PolarisProject
Polaris Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 that combats human trafficking and modern-day slavery by operating the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline, maintaining the largest known dataset on trafficking in North America, delivering direct victim services in Washington, D.C. and Newark, and driving systems-level policy advocacy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What PolarisProject does
Polaris Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2002 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., with an additional direct service program in Newark, NJ. The organization combats human trafficking and modern-day slavery in the United States and globally through four interlocking functions: operating the 24/7 National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888) serving victims in more than 200 languages, building the largest known dataset on human trafficking in North America to inform evidence-based interventions, delivering direct victim service programs in Washington and Newark, and driving systems-level policy advocacy. Its core products include the National Human Trafficking Hotline, the Global Modern Slavery Directory (a public database of 770+ organizations across 200+ countries), the National Survivor Study (survivor-partnered research), the Nonechka survey tool for immigrant agricultural workers, free online Human Trafficking 101 training, and survivor support programs such as the Polaris Resilience Fund and the Freedom Circle major donor program.
The organization's revenue model is multi-stream and donation-based, with no fees charged to survivors or service recipients. Funding comes from individual donations (including the North Star Guide recurring giving program and Freedom Circle at the $10,000+ tier), corporate partnerships and sponsorships (Delta Air Lines, Wyndham Hotel Group, Marriott International), foundation grants (including a $350,000 grant from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation in December 2023), federal and state government grants supporting hotline and victim services, and loyalty points/miles conversion programs through travel industry partners. Underlying technology consists of proprietary data collection and case management systems that power the hotline and generate the organization's intelligence assets, with a public-facing searchable database for the Global Modern Slavery Directory.
Polaris Project serves trafficking victims and survivors as its primary constituency, alongside government and law enforcement agencies, corporations addressing supply chain and workforce risk, community advocates, and individual donors. The organization holds the Candid Platinum Transparency Seal (2025), a Charity Navigator 3-star rating, and is governed by an independent board under CEO Catherine Chen. Its competitive positioning rests on the combination of hotline scale, dataset depth, brand recognition anchored to the North Star narrative, and an extensive multi-stakeholder ecosystem spanning corporate, government, and nonprofit coalition partners.
PolarisProject firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PolarisProject
- Legal name
- Polaris
- Website
- https://polarisproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Polaris Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 that combats human trafficking and modern-day slavery by operating the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline, maintaining the largest known dataset on trafficking in North America, delivering direct victim services in Washington, D.C. and Newark, and driving systems-level policy advocacy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PolarisProject industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Anti-Human Trafficking and Victim Support Services
- NAICS
- Individual and Family Services (6241), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Anti-Trafficking, Smuggling Prevention & Safe Migration Services (BPADAHAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH), Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI)
Keywords
Where PolarisProject is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
PolarisProject business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: PolarisProject accepts donations from individual supporters through their website, mail, and donor-advised funds.
- Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Corporate partners including Delta Air Lines, Wyndham Hotel Group, and Marriott International provide financial contributions, loyalty points donations, and programmatic support.
- Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations supporting anti-trafficking initiatives and survivor services.
- Government Grants: Federal and state government grants supporting hotline operations and victim service programs.
- Loyalty Points and Miles Programs: Partnership programs allowing donors to convert loyalty points and airline miles into financial contributions, including corporate partner programs.
- Freedom Circle Program: Specialized giving program at higher contribution levels, offering donors enhanced engagement opportunities.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
PolarisProject product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PolarisProject is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that combats human trafficking and modern-day slavery by operating the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline, providing direct victim/survivor services in Washington, D.C. and Newark, NJ, conducting survivor-partnered research, delivering training and public awareness programs, and advancing systemic policy change. Its core deliverables include 24/7 multilingual crisis intervention, case management, and a data-driven intelligence function that has built the largest known dataset on human trafficking in North America.
Product overview
Polaris operates as a nonprofit organization (not a technology product company) offering a portfolio of services focused on combating human trafficking. The core offerings include the National Human Trafficking Hotline (a 24/7 crisis line), the Global Modern Slavery Directory (a searchable database of anti-trafficking organizations), the National Survivor Study (survivor-partnered research), and Human Trafficking 101 (free online training). Supporting programs include the North Star Guide monthly giving program and Freedom Circle major donor initiative. Polaris also operates direct victim service programs in Washington, D.C. and Newark, New Jersey. The organization was founded in 2002 and uses a survivor-centered, data-informed approach to disrupt human trafficking networks.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 72,000 individuals trained through education and awareness programs
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use PolarisProject
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
PolarisProject technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
PolarisProject partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Mexico's Government and ConsulatescoreFormalized government partnership in 2022 to coordinate cross-border efforts to protect potential victims and support survivors.
- Delta Air LinesflagshipCorporate partnership since 2017 with $1 million contribution to support anti-trafficking initiatives. Partnership includes the SkyWish program for charitable mileage donations and joint awareness campaigns.
- Wyndham Hotel GroupflagshipCorporate partnership since 2014 with $150,000 contribution plus 1 million loyalty points donation to support victim services and awareness programs.
