SOCIAL JUSTICE 2016 GRANT APPLICATION
CATHEDRAL OF THE SACRED HEART
Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
What is the organization’ s missi ?
Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (VA DP) is a statewide citizens’ organization
dedicated to educating the public about alternatives to the death penalty
Describe the program area for the funds (e.g., children and family, elderly, homeless,
incarcerated, mental health, etc.).
VADP is seeking funds for its general operations to educate the public about capital punishment and
to organize citizens to seek an end to the death penalty in Virginia) VADP works very closely with
the Virginia Catholic Conference in developing educational resources and legislative strategy at the
General Assembly.
Amount Requested from the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart $___2,500
What is the need for this program/project?
Since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the states to reintroduce capital punishment in 1976, Virginia
has executed 110 people - third most in the nation behind only Texas and Oklahoma. Those
sentenced to death are overwhelming the poor, people of color, and those with mental illness.
Only 35% of the 133 political jurisdictions in the Commonwealth have had someone executed.
Three jurisdictions (Prince William, Chesterfield & Virginia Beach) have 23% of Virginia’s
executions. Seven jurisdictions (Prince William, Chesterfield, Virginia Beach, Fairfax, Hampton,
Pittsylvania, & Portsmouth) account for 41% of the state’s executions.
As U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart once wrote, “These death sentences are cruel and
unusual in the same way that being struck by lightning is cruel and unusual. ... the petitioners are
among a capriciously selected random handful upon whom the sentence of death has in fact been
imposed.”
The death penalty is a failed government program that is prohibitively expensive, random &
discriminatory in its application, and ineffective in deterring violent crime. In addition, the
mandatory appeals in capital cases tur killers into media celebrities and ensure that the family
members of murder victims endure years of glaring media attention while the required appeals wind
their way through state and federal court systems.
In The Gospel of Life (1995), Pope John Paul II wrote, “[Punishment] ought not go to the extreme of
executing the offender except in cases of absolute necessity: in other words, when it would not be
possible otherwise to defend society. Today however, as a result of steady improvements in the
organization of the penal system, such cases are very rare, if not practically non-existent.”
Since that time the Vatican as well as the U.S. Bishops have called for an end to executions. On May
6, 2015 the Virginia Bishops wrote, “By ending the use of the death penalty we would take one
important step - among significant others we must take - to abandon the culture of death and
embrace the culture of life.”
Is this a new or on-going program/project?
VADP was formed in 1991 to organize opposition to capital punishment. Since then VA DP has built
a network of citizens across the Commonwealth to work for abolition of the death penalty.
Describe how the proposed program/project will work. How will grant funds be used? What
are the goals and objectives? What makes your program special?
In addition to its legislative advocacy work, VADP has convened regional gatherings of VADP
supporters during the spring in northem Virginia, Charlottesville, Richmond, Norfolk, and Roanoke.
These regional gatherings will take place twice a year - in the spring and fall.
In addition, VADP has been actively reaching out and organizing political conservatives. The recent
abolition of capital punishment in Nebraska with strong Republican support shows how
conservatives are increasingly questioning the effectiveness of the death penalty as a public policy.
VADP is working with the Virginia Catholic Conference, ACLU of Virginia, and the National
Alliance on Mental Illness of Virginia to pass legislation that prohibits the execution of people with
serious mental illness. This is one of many reforms to the state’s capital punishment law
recommended by an American Bar Association panel in 2013.
How will your organization measure the success of this project/program, including, but not
limited to, estimated number of people benefiting or impact on individuals from this
project/program? W hat are the anticipated outcomes?
Since this is not a social service program with clearly defined metrics, it is more difficult to measure
success. However, VADP and its partners got a Republican sponsor for a 2016 House bill to ban the
execution of people with severe mental illness. We fell one vote short of having it pass the House
Criminal Justice Subcommittee, the single most pro-death penalty group in the legislature.
VADP is meeting conservative leaders and collecting their signatures to a statement challenging
capital punishment. Thus far a number of Republicans have signed it - including a former Virginia
Attommey General, a former Richmond area Congressman, a former Executive Director of the
Republican party of Virginia, and other prominent conservatives.
What is the total budget for this program/project? Are there matching funds available?
Have other funds been raised? W hat other organizations, if any, are contributing to this
program/project?
The VADP 2016 calendar year budget has $100,285 in expenses (see attachment). Individual
donations provide the majority of funds for our work. However, a number of churches provide
financial support to VADP. Attached is a list of current, pending, and past church supporters.
Has your organization had an audit or review of your financial statements conducted by an
independent public accounting firm for your most recent fiscal or calendar year? If so,
please provide a copy of it.
The cost of a true audit is prohibitive for an organization as small as VADP. However, we do havea
certified public accountant prepare our IRS Form 990 to ensure some level of outside financial
accountability. A copy of our 2015 Form 990 is attached.
Has this organization been a past grant recipient of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart? If so,
when?
No.
What are the volunteer opportunities for Cathedral parishioners to support this
program/project? Please describe need, including type of volunteer required. Also, is there a
one-time or on-going need for volunteers?
Given the nature of this work, volunteer opportunities are limited. VADP needs people primarily to
become members of its legislative advocacy network and to expand the number of Virginians
opposed to capital punishment. This latter task can be done in a number of ways - organizing public
education sessions, holding “friend-raising” events for VADP, and staffing outreach tables at public
events like the Family Peace Festival or V egetarian Festival.
Is this volunteer opportunity appropriate for youth (check all that apply)?
Oy es, for youth 6th grade and older
Oy es, for youth 10th grade and older
Yes, for college age youth
0 No
Are there any non-monetary goods the Cathedral might provide to support your
organization or clients (e.g., office supplies, toiletries for clients, clothing for clients, etc.)?
Xl yes
Ono
If yes, please describe the non-monetary needs Cathedral of the Sacred Heart might provide.
VADP could utilize printing services since the organization does not have its own copier. Color
copies would be especially helpful for VA DP.
Office supplies would also save costs for the organization - including paper for a laserjet printer and
hanging file folders (letter sized).
First class postage stamps would also be very helpful
REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS
Copy of most recent IRS form 990, excluding attachments — Attachment A
List of Current Trustees, Directors and/or Advisors — Attachment B
Operating Budget — Attachment C
Any Other Supporting Materials, if desired — Attachment D
