Becky's Fund

Becky's Fund Freedom from domestic violence. It's our right®

“The future depends on what we do in the present

Our programs include:


*Issue: 1 in 4 women are affected by domestic violence.
~Program: Emergency Services and Support
Through our direct services, we assist survivors with finding an attorney, housing, job placement, and childcare.
*On a monthly basis, we are directly working with about 10 clients, adding up to about 120 families a year.

*Issue: Lack of financial independence is the major r

eason for abused women to remain with their abuser.
~Program: Financial Literacy
Through our Financial Literacy Program, we teach survivors how to achieve financial liberation and independence through coursework on budgeting, retirement, and family planning; supported in 2012 by Northwestern Mutual and TD Bank.
*Last year, we helped about 30 women and this year we look to assist over 40 women and their families.

*Issue: The highest rate of dating violence occurs between 16 to 24 years old.
~Program: National Domestic Violence College Tour
Our National Domestic Violence College Tour, which has reached over 45 campuses nationwide provides educational workshops, teaching male and female college students the warning signs of an abusive relationship and how to help an accountable bystander, and is sponsored by respective colleges, universities and student groups.
*We have reached over 50 schools and over 10,000 students over the past 7 years.

*Issue: 50-80% of teens know a peer in a violent relationship and nearly 80% of physically abused girls in their relationship remain to date their abuser.
~Program: Becoming Your Own Heroine
Through our “Becoming Your Own Heroine” Program, we collaborate with the Girl Scouts and youth organizations to train and educate “tweens” on dating violence, self-defense, and artistic expression; supported in 2010 by McDonalds.
*Over the last 5 years of the program, we have reached over 1,000 young girls.

*Issue: Due to domestic violence being a gendered crime and problem, work must be done with men and boys to teach them how to become allies to women and girls.
~Program: Men of Code
Through our “Men of CODE" program, we are partnering with DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Friendship Collegiate High School to create a new program that engages men and boys to become leaders and allies in the movement to end violence against women. MoC represents Men of Character and Ownership, Dedicated to Leading by Example.
*We will be working with over 400 young men from 2013 - 2015 in this program.

*Issue: Veterans with PTSD are 2-3 times more likely than veterans without PTSD to engage in intimate partner violence.
~Program: Peace at Home
Through our "Peace at Home" program, we partner with mental health professionals, military, and affected military families to address the effects of PTSD on the family unit and provide support to prevent suicide and increased violence to family members.
*We look forward to working with over 25 families during 2013.

06/03/2026

By recognizing coercive control as a form of intimate partner violence, the Supreme Court of Canada has taken an important step toward acknowledging the many ways abuse can manifest in relationships.

In Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia, the Court recognized that abuse is not always physical and can also include patterns of control, intimidation, isolation, manipulation, and coercion that undermine a person’s safety, autonomy, and wellbeing.

Justice Nicholas Kasirer described coercive control as a form of unequal treatment that denies a partner their agency, voice, and personhood.

🙌We commend the Supreme Court of Canada for advancing a more comprehensive understanding of intimate partner violence and strengthening legal protections for survivors.

“The intimate partner is not simply seeking compensation for the physical and psychological bruises that are recognized ...
06/03/2026

“The intimate partner is not simply seeking compensation for the physical and psychological bruises that are recognized by existing torts; in effect, they are alleging ‘I am not just a bruised spouse, I am an unfree spouse’”.
Justice Nicholas Kasirer, Majority opinion in Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia

In the groundbreaking case, Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia, Canada’s Supreme Court has established a new tort for intimate partner violence (IPV) that acknowledges the harmful effects of coercive control.

The court has asserted that patterns of controlling behaviors can be just as damaging as physical violence, expanding the definition of IPV to include coercive control.

As a result, this decision expands legal protections for survivors by allowing survivors to sue coercive abusers and secure the right to “dignity, autonomy, and equality” in their relationships.

✨Please welcome Anna as she joins our efforts in prevention and advocacy this Summer✨👋Hello, I’m Anna Franzino, and I am...
06/02/2026

✨Please welcome Anna as she joins our efforts in prevention and advocacy this Summer✨

👋Hello, I’m Anna Franzino, and I am a rising junior at Colgate University, where I am majoring in Peace & Conflict Studies and minoring in Anthropology and Global Public & Environmental Health. On campus, I work as a Peer Career Advisor in Career Services, volunteer as an EMT, and play for the women’s rugby team.

My interest in advocating for women’s rights and preventing gender-based violence began after reading “Our Bodies, Their Battlefield” by Christina Lamb in a freshman-year course on Global Public Health Ethics, Bioethics, and Religion. The stories of survivors living through conflict and the advocates who rose up to support them inspired me to learn more about the causes of gender-based violence and the efforts being made in prevention and supporting survivors.

I was drawn to Becky’s Fund because of its comprehensive approach to ending violence through both survivor support and prevention education. This summer, I am excited to contribute to the Men of CODE program, working with high school male athletes to promote leadership, empathy, accountability, and allyship. I look forward to learning more about nonprofit management, fundraising, and creating meaningful community impact.

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my dogs, Willie and Charlie, listening to podcasts about true crime, science, and ancient civilizations, and volunteering at the dog shelter where we adopted Willie. I also enjoy drawing, coloring, crocheting, and playing rugby, a sport that has strengthened my communication, teamwork, and leadership skills both on and off the field.

06/01/2026

June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month. 💙

👉To every man struggling in silence, carrying a burden alone, or feeling like you have to be strong all the time: You are not alone.

🫶Your mental health matters. Your feelings matter. Your story matters.

🙌Please remember that you are worthy of happiness, healing, and support. You deserve to live a life free from violence, abuse, fear, and shame.

Seeking help is not a sign of weakness - it is an act of courage and strength.

Let’s continue creating spaces where men and boys feel safe to speak up, ask for help, and support one another.

You don’t have to carry it all by yourself. 💙

🍃We are excited to welcome Anisha to DC and Becky’s Fund🍃Hello, my name is Anisha Kumar. I’m from Los Angeles, Californi...
06/01/2026

🍃We are excited to welcome Anisha to DC and Becky’s Fund🍃

Hello, my name is Anisha Kumar. I’m from Los Angeles, California and am a rising junior at the University of California, Berkeley. I am majoring in Philosophy with double minors in Public Policy and South & Southeast Asian Studies. I am excited to be in Washington D.C. this summer as an intern with Becky’s Fund.

I am passionate about using the law to advocate for vulnerable women as well as help them advocate for themselves after experiencing trauma like assault and violence. During my time with the South Asian Helpline and Referral Agency, I helped women from various backgrounds understand what their rights are and the available options for support. I connected them with referrals, coached them through interviews and phone calls, and helped empower them to advocate for themselves. Through these conversations, I learned how intersectional identities can impact vulnerability to violence and abuse in unique ways.

My interest in supporting women through legal and social services as well as in gender equality led me to Becky’s Fund and their mission to to prevent and end domestic violence. This summer, I’m excited to participate in the solution - teaching young people how to recognize the red flags and build healthy relationships while supporting survivors as they heal from their trauma.

This summer, I hope to strengthen my skills in public speaking, research, data analysis, and trauma-informed care. Through this experience, I aim to continue developing the knowledge and tools necessary to pursue a career in trial law, where I hope to advocate for vulnerable women and amplify their voices in the courtroom. I am passionate about using the law to promote justice, support survivors, and help create meaningful change for those who need it most.

📌Nationally, 40% of high school students report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Nearly 20% have seriousl...
05/28/2026

📌Nationally, 40% of high school students report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Nearly 20% have seriously considered su***de, and almost 10% have attempted it.

🏛️In Washington D.C. 33.8% of high school students reported feeling so sad or hopeless for two or more weeks that they stopped participating in their usual activities.

🔦At the same time, research shows that strong connections, supportive relationships, and engagement in team sports can serve as powerful protective factors against poor mental health and suicidal ideation.