- Marriott InternationalcoreCorporate partnership including loyalty points donation program and training initiative for Marriott staff to identify human trafficking indicators.
- Clear Channel OutdoorcorePartnership for billboard advertising campaigns across multiple cities to raise public awareness about human trafficking and the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
- ATEST (Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking)coreCoalition partner in the Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking, a collaborative advocacy coalition working on policy reform and systemic change to end human trafficking.
- Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST)coreNonprofit coalition partner collaborating on advocacy efforts and survivor services to abolish slavery and trafficking.
- Freedom FundcorePartnership on the Global Modern Slavery Directory, providing a searchable database of anti-trafficking organizations worldwide.
- Walk Free FoundationcorePartnership on the Global Modern Slavery Directory, supporting global efforts to end modern slavery.
- McCain InstituteminorStrategic partnership supporting policy advocacy and human trafficking prevention initiatives.
- Hispanic Communications NetworkminorPartnership to reach Hispanic communities with human trafficking awareness messaging and resources.
- U.S. Department of JusticecoreCollaboration on guidelines and policy development to advance prosecution of trafficking cases and victim-centered approaches.
- Ashley JuddminorCelebrity ambassador supporting awareness campaigns and advocacy efforts.
- Paris BerelcminorCelebrity ambassador supporting awareness campaigns and advocacy efforts.
- Terry CrewsminorCelebrity ambassador supporting awareness campaigns and advocacy efforts.
- Steve McQueenminorCelebrity ambassador supporting awareness campaigns and advocacy efforts.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PolarisProject competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Free the Slaves: Established U.S.-based anti-slavery organization operating survivor restoration, frontline partnerships, and field research. Comparable to Polaris on survivor-centered direct services and global anti-slavery programming.
- ECPAT International: Global network of anti-trafficking organizations across more than 100 countries. Comparable to Polaris on the Global Modern Slavery Directory and on multi-country anti-trafficking coordination and policy advocacy.
- Dignity Health's Human Trafficking Response Program: Large hospital-system anti-trafficking response program combining healthcare worker training, survivor identification, and referral protocols. Comparable to Polaris on training, healthcare-sector engagement, and survivor referral infrastructure.
Direct peers
- Thorn: A leading U.S. anti-trafficking nonprofit building technology and data products to identify and rescue trafficking victims. Highly comparable to Polaris as a mission-aligned peer combining direct response with data/tech-driven advocacy.
- A21: International anti-trafficking nonprofit operating survivor support, prevention education, and aftercare programs. Directly comparable to Polaris on mission, awareness campaigns, and global anti-trafficking footprint.
- International Justice Mission: Global anti-slavery organization working with governments to rescue victims and prosecute traffickers. Comparable to Polaris on mission, government partnerships, and systems-level advocacy approach.
- Freedom Fund: Global private fund dedicated to ending modern slavery through hotspot interventions and survivor support. Already a Polaris partner on the Global Modern Slavery Directory and directly comparable as a funder/operator in the same ecosystem.
- Human Trafficking Institute: Anti-trafficking organization focused on equipping law enforcement and prosecutors with training, resources, and policy advocacy. Comparable to Polaris on the government-engagement and systems-change side of the mission.
- Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST): Los Angeles-based anti-trafficking nonprofit providing direct services, legal aid, and policy advocacy. Polaris is already a coalition partner, but CAST is directly comparable on survivor services and advocacy mission.
Emerging players
- Not For Sale: Anti-trafficking nonprofit focused on supply-chain transparency, survivor enterprises, and consumer awareness. Comparable to Polaris's corporate supply-chain engagement and survivor economic empowerment work.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
PolarisProject social profiles
Digital presencePolarisProject financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PolarisProject leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
PolarisProject funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PolarisProject M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PolarisProject
What does PolarisProject do?
PolarisProject is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that combats human trafficking and modern-day slavery by operating the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline, providing direct victim/survivor services in Washington, D.C. and Newark, NJ, conducting survivor-partnered research, delivering training and public awareness programs, and advancing systemic policy change. Its core deliverables include 24/7 multilingual crisis intervention, case management, and a data-driven intelligence function that has built the largest known dataset on human trafficking in North America.
Is PolarisProject a public or private company?
PolarisProject is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was PolarisProject founded?
PolarisProject was founded in 2002. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is PolarisProject based?
PolarisProject is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does PolarisProject make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships, foundation Grants, government Grants, loyalty Points and Miles Programs and freedom Circle Program.
Who are PolarisProject's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Free the Slaves, ECPAT International and Dignity Health's Human Trafficking Response Program. Direct peers are Thorn, A21, International Justice Mission, Freedom Fund, Human Trafficking Institute and Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST). Not For Sale is listed as an emerging player.
Does PolarisProject have an API?
No public API is recorded for PolarisProject.
What industry is PolarisProject in?
PolarisProject's product category is Anti-Human Trafficking and Victim Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAHAK, Anti-Trafficking, Smuggling Prevention & Safe Migration Services, with a secondary code of BPAGAAAH, Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance. Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8300.