The Umbrella Center

What The Umbrella Center does

The Umbrella Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Family Justice Center under development in Charlotte, NC, designed to deliver coordinated, single-point-of-access services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, and human trafficking. The organization is the legal entity CharMeck Family Justice Center Inc. (DBA The Umbrella Center), incorporated in North Carolina in 2020 and led by anchor partners Safe Alliance (President & CEO Laura Lawrence) and Child Advocacy Center of Charlotte (Executive Director Andrew Oliver). Services are delivered free of charge with no fees charged to survivors, consistent with its nonprofit model.

The underlying operating model is the Family Justice Center framework — co-location of multiple independent agencies (advocacy, law enforcement, prosecution, healthcare, behavioral health, legal aid, and social services) into one facility with a unified intake process. The full Umbrella Center facility is under construction on Albemarle Road and is scheduled to open in Fall 2027, targeting 10,000+ individuals served annually. A smaller-scale precursor, the Survivor Resource Center, has operated in Uptown Charlotte since February 2021 while the main facility is being built. Confirmed onsite partners at the future facility include Atrium Health (medical clinic and SANE services), Alliance Health (behavioral health), Mecklenburg County DSS, Community Support Services, CMPD (DV/Sexual Assault/Crimes Against Children Units), Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office, DA's Office Special Victims Teams, Legal Aid of North Carolina, and Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of donations, corporate and foundation grants, and government funding. A $49M capital campaign is funding facility construction, with over $48M committed by 2026 from sources including Mecklenburg County ($10M), City of Charlotte ($5M), $2.5M in bipartisan federal funding, $3.5M in New Market Tax Credits, $1.95M from the Centene Foundation and WellCare of North Carolina, $2M from The David and Nicole Tepper Foundation, and $4.5M in QuikTrip grants. Geographic scope is currently Mecklenburg County, NC, with no disclosed expansion beyond that service area.

Name

The Umbrella Center

Legal name

CharMeck Family Justice Center Inc.

Website

https://umbrellacenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Umbrella Center is a Charlotte-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit Family Justice Center providing co-located, free services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, and human trafficking across Mecklenburg County, NC, with main facility opening Fall 2027.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Family Justice Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers (HLAFACAI)

Keywords

• Family justice services
• Victim advocacy services
• Crisis intervention support
• Trauma-informed care
• Interpersonal violence services

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization raises funds through a capital campaign targeting $49 million for construction. Donations are accepted online, by mail, ACH deposit, stock gifts, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), Donor-Advised Funds (DAF), estate and gift planning, and gifts in kind.
2. Government Grants and Public Funding:
3. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Private foundation investments including $1.95M from WellCare of North Carolina and Centene Foundation, $2M from The David and Nicole Tepper Foundation, and $4.5M in grants from QuikTrip.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Umbrella Center is a Family Justice Center that co-locates more than 15 partner agencies under one roof to deliver coordinated crisis intervention, advocacy, counseling, forensic interviews, medical care, legal aid, and case management for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, and human trafficking in Mecklenburg County, NC. All services are provided free of charge through walk-in access, community partner referrals, and a 24/7 hotline. The center operates via the Survivor Resource Center (precursor facility open since February 2021) and the main Umbrella Center facility (under construction, scheduled to open Fall 2027).

Product overview

The Umbrella Center operates two distinct facilities: the Survivor Resource Center (opened February 2021) as a small-scale referral-only precursor in Uptown Charlotte, and The Umbrella Center (main facility, opening Fall 2026/2027) as a comprehensive Family Justice Center co-locating multiple partner agencies to provide wraparound services for abuse survivors at a single location. The organization does not offer technology products; its offerings are social services focused on victim support, crisis intervention, advocacy, counseling, emergency shelter, legal assistance, and healthcare services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Survivor Resource Center: A temporary, small-scale precursor to The Umbrella Center, located in Uptown Charlotte, providing coordinated services to Mecklenburg County's most at-risk survivors of abuse. Opened February 2021.

Products and services

• The Umbrella Center A Family Justice Center providing holistic services at a single location for those impacted by domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, elder abuse, and human trafficking. The center co-locates multiple partner agencies to streamline case investigations, mitigate access barriers to effective care, and support survivors' healing. Free of charge to survivors in Mecklenburg County, NC.
• Survivor Resource Center A short-term, small-scale precursor facility to The Umbrella Center, offering coordinated services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child maltreatment. Located in Uptown Charlotte and operating since February 2021.