✨This is why programs like Men of CODE matter✨.

Too often, young men are taught to hide their emotions, carry their struggles alone, and wear armor instead of asking for help. Men of CODE creates a space where boys can take that armor off.
A space where they can be vulnerable, ask difficult questions, support one another, and build meaningful connections that go beyond the classroom.

Through honest conversations, mentorship, and community, learn that strength is not about silence—it’s about self-awareness, resilience, empathy, and the courage to reach out when they need help.

By investing in boys today, we are helping build healthier men, stronger communities, and a future where healthy relationships can thrive.

🙌Join us. Men of CODE 2026 starts this June.

05/26/2026

To see coercive control finally be named and recognized by a legal court is incredibly significant.

In the landmark case, Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia, involving allegations of physical, emotional, psychological, and financial abuse throughout a 16-year marriage, the Supreme Court of Canada recognized intimate partner violence as a serious form of harm within civil law.

The Court acknowledged what advocates and survivors have long known: coercive control is often a warning sign and precursor to intimate partner homicide.

The ruling reflects a growing understanding that abuse is not always physical. Patterns of control, intimidation, isolation, manipulation, threats, surveillance, and financial abuse can profoundly impact a person’s safety, autonomy, and wellbeing.

Recognizing coercive control helps expand the public understanding of domestic violence and validates the lived experiences of many survivors whose abuse may not leave visible bruises, but cause deep and lasting harm.




05/21/2026

In her new memoir, ‘This Is Me: A Reckoning,’ Hayden Panettiere bravely shares her courageous story of surviving abuse.

Describing her experience as “brutal, traumatic, and emotional,” Hayden had to manage constant threats, fear, intimidation, and isolation — even being threatened to have only “10 seconds to run” before being hit with a phone.

Hayden’s story is a reminder that abuse can happen to anyone, abuse is never your fault and that help is available.

Thank you, for sharing your truth, reclaiming your story, and helping empower survivors to heal and get the help they deserve.

youareworthyoflove

🍃Please welcome Maggie as she joins our efforts in prevention and advocacy🍃👋Hello, my name is Maggie Slusar. I am from A...
05/20/2026

🍃Please welcome Maggie as she joins our efforts in prevention and advocacy🍃

👋Hello, my name is Maggie Slusar. I am from Annapolis, Maryland and I am studying Politics Philosophy, Economics and Law along with Health Studies at the University of Richmond. I am interested in studying how legal systems and public health frameworks can collaborate to protect vulnerable populations and help them sustain long-term health and well-being.

I am especially interested in the intersection of law, trauma, and public health and how to help provide access to support and services and empower survivors in breaking the cycle of interpersonal violence. Through my studies, I have become increasingly interested in how legal advocacy can serve as a powerful tool to create systemic change and improve access to safety, justice, and support services for survivors.

Throughout my academic career, I have developed an interest in women’s rights and advocacy, public policy and education. I interned at the Anne Arundel County Circuit court where I’ve observed and worked on many criminal cases, including those involving domestic violence. I’ve also been a substitute teacher at a title one school, an experience that strengthened my understanding of the social and structural challenges many children and families face.

This summer, I hope to learn more about trauma-informed advocacy, survivor-centered policy work, and the role nonprofits play in advancing education and prevention efforts. I also hope to strengthen my skills in legal research, communication, public policy analysis, and community outreach, while getting hands-on experience doing intake.

After graduation, I plan to attend law school and pursue a career in trial law, with the goal of advocating for individuals whose voices are too often overlooked within the justice system.

Everyone has mental health💚It’s okay to not be okay.You are not alone.Support is available, and healing is possible.🙌Som...
05/13/2026

Everyone has mental health💚

It’s okay to not be okay.
You are not alone.
Support is available, and healing is possible.

🙌Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is reach out, check in, and remind one another that we do not have to carry everything alone.

💚

Address

2000 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington D.C., DC
20006

Website

http://twitter.com/beckysfund, http://www.change.org/beckysfund, http://apps.facebook.com/ca

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