for survivors of domestic violence.
- Approximately six out of 10 respondents strongly agree that the lack of money and a steady income is often a challenge faced by a survivor of domestic violence when leaving her/his abuser.
- More than a quarter (28 percent) of respondents thought that finding access to money or income to support the victim and/or children was the most difficult problem faced by someone leaving an abusive situation, ranking second only to fear that the abuser would find the victim.
- The majority of respondents reported that programs to help with financial challenges would be very valuable to domestic violence victims.
- Three-quarters (75 percent) thought emergency funds would be very valuable.
- Two-thirds (67 percent) thought education and job training would be very valuable.
- More than half (54 percent) thought training to help with financial challenges would be very valuable.
The Allstate Foundation conducted the 2005 National Poll on Domestic Violence in December 2005 and January 2006. More than 1,000 men and women of all races, ethnicities, incomes and education levels participated in the poll. Responses closely mirrored the ethnic breakdown of the current U.S. population – 16 percent African-American, 14 percent Hispanic and 6 percent Asian.
9. What is The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program Advisory Board?
A National Advisory Board provides The Allstate Foundation with strategic oversight for The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program, including grant priorities, volunteerism, the financial empowerment curriculum and training, public policy and public awareness. Advisory Board members were drawn from the domestic violence service provider arena, community and civic leadership, academia, and within Allstate. The following Board members have a broad cross-section of expertise to ensure that the program meets the needs of service providers and domestic violence survivors from all walks of life:
10. How is The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program different from other domestic violence programs?
The Allstate Foundation has great respect for the many outstanding advocates, political, business and philanthropic leaders who have worked so hard to support and improve the lives of survivors of domestic violence. The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program provides comprehensive programming and resources. It is unique in its focus on the financial issues faced by survivors of domestic violence.
11. Who can I contact for more information about The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program?
For more information about the program, contact:
The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program
Jennifer Duda, Senior Communications Consultant
Phone: (847) 402-7805
Email: Jennifer.Duda@allstate.com
If you are in danger due to domestic violence, please call 911. In addition, the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-SAFE (7233) provides crisis intervention, safety planning, information and referrals for victims and anyone calling on their behalf from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Language translation services are available.
12. What is The Allstate Foundation?
Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation. Allstate and The Allstate Foundation sponsor community initiatives to promote “safe and vital communities”; “tolerance, inclusion, and diversity”; and “economic empowerment.” The Allstate Foundation believes in the financial potential of every individual and in helping America's families achieve their American dream. For additional information, visit http://www.allstate.com/citizenship/Allstate-foundation.aspx.
13. What is the National Network to End Domestic Violence Fund?
The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) Fund is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt social change organization representing state domestic violence coalitions. The NNEDV Fund is dedicated to creating a social, political, and economic environment in which violence against women no longer exists. The NNEDV Fund accomplishes these goals through capacity building for coalitions, public education, training, and technical assistance to maintain and develop the professional expertise of advocates. The NNEDV Fund strives to strengthen advocates as organizers and activists in the tradition of social change movements. For additional information, visit www.nnedv.org.
1The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Justice; U.S. Department of Justice – Extent, Nature, and Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence; July 2000
2National Network to End Domestic Violence; Communities Across the Nation, Lack of Funding for Services for Abused Women and Children; 2004
3Murphy Marketing Research, The Allstate Foundation National Poll on Domestic Violence, June 2006.
