READ.

Our 2024 Impact Report is a powerful testament to our relentless work in preventing firearm injuries, deaths, and trauma. Dive into our transformative strategies and the collective impact we’ve achieved together.

Firearm violence is a complex public health issue that requires a massive collaborative approach. Hope and Heal Fund is a way to come together as a powerful force to stop an epidemic in our state.

Deanna Gomby, former President & CEO, Heising-Simons Foundation

We Take A Public Health Approach To
The Prevention Of Firearm Violence In California

The mission of the Hope and Heal Fund is to harness the collective power of individuals, communities, corporate leaders, government, and philanthropy to ensure homes and communities are safe and free from death, injury, and trauma due to firearm violence.

Our Vision And Values

Our Vision

SAFE HOMES AND SAFE COMMUNITIES

With firearm violence and self-harm claiming over 400,00 lives nationally and over 32,000 in California in the past decade, there is a vital need for a collaborative and comprehensive approach to keep our homes and communities safe from firearm harm.

Our Values

HOPE Harm from firearms is not an intractable problem; it is preventable.

HEALING Help communities heal the wounds and trauma from firearm violence by taking action together.

PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH This issue must be addressed holistically and intersectionally rather than just reacting to isolated shootings.

EQUITY Equity-based solutions are essential as firearm harm adversely affects communities of color.

INNOVATION We must innovate, as solutions exist beyond policy.

MAXIMIZE IMPACT We must invest in innovative system change efforts that garner greater gains and impact.

TRUST Local leaders can and do provide the best solutions for their communities.

LEADERSHIP Leverage our investments for collective action to create opportunities for change.

Our Story

Hope and Heal Fund was Created to Address a Need

Hope and Heal Fund is a California-based organization advancing innovative solutions to reduce harm and trauma due to violence and suicide, with a key focus on the most lethal means of harm—firearms. Started in 2016 by philanthropic and public health leaders, Hope and Heal Fund was created to provide an innovative, integrative, equitable, and public health approach to an issue that, for decades, has lacked this much-needed focus.

Since its inception, Hope and Heal Fund has been supported by over 20 foundations and over 50 individual donors. We have raised over $10 million to support impacted communities and push government systems to respond holistically to firearm harm, all with an equity lens.

Led By Executive Director Brian Malte

Brian Malte is a nationally recognized leader in the gun violence prevention movement. Over the course of his 30-year career, Brian has led community-based movements as well as national and state policy efforts.

Brian started his career as a successful community and state organizer building local capacity, and he served as the National Policy Director and National Outreach Director for Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. At Hope and Heal Fund, Brian now spearheads the philanthropic movement to increase support to local violence prevention organizations and to address the causes and drivers of firearm harm.

Brian became one of the country’s most familiar spokesmen for the burgeoning gun violence prevention movement. He has been a featured speaker at many state and national conferences and routinely provides expert analysis to news outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, NPR and Mother Jones.

Read Hope and Heal's Blog

Our Team

Brian Malte Image

Brian Malte

Executive Director Read Bio
Mary Kopp Image

Mary Kopp

Senior Managing Officer, Operations Read Bio
Refujio “Cuco” Rodriguez Image

Refujio “Cuco” Rodriguez

Chief Strategist & Equity Officer Read Bio
Saul Serrano Image

Saul Serrano

Program Officer Read Bio

Our Steering Committee

Matt Cervantes Image

Matt Cervantes

Managing Director, Healthy Youth Development Sierra Health Foundation
Lynn Deguzman Image

Lynn Deguzman

Regional Director, Strategy & Programs Kaiser Permanente Northern California
Tyler Jackson Image

Tyler Jackson

Deputy Director, Impact Capital Low Income Investment Fund
Jodi Ravel Image

Jodi Ravel

Program Officer CARESTAR Foundation
Jamie Schenker Image

Jamie Schenker

Program Director The California Wellness Foundation
Steve Sposato Image

Steve Sposato

Technology Consultant
Richard Thomason Image

Richard Thomason

Director of Policy Blue Shield of California Foundation