About the Program

  Overview

Domestic violence poses a threat to the safety and security of victims and their families across the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 25 percent of women report being abused by husbands or partners during their lifetimes.

Experts report that economic control is commonly used by abusers to prevent their victims from leaving abusive situations. Abusers often block access to money and/or other financial resources. Victims of domestic violence need targeted tools and strategies to help them deal with their financial struggles and plan for safe, secure futures. However, there is a significant gap in resources for programs designed to assist survivors with the multi-faceted economic challenges that they face.

To address this problem, The Allstate Foundation launched a comprehensive initiative in partnership with the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) Fund to provide support to victims of domestic violence. The program focuses on providing knowledge and skills—particularly those related to financial security and economic empowerment—to support survivors of domestic violence.

Through the Domestic Violence Program, The Allstate Foundation is committed to targeting long-term resources to ending domestic violence. The program will provide a comprehensive network of services for domestic violence survivors and advocates, including:

• 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. The Education and Job Training Assistance Fund provides grants directly to domestic violence survivors, helping them access education and job training opportunities.Since its inception in March 2005, The Allstate Foundation has given more than $2.6 million in grants to domestic violence organizations across the country.
• Thought leadership: Supporting domestic violence advocates and service providers through national conferences and other events and research, such as The Allstate Foundation National Poll on Domestic Violence, which revealed that approximately six out of 10 respondents strongly agree that the lack of money and a steady income is often a challenge faced by survivors of domestic violence when leaving their abusers. The program also hosts an annual Economic Empowerment Conference for advocates to share best practices, research and promote economic advocacy.
• Public awareness: Creating a national effort to raise awareness and change societal attitudes about domestic violence. The campaign includes media outreach, online initiatives and grassroots involvement.