Quantifiable outcome

• Documented outcomes of Family Justice Centers include significantly reduced domestic violence-related homicides, increased victim safety, helping to break the cycle of violence for children, increased efficiency in collaborative services, and increased prosecution of offenders.
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Child Advocacy Center of CharlottecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild Advocacy Center of Charlotte is one of two lead agencies for The Umbrella Center's capital campaign fundraising efforts. Coordinates services for the most serious cases of child abuse in Mecklenburg County, providing safe, trauma-informed space for children to receive trauma assessments, forensic interviews, medical evaluations, family advocacy, and therapy services. Executive Director Andrew Oliver serves as co-lead for the project.
• Safe AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafe Alliance is one of two lead agencies for The Umbrella Center's capital campaign. Provides a wide range of services to individuals impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault including 24/7 hotline, crisis intervention, advocacy, counseling, emergency shelter, and legal assistance. President & CEO Laura Lawrence serves as co-lead for the project.
• Atrium HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtrium Health will have an onsite clinic at The Umbrella Center providing medical examinations for trauma-related injuries and general healthcare services for children, teens, and adults. Also provides Domestic Violence Healthcare Project training and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) services.
• Alliance HealthsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides behavioral health support to uninsured individuals or those insured by Medicaid at The Umbrella Center, ensuring access to mental health services for survivors regardless of insurance status.
• Mecklenburg County Department of Social ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides referrals for economic services (Work First, Medicaid, Food and Nutrition Services, Emergency Assistance), investigates child abuse and neglect cases through Youth and Family Services, and provides services for adults experiencing abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
• Mecklenburg County Community Support ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides domestic violence counseling, crisis services, substance use assessments and counseling, and coordinated entry housing assessments at The Umbrella Center.
• Mecklenburg County District Attorney's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProsecutes crimes to hold offenders accountable and increase community safety. The DA's Office has Special Victims Teams dedicated to cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and human trafficking.
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMPD officers respond to incidents of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and child abuse. Detectives investigate related crimes, and advocates provide support, hospital accompaniment, safety planning, referrals, and case coordination. The department has dedicated Domestic Violence Unit, Sexual Assault Unit, and Crimes Against Children Unit.
• Mecklenburg County Sheriff's OfficesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResponsible for issuing warrants, serving perpetrators with protection orders, acting as court security, and maintaining Mecklenburg County jails in coordination with The Umbrella Center services.
• Legal Aid of North CarolinasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free legal help to low-income North Carolinians in civil cases involving basic human needs like safety, shelter, income, and more.
• Charlotte Center for Legal AdvocacysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides civil legal assistance and advocacy to low-income individuals and families, helping them access essential needs like housing, healthcare, income, and safety.
• Alliance for HopesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe national organization for Family Justice Centers that provides training and technical assistance to communities developing their own centers. The Umbrella Center model is based on their framework.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Safe Horizon: Largest victim services organization in the US, providing domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and human trafficking services across New York City. Comparable mission at much larger scale and broader service portfolio.
• Houston Area Women's Center: Long-standing Texas-based provider of comprehensive domestic violence, sexual assault, and counseling services. Comparable mission with a broader, more established service portfolio.

Direct peers

• Safe Alliance: Lead agency for The Umbrella Center capital campaign and provider of domestic violence and sexual assault services including 24/7 hotline, crisis intervention, and emergency shelter. Operates in the same geography with overlapping mission.
• San Diego Family Justice Center: Original Family Justice Center founded in 2002 that established the co-location model now being replicated. Direct peer as the founding site of the FJC movement that The Umbrella Center is built upon.
• Harbor House of Central Florida: Central Florida Family Justice Center providing co-located domestic violence services with partner agencies. Direct peer implementing the same FJC co-location model in a different region.
• Alliance for Hope International: National umbrella organization supporting Family Justice Centers globally, providing training and technical assistance to communities developing centers including The Umbrella Center.
• Kristi House: Child Advocacy Center in Miami-Dade County providing trauma assessments, forensic interviews, and therapy for abused children, alongside adult and family advocacy. Directly comparable child-focused CAC model.
• Guilford County Family Justice Center: Operating Family Justice Center in Greensboro, NC that directly inspired The Umbrella Center's founders in 2017. Provides co-located, multi-agency services to abuse survivors using the same proven FJC model.
• Pat's Place Child Advocacy Center: Charlotte-based Child Advocacy Center serving abused children with trauma assessments, forensic interviews, and therapy; co-lead agency with Safe Alliance for The Umbrella Center initiative.

Regional players

• Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center: Massachusetts-based provider of domestic violence services including emergency shelter and advocacy. Comparable mission and co-located service approach in a different Northeastern geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Umbrella Center