[3] The Matthew Shepard Foundation has online and offline programs designed to raise awareness of anti-violence and promote human dignity for everyone by engaging schools, companies, and individuals in dialogues.

The Matthew Shepard Foundation works with companies, colleges and universities, high schools, community theatres, and religious groups to provide a variety of services including media resources, historical background and context, creative consultation, and assistance with school curriculums related to the play.

[7][8] Matthew’s Place is an online community designed to provide support to teenagers and young adults within sexual orientation and gender identity minorities as well as their allies.

[3][4] The Matthew Shepard Foundation provides resources to help teachers, administrators and support staff make their schools safer places for students.

[3][13][14] Small Bear Big Dreams is a Pre-K – 12th grade educational program started in fall 2007 which is designed to teach the values of respect for all people and acceptance of individual differences.

[18][19][20] After their 21-year-old son, Matthew, was murdered in Wyoming in October 1998, Dennis and Judy Shepard set out to try to ensure people recognize the role hate plays in society, and to advocate for anti-violence efforts.