Peace Development Fund (PDF) was founded in 1981 when a small group of donor activists came together with a shared vision of supporting social justice and peace through a public foundation. From the beginning, PDF was grounded in the belief that lasting change happens when people are informed, engaged, and empowered to shape their communities. We have long believed that meaningful democratic change grows from the bottom up.
Throughout its history, PDF has understood peace not simply as the absence of war or militarism, but as the presence of equitable relationships among people, nations, and the environment. This perspective has guided our commitment to advancing social, environmental, and economic justice.
Over more than four decades, PDF has supported countless grassroots organizations and movements working to build a more just and peaceful world. These partnerships form the foundation on which we continue to build, as we look toward the next chapter of supporting grassroots movements in the United States and beyond.
Timeline
Our Roots
1981
The Peace Development Fund (PDF) was founded in June 1981 in Amherst, Massachusetts, by Bob Mazer and Meg Gage. At the height of Cold War tensions and the nuclear arms race, they recognized a pressing need: a foundation that could resource grassroots peace and disarmament organizing. From the beginning, PDF’s vision was bold and different—rooted in the belief that lasting peace must be built through justice, equity, and community power.
Early Years: Planting the Seeds (1981–1990)
1982
PDF awarded its first cycle of grants—19 grassroots projects, ranging from $500–3,000 each. These early investments supported groups educating the public about nuclear weapons and militarization.
1984
PDF expanded beyond grantmaking with the Exchange Project, which provided hands-on training in fundraising, organizing skills, and dismantling racism. Over nearly two decades, this project reached 1,100 groups and 3,500 activists—planting seeds of capacity that still sustain movements today.
1986
PDF also became home to the archives of The Great Peace March for Global Disarmament (1986), linking our legacy with one of the most visible demonstrations for peace in U.S. history.
Growing in New Directions (1990–2000)
1990s
As peace movements evolved, so did PDF. In the 1990s, we began to offer fiscal sponsorship to support grassroots groups without 501(c)(3) status.
1992–1995
From 1992–1995, PDF partnered with the Center for Economic Conversion and Economic Conversion Development to launch the Conversion Leadership Project—providing more than $600,000 in grants and training to community leaders exploring alternatives to military-dependent economies.
1997–1998
Listening deeply to grassroots movements became central. Our 1997–98 Listening Project invited activists across the country to shape PDF’s strategies for the next generation.
Branching Out (2000–2010)
2000s
PDF’s role as both funder and incubator expanded. Projects like the Community Media Organizing Campaign grew into independent organizations.
2010
PDF merged with the Agape Foundation Fund for Nonviolent Social Change, bringing new networks and strength to a shared mission.
Continuing the Legacy (2011–2020)
2012
Successfully concluded the Building Action for Sustainable Environments (BASE) initiative, a decade-long program that provided over $1 million to support community-led environmental justice work
2015
Launched a focused response to the fallout from the Great Recession and deepened support for women-led peacemaking through the Women Peacemakers Initiative.
2019
Established the De Colores Rapid Response Fund to provide flexible, immediate grants for grassroots groups facing urgent social and political crises.
2020
Provided rapid response grants during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping grassroots organizers adapt to digital landscape
Today (2021–2026)
2021
Celebrated the 40th anniversary of PDF’s work.
2025
Held an inaugural Grassroots Gala, and awarded the Truth awards to leaders in the movement.
2026
Delivered funding through the Resilient Valley coalition, an initiative supporting organizers in Western Massachusetts.
Four decades later, PDF’s role has broadened while staying true to our roots. We continue to:
Provide early-stage, risk-taking support for grassroots groups often overlooked by philanthropy.
Incubate and sponsor organizations through our Fiscal Sponsorship Program.
Expand community-led funding through initiatives such as the Seeding the Movement Fund and new efforts like the Land Justice Fund.
To date, PDF has granted over $56.8 million to nearly 2,100 organizations, while partnering with more than 1,500 donors who share our vision for justice and peace.
Looking Ahead
From anti-nuclear organizing to land justice, from dismantling racism to incubating new grassroots groups, PDF has always been more than a funder. We are a partner, a launchpad, and a movement-builder. Our history is a story of communities shaping peace through justice—and our future continues to be guided by this commitment.
