Recent alarm concerning youth violence has generated much program planning and development activity. Planners and funders often approach youth violence with weak models of explanation and intervention. The George Gund Foundation, a large private foundation in Cleveland, Ohio, has undertaken a three-year, $1.2 million youth violence prevention initiative. In support of this grants-making process, foundation staff members have developed a conceptual framework that can guide others who also seek to establish or enhance community-based youth violence prevention programs.