PLAY for PEACE®
PLAY for PEACE
Stand Behind
A Brave Kid.
Bravery can look different than what we were taught. It can be a calm body. A clear mind. A grounded decision made in alignment with what matters. Play for Peace® builds that capacity in children, in countries where fear has shaped the world they are growing up in.
Stand Behind
A Brave Kid.
Bravery is the integrity of a choice. A calm body. A clear mind. A grounded decision made in alignment with what matters. Play for Peace® builds that capacity in children, in countries where fear has shaped the world they are growing up in.
Back A BRAVE Kid Today!
On September 19, kids around the world walked for peace. Every other day of the year, they walk through uncertainty, conflict and displacement. This winter, fund what they walked for.
What they walked for...
We asked kids one question at the Walk: what are you walking for? Their answers were simple and big. Safe water. A day without fear. Friends who are different from them. A place to laugh.
The kids Play for Peace® serves walk toward those things every day, in their neighborhoods, their homelands and refugee camps. Play is how we help them get there. Before a child can make a brave choice, their body has to believe it's safe to.
That's what play makes possible.
Postcards from Brave Kids
OUR THEORY OF CHANGE
Three inner moves.
One brave kid.
Peace is not something you teach a child. It is what a child chooses when their body is calm, and their mind is clear. Play for Peace builds that capacity, step by step.
Regulation — A Calm Body
A nervous system that has come back from alarm. When the body settles, a child can feel, think, and choose. Cooperative play is how we get there.
Discernment — A Clear Mind
The capacity to see what is actually in front of you. To know how you want to respond not from fear, not from habit, but from honest seeing.
Connection — An Aligned Choice
Acting in a way that honors yourself, others, and the wider world, when and how it is right to do so. Including choosing not to. Both are brave.
OUR THEORY OF CHANGE
Three inner moves.
One brave kid.
Peace is not something you teach a child. It is what a child chooses when their body is calm, and their mind is clear. Play for Peace builds that capacity, step by step.
Regulation — A Calm Body
A nervous system that has come back from alarm. When the body settles, a child can feel, think, and choose. Cooperative play is how we get there.
Discernment — A Clear Mind
The capacity to see what is actually in front of you. To know how you want to respond not from fear, not from habit, but from honest seeing.
Connection — An Aligned Choice
Acting in a way that honors yourself, others, and the wider world, when and how it is right to do so. Including choosing not to. Both are brave.
QUESTIONS
A few things you might want to know.
Is my gift tax-deductible?
Yes! Play for Peace is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and your gift is fully tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Our EIN is 36-4254565. You will receive an official donation receipt via email immediately after your gift is processed. Please keep it for your tax records.
How much gift goes to the program?
The vast majority of every dollar you give goes directly to our programs. Our overhead covers the essentials that make the work possible: stipends for local facilitators, training materials, and the country coordination that keeps our programs running safely and effectively in communities around the world. We believe in being honest with our donors, overhead isn't waste, it's the infrastructure that turns your gift into real, lasting change. You can review our full financials in our annual report at playforpeace.org/financial
Can I give in honor or memory of someone?
Absolutely. During the donation process, you'll have the option to dedicate your gift in honor or in memory of someone special. Once your donation is complete, we'll send a card to them — or to their family — letting them know that a gift has been made in their name. It's a meaningful way to celebrate a life or honor someone who believes in peace.
Can I give stocks, crypto or make a legacy gift?
Yes — we welcome gifts of stock, cryptocurrency, and planned giving. For information on how to make these kinds of gifts, please see more ways to donate below. You may also see playforpeace.org/plannedgiving or reach out to our development team directly via email [email protected].
How do I know my gift is used well?
We take transparency seriously. Our annual report, program updates, and impact stories are published regularly on our website, and we send quarterly impact updates directly to donors so you can see your gift at work. If you ever want to speak with someone personally about where your donation went, email us and we will respond — real people, real answers. Because you deserve to know the difference your generosity is making.
What if I can't give right now but wanted to support the campaign?
Your support matters in more ways than one. Here are four ways to make a difference today, no donation required:
1. Share this page with someone in your network who believes in the power of play and peace.
2. Tag us on Instagram @playforpeaceorg and help us reach new communities.
3. Answer the question "What is your brave?" in the comments of any of our posts — your story is part of this movement.
4. Forward one of our emails to a single person who might care. One conversation can change everything.
Can't give right now? That is okay. Share this page, tag us, or answer the question in your own life: What is your brave?
IMPACT PROOF
What we built this year.
In 2026, Play for Peace® reached:
YOUR GIFT IN ACTION
What does brave cost?
$50
Funds one cooperative play session, giving a group of children the space to regulate, see clearly, and practice making aligned choices together.
$100
Supports one month of a Play for Peace club, including training, materials, and community outreach led by youth facilitators.
$500
Trains and certifies a local youth leader to run Play for Peace sessions independently, creating lasting community capacity for years to come.
Every dollar you give is doubled
Thanks to our match donors, every gift to Back a Brave Kid is matched dollar for dollar, up to $[MATCH AMOUNT], through January 15. Give once and two gifts reach a brave kid.
YOUR GIFT IN ACTION
What does brave cost?
$35
Funds one cooperative play session, giving a group of children the space to regulate, see clearly, and practice making aligned choices together.
$150
Supports one month of a Play for Peace club, including training, materials, and community outreach led by youth facilitators.
$500
Trains and certifies a local youth leader to run Play for Peace sessions independently, creating lasting community capacity for years to come.
YOUR GIFT IN ACTION
Fund what makes
brave possible.
You are not rescuing anyone. You are standing behind children who are already making brave choices every day. Your gift builds the inner capacity that makes those choices possible.
501(c)(3) Nonprofit · EIN 36-4254565
All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of US law.
Secure, encrypted giving
Your payment information is never stored on our servers.
Independently reviewed for transparency
Play for Peace is evaluated by multiple third-party organizations for accountability and ethical practice.
Other ways to back a brave kid
Join us in building peace with compassionate actions.
When we share our heartfelt admiration of others, we shine a light on the
compassion, courage, and strength that can be found all around us.
Share a postcard
Forward our emails or share posts with #BackABraveKid.
Cryptocurrency
You can now support our mission with Cryptocurrency donations!
Donate Stock
Avoid capital gains tax by donating stock automatically (for a small fee). Or connect your financial advisor with [email protected] (no fees).
Pledge A Donation
Legacy giving is an easy way to support Play for Peace’s mission long into the future. Gifts through your will, trust, or as a beneficiary of your retirement account, life insurance, or other assets are easy ways to make an impact now without making an immediate contribution.
Check
Checks payable to Play for Peace can be mailed to our office;
205 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 810, Chicago, IL 60601, USA
Employee Matching
Check & Employee Matching
Checks payable to Play for Peace can be mailed to our office;
205 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 810, Chicago, IL 60601, USA
We Need Brave.
Honoring Craig’s Life and Legacy
Craig’s joy, wisdom, and compassion live on in every circle of play around the world.
You may honor him by supporting the work he devoted his life to.
You may also visit our Memorial Page to reflect on his contributions and legacy.
Honoring Craig’s Life and Legacy
Craig’s joy, wisdom, and compassion live on in every circle of play around the world.
You may honor him by supporting the work he devoted his life to.
You may also visit our Memorial Page to reflect on his contributions and legacy.
Want To Connect With Us?
We’d love to hear from you and explore how we can make a difference together.
Play for Peace® is a registered trademark (EIN: 36-4254565). Copyright 2026. Play for Peace. All Rights Reserved.