DC SAFE
DC SAFE is the largest domestic violence crisis intervention agency in Washington, DC, operating a 24/7 hotline, two intake centers, a 30-unit emergency shelter, and a 17-agency High-Risk Domestic Violence Initiative serving 10,000+ survivors annually.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM type—
- Offering—
What DC SAFE does
DC SAFE (Survivors and Advocates for Empowerment) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit crisis intervention agency serving domestic violence survivors in Washington, DC. Founded in 1997 as a project of the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence and incorporated as an independent entity in 2006, it has grown into the largest crisis intervention agency in the District, serving 10,000-13,000 survivors annually. Its service portfolio includes a 24/7 DC Victim Hotline (1-844-443-5732), the Spanish-language ACCION Line, two walk-in Domestic Violence Intake Centers (Northwest at DC Superior Courthouse and Southeast in Anacostia), and the 30-unit SAFE Space Crisis Shelter in Eckington — the only DC facility capable of 24/7 immediate placements within one hour of a domestic violence incident. The organization also coordinates the High-Risk Domestic Violence Initiative (HRDVI), a city-mandated unified response involving 17 partner agencies, and operates a customized Lethality Assessment Tool based on Dr. Jacqueline Campbell's validated danger assessment research.
DC SAFE's business model is multi-revenue-stream: charitable donations (one-time, monthly "Safety Net," peer-to-peer fundraising, corporate matching, planned giving), fee-based training services ($250-$1,000 per session) for government and community organizations, and commercial office leasing to nonprofit co-tenants in the SAFE Space building. Its technology stack is non-proprietary, relying on standard CRM tools for case management and web platforms for service delivery and donor engagement. The organization serves a distributed base of survivors across multiple segments including general DV survivors, Latino/Hispanic survivors, high-risk survivors (approximately 2,000 identified annually), LGBTQ+ survivors, and survivors with disabilities. Its go-to-market relies on direct service provision, government referral pipelines (over 60% of hotline calls originate from Metropolitan Police Department referrals), community events (Keep DC SAFE Gala, DC SAFE Dash 5K), and earned media coverage from regional and national outlets.
DC SAFE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DC SAFE
- Legal name
- Survivors and Advocates for Empowerment, Inc.
- Website
- https://dcsafe.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DC SAFE is the largest domestic violence crisis intervention agency in Washington, DC, operating a 24/7 hotline, two intake centers, a 30-unit emergency shelter, and a 17-agency High-Risk Domestic Violence Initiative serving 10,000+ survivors annually.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DC SAFE industry classification
Industry- NAICS
- Individual and Family Services (6241), Temporary Shelters (624221), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)
Keywords
Where DC SAFE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
DC SAFE business model
Business modelRevenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: DC SAFE relies heavily on charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization offers multiple giving options including one-time donations, monthly giving (The Safety Net program), peer-to-peer fundraising, in-kind donations, corporate matching gifts, Donor-Advised Fund contributions, and legacy/planned giving.
- Training Services: DC SAFE provides fee-based training and technical assistance to government agencies, community-based organizations, faith communities, and other professionals. Training topics include Domestic Violence 101, Trauma-Informed Advocacy, Lethality Assessments, Civil and Criminal Remedies, and more.
- Commercial Office Leasing: The new SAFE Space building offers commercial office space for lease to nonprofit partners, currently including DC Forensic Nurse Examiners, Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse, and Open Arms Housing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time | 1 team member - Basic Training |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Trainer & Team Member - Standard Training |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Leadership Expert & Trainer - Enhanced Training |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Daily Training - Beyond 90 mins |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
DC SAFE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DC SAFE is the largest crisis intervention agency in Washington, DC providing 24/7 domestic violence services including a crisis hotline, two walk-in intake centers, a 30-unit emergency shelter with 1-hour placement capability, and a Spanish-language ACCION Line. The organization coordinates the High-Risk Domestic Violence Initiative (HRDVI) with 17 partner agencies, conducts lethality assessments to identify high-risk survivors, and offers court advocacy, training programs, and systems advocacy for survivor-centered policy reform.
Product overview
DC SAFE (Survivors and Advocates for Empowerment) is a nonprofit domestic violence crisis intervention organization offering a portfolio of integrated services. The core offerings include the SAFE Space Crisis Shelter (24/7 emergency housing), the ACCION Line (Spanish-language hotline), and the Lethality Assessment Project (risk screening tool). These are supported by the High Risk Domestic Violence Initiative coordinating 17 partner agencies, the Giving Store wishlist marketplace, community resource navigation, domestic violence training programs, and systems advocacy efforts. The organization operates as a service provider rather than a technology product company, with all offerings focused on direct survivor support, advocacy, and systemic reform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Serves 10,000+ survivors annually; 55,890+ total residents impacted by intimate partner violence served since inception
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use DC SAFE
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments6 records
DC SAFE technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
DC SAFE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Office of Victim Services and Justice GrantscoreLead funder and partner for the High-Risk Domestic Violence Initiative (HRDVI). Mandated unified response model following 2009 homicides, with DC SAFE as lead coordinator.
- Metropolitan Police DepartmentcoreMPD receives ~35,000 DV-related 911 calls annually; over 60% of DC SAFE's 20,000+ Response Line calls start with MPD referral. DC SAFE volunteers ride along with officers through the DV Liaison Program.
- DC Department of Behavioral HealthcoreHRDVI partner providing mental health services and crisis support for high-risk domestic violence survivors.
- DC Forensic Nurse ExaminerscoreCo-located in SAFE Space shelter, providing 24/7 forensic nursing care and reproductive health services to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.
- Washington Hospital CