Sandy Hook Promise is honored to be recognized for our award-winning programs and awareness-building campaigns. We’ve also received solid ratings from charity watch dogs and positive reviews from people like you.
- Charity Ratings and Reviews
- Accreditation
- Community and Leadership Awards
- Public Service Announcement (PSA) Awards
Charity Ratings and Reviews
Great Nonprofits Top-Rated Charity
Sandy Hook Promise has received a five-star rating on Great Nonprofits and is a top-rated charity. Great Nonprofits is a leading charity review website. They said this about the awards: “These are nonprofits which are rated highly by people who experience their work first hand – clients served, volunteers and donors.“
Charity Navigator Rating
Sandy Hook Promise is proud to have received a 100 out of 100 rating from Charity Navigator for finance and accountability. Our financial reports and charity registration are available online.
GuideStar Platinum Rating
Sandy Hook Promise has received a Platinum Seal of Transparency in our latest rating by GuideStar. That means we have made information available to the organization for public review. This includes information about our mission, programs and areas served, as well as our audited financial statements.
Combined Federal Campaign Approved Charity
The mission of the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is to promote and support philanthropy through a program that is employee focused, cost-efficient, and effective in providing all federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all. This approval is a result of an extensive review of our financial and governance practices. The CFC number for Sandy Hook Promise is 23477.
Accreditation
American Association of Suicidology Accredited Crisis Center
The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) is the world’s largest and nation’s oldest membership-based suicide prevention organization. AAS indicates less than 130 agencies in the country have earned their accreditation status as a crisis services provider. This accreditation signifies that individuals who are in crisis are delivered services according to nationally recognized standards.
Community and Leadership Awards
FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award Recipient
In a ceremony at FBI Headquarters, Director Christopher Wray recognized the recipients of the 2018 Director’s Community Leadership Award. These leaders, selected by their area FBI field office, have demonstrated outstanding contributions to their local communities through service. Sandy Hook Promise was among the honorees.
Four Freedoms Award, Roosevelt Institute
The Four Freedoms Awards are presented to men and women whose achievements have demonstrated a commitment to the principles that President Roosevelt proclaimed in his historic speech to Congress on Jan. 6, 1941, as essential to democracy: freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, freedom from fear. Sandy Hook Promise received the 2019 Freedom from Fear award. Learn more.
CAPS/Bully Prevention Center Community Leadership Award
Sandy Hook Promise is proud to have received a Community Leadership Award from the CAPS/Bully Prevention Center. The Long Island nonprofit organization is dedicated to preventing bullying, cyber-bullying, child abuse, and neglect.
Excellence in a Controversial Issue Campaign Award
Women in Advocacy recognized our Vice President of Policy, Lauren Alfred Levin, for “excellence in a controversial issue campaign.” She was honored for the development of the STOP School Violence Act, which provides $1.075 billion over 10 years for school violence prevention under the Department of Justice. Learn more.
25 Women Changing the World
People Magazine recognized our co-founder and CEO, Nicole Hockley, as one of their 25 Women Changing the World for her work preventing gun violence. See the feature.
Public Service Announcement (PSA) Awards
Each year, Sandy Hook Promise partners with BBDO New York and other recognized experts in media, storytelling and PR to produce and distribute a PSA campaign. Shared through broadcast, cable, satellite, and streaming television, as well as radio, print, digital, and outdoor ads, the campaigns reinforce the message to “know the signs” to prevent gun violence. These PSAs have won more than 200 advertising industry awards. MetrixLab research has proven that viewers of these PSAs are more aware that gun violence is preventable and of the signs that can lead to violence. Furthermore, the campaigns provided a halo effect for other gun violence prevention organizations, strengthening the movement overall.
“Just Joking” Campaign – 2023
In September 2023, Sandy Hook Promise partnered with BBDO New York to produce and launch the “Just Joking” PSA to underscore how important it is to take threats of gun violence seriously. The PSA features a lineup of renowned comedians – including Billy Eichner, Wanda Sykes, Margaret Cho, Jay Pharoah, Roy Wood Jr., Caitlin Reilly, David Cross, Iliza Shlesinger, and Rachel Bloom – who shared their wit to deliver a sobering message: Threats are not jokes. If you see a warning sign of violence, always say something. “Just Joking” won a GOLD Andy in the IDEA category at the 2024 Andy Awards that honors global creativity aligned with a brand.
*** This video contains sensitive content related to gun violence that may be upsetting for some viewers. ***
“Teenage Dream” Campaign – 2021
The teenage dream is not what it used to be. In this powerful and gripping PSA from Sandy Hook Promise and BBDO New York, 11 courageous school shooting survivors recite the lyrics to Katy Perry’s song about youth innocence. The context of the original, carefree song hauntingly transforms to cast a sobering light on their traumatic experiences. “Teenage Dream” won the 2022 Emmy Award for Outstanding Commercial by the Academy of Television Arts Sciences. Additionally, it was honored with the 2022 Grand Clio for Good and also picked up multiple prizes at the Cannes Lions Awards 2022 (Entertainment and Film Craft). Read more.
Other awards and nominations include:
- Effie Award Winner
- Webby Award Nomination
- D&AD Awards
- Shots Award (Gold for Casting): The Americas 2022
- 2022 AICP Awards: Shortlist
“The Kids Are Not Alright” Campaign – 2021
Winner of the PR Week Purpose Award for Best Public Awareness, “The Kids Are Not Alright” campaign illustrates the “powder keg” of turmoil threatening the lives and well-being of kids. This series of three short videos reflects the anxiety, isolation, pressure, boredom, and incessant information overload that teenagers are experiencing. It is a national call to action for parents and other caring adults: learn the signs of a child in emotional distress and get help before it’s too late.
“Back-To-School Essentials” Campaign – 2019
After having earned several Emmy nominations for previous PSA campaigns, Sandy Hook Promise, Smuggler Productions, and BBDO New York were honored with the prestigious Emmy Award for Outstanding Commercial of 2019 for “Back-To-School Essentials,” the short film that gives voices to students’ fears that school shootings have become the new normal. The Television Academy of Arts and Sciences selected this PSA over ads by Apple, Amazon, and P&G for the Creative Arts category.
Other awards and nominations include:
“Point of View” Campaign – 2018
‘Point of View’ gives a different perspective on gun violence. The film portrays a typical high school election with a chilling outcome that could have been avoided if people had recognized the warning signs of a potential shooter. Read more.
“Evan” Campaign – 2017
The “Evan” PSA draws attention to the many signs that are often missed when someone may be at risk of hurting themselves or someone else as we follow a student who begins a new relationship at school. The PSA earned more than 150 million views and was shared widely on the Internet. It is now a core component of several Know the Signs and violence prevention training in schools and organizations nationwide.
Awards include:
