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Our Why & Inspiration
What is the true cost of life taken by racial violence?
Immeasurable.
It is the hollow space at dinner tables. The missing laughter in living rooms. The dreams that will never be realized. The grief families carry long after public attention fades.
When a life is taken by racial violence, the impact does not end in one moment. It ripples across families, communities, and generations with profound and lasting consequences.
Standing in the Gap Fund (SITGF) is building a national infrastructure of care, healing, public education, and long-term repair for families and communities impacted by racial violence.
Through family support, coalition-building, cultural partnerships, and community engagement, the Fund works to ensure families are met with resources, visibility, accountability, and sustained support — not isolation.
Standing in the Gap was formally launched at Art Basel in 2024, shortly after the conviction of Susan Lorincz in the killing of Ajike “AJ” Owens, a Black mother of four from Ocala, Florida. Ajike’s story and her family’s experience helped illuminate a painful reality: families impacted by racial violence are often left to navigate grief, public scrutiny, legal proceedings, financial instability, and the long pursuit of justice without the support systems they need.
What began as an immediate act of care has evolved into a broader national initiative focused on strengthening infrastructure for healing, collective care, public understanding, and long-term systems-change.
Support Standing in the Gap Fund to help provide healing-centered resources, coalition support, public education, and long-term investment in families, organizers, and communities impacted by racial violence.
Every contribution helps build a lasting infrastructure of care, accountability, healing, and repair.
How We Stand in the Gap
Our Connected Areas of Work
Our work moves through three connected areas — meeting families in crisis, changing how the public understands racial violence, and building the collective power to create lasting change.
Family & Community Support
Providing rapid-response support, healing-centered resources, chaplaincy and spiritual care, communications guidance, and long-term support so families and communities are not left alone after the headlines fade.
Public Education & Narrative Change
Using storytelling, screenings, public conversations, media, and educational resources to deepen understanding of racial violence, Stand Your Ground laws, gun safety, accountability, and justice.
Cultural & Coalition Power
Connecting families, organizers, funders, advocates, artists, and community leaders to preserve cultural memory, share resources, and act together.
make a one time donation
Your one time donation makes a big impact on the future of our goals.
become a sustaining donor
Your regular contributions help us respond swiftly and effectively to crises.
more ways to give
Looking for additional ways to give? We’ve got your covered. Click the ‘DONATE TODAY’ button for more information on how to give.
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The Altar Call
The Standing in the Gap Fund was created in memory of Ajike “AJ” Owens, with her family being the first recipient of its support. By donating to this fund today, you are providing resources to other families directly impacted by racial violence and supporting those organizing against racial terror and race-based violence. You can set up a one-time or recurring donations through our website, by mail, or by wire transfer and become a crucial part of our mission.
The Standing in the Gap Fund is a field of interest fund established through the Greater Washington Community Foundation. All donations are tax-deductible.
“Benevolent societies not only provide financial support and a sense of community, they are a living testament to the cultures, traditions and ceremony that originated with their African ancestors.”
Black Men of Labor, New Orleans