SOCIAL JUSTICE 2019 GRANT APPLICATION
CATHEDRAL OF THE SACRED HEART
Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
What is the organization’s mission stat it?
Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (VADP) 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 $___2,000
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 113 people — second most in the nation behind only Texas. 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.
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 turn 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 VADP 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 northern Virginia, Charlottesville, Richmond, Norfolk, and Roanoke.
These regional gatherings will take place twice a year — in the spring and fall.
Funds from Cathedral will help support our grassroots education work in key part of the state.
VADP is organizing four key groups to support death penalty abolition — conservatives, murder
victim family members, those wrongfully convicted of murder in Virginia, and faith leaders. We
plan to issue press releases later this year with the names of those signing group letters supporting
abolition from these four constituencies. These will be released to the media in between the
November state election and start of the 2020 legislative session in mid-January.
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? What are the anticipated outcomes?
Thanks to funding from the Sisters of Bon Secours, VADP hired a full-time Field Director in May
2018. He has worked to identify conservative leaders in eight key legislative districts, identify those
who support death penalty reform and/or abolition, and organize meetings between these local
leaders and their Delegate or Senator to discuss death penalty reform & abolition.
Our Field Director had a VADP display table at the 2018 and 2019 conventions of the Virginia
Federation of Republican Women. He got invitations to speak at five local Republican women’s
clubs about the death penalty and met a Commonwealth’s Attorney and former Lieutenant Governor
who expressed support for our work. He has also given public education programs on the death
penalty to a wide range of Republicans, Libertarians, and Democrats in key areas of the state.
In January 2019 the Virginia Senate approved a bill to exempt people with severe mental illness from
the death penalty with bipartisan support. Our Field Director had organized constituent support for
three key Senators who voted to support the legislation. His work was crucial for this victory, the
first time in history that a Virginia legislative body had voted to limit capital punishment.
The goals for this Field Director in the coming year is to:
= Identify at least 75 more significant religious, civic, and business leaders in our 8 target
legislative districts identified by VADP and its partner organizations.
= Present at least one public education event in each of the eight target districts.
= Recruit at least five local leaders in each of the 8 target districts to contact their legislator and
advocate for legislation to end the death penalty in the 2020 legislative session.
What is the total budget for this program/project? Are there matching funds available?
Have other funds been raised? What other organizations, if any, are contributing to this
program/project?
The VADP 2019 calendar year budget has $152,496 in expenses (see attachment). Individual
donations provided 67% of funds for our work in 2018. However, a number of churches provide
key 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
dent public ac ig 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 have a
certified public accountant prepare our IRS Form 990 each year to ensure some level of outside
financial accountability. A copy of our 2019 Form 990 is attached.
Has this organization been a past grant recipient of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart? If so,
when?
Yes, VADP has received Cathedral grants of $2,000 in 2016; $1,000 in 2017; and $500 in 2018.
What are the volunteer opportunities for Cathedral parishioners to support this
program/project? Please describe need, including type of volunteer required.
vi
or on-going need for ‘8?
0, is there a
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 Vegetarian Festival.
Is this volunteer opportunity appropriate for youth (check all that apply)?
O Yes, for youth 6th grade and older
Oo Yes, for youth 10th grade and older
Yes, for college age youth
Ono
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.)?
Yes
O No
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 VADP.
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
