Please email adrianf@fnvw.org with any questions.

 

 

FNVW BOARD STATEMENT ON THE FNVW/AVP ORGANIZATIONAL SEPARATION AHEAD OF APRIL 19, 2025, ANNUAL MEETING

 

Dear Friends of FNVW,

 

As we approach our Annual Meeting on April 19, 2025, the Board of Friends for a NonViolent World (FNVW) is unified in its support for the decision to transition the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) Minnesota into an independent organization. We believe this is a pivotal step that is essential for the long-term sustainability and success of both FNVW and AVP.

For over a decade now, FNVW has provided a home for AVP, supporting its vital work in prisons. However, as AVP has grown, its needs, funding structures, target audience, and operational demands have also evolved. After careful evaluation and input from the Quaker Focus Group, the Board has determined that an organizational separation will allow both entities to thrive and better fulfill their respective missions.

 

Why This Split Is Necessary:

1. Ensuring Financial Stability & Growth for Both Organizations

• While acknowledging the importance of individual donations from FNVW constituents, relying on this alone is not sustainable for AVP to effectively deliver on its mission outside the prison setting. AVP is developing and exploring unique funding streams, including individual donations, corporate funding, and government contractsthat require specific administrative structures. Operating as an independent organization will allow AVP to expand its funding opportunities without restrictions tied to FNVW’s existing Quaker-basedmodel.
• FNVW, in turn, will regain the ability to broaden its focus on social action, advocacy, community engagement, and peacebuilding while continuing to support nonviolent initiatives in diverse ways.

2. Clarifying Organizational Identity & Strategic Focus

• The missions of FNVW and AVP are deeply aligned, but their operational goals and programming structures differ.
• By separating, FNVW can fully dedicate itself to its role as a Quaker social action organization promoting peace and justice. Meanwhile, AVP can grow as a specialized, stand-alone nonviolence training program.

3. Human Resource Needs

• The human resources needed to effectively deliver on the missions of FNVW and AVP have been a major challenge over the years and especially now that AVP is expanding into schools and the community.
• We have burnt out and lost dedicated staff, we have had difficulty attracting board members, our volunteers are aging, and individual donations are declining as well as our visibility in the broader community. All of this is happening while there are growing needs and opportunities for our services and our activism.

4. Expanding Community Reach & Program Impact

• AVP’s move into schools and youth-focused programming requires a more flexible structure to engage with education partners, community organizations, and funders.
• Independence will allow AVP to adapt its model for broader application beyond its historical focus on prison-based workshops.

5. Strengthening Governance & Decision-Making

• As AVP has grown, the need for a dedicated governing body has become clear.
• By forming a separate board, AVP leaders will have direct control over program direction, partnerships, and strategic decisions while collaborating with FNVW on shared initiatives.

What Comes Next?

The current board is united in the belief that maintaining the status quo is not a viable path forward. Without intentional and significant change, we face the risk of organizational failure in delivering on our missions. We welcome thoughtful discussion and differing perspectives; however, we respectfully ask that those who do not support the proposed organizational split present a clear and actionable alternative—one they are personally committed to advancing—to ensure the long-term sustainability of our mission.

At the Annual Meeting, we will engage in open discussion and formal decision-making on this transition. This is an important moment for our community, and we invite your questions, reflections, and participation.

We recognize that change can be challenging, but we approach this transition with confidence that both FNVW and AVP will emerge stronger, better positioned to serve their missions, and more sustainable for years to come.

 

We deeply appreciate your continued support and commitment as we take this step forward.

 

With gratitude,

The FNVW Board of Directors

 

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At FNVW, individuals with a passion for nonviolent social change come together to accomplish far more than the sum of what we could achieve alone. Our power lies in collective action. This report is filled with inspiring examples of how FNVW championed nonviolence in 2024 and made a positive impact in people’s lives and in our community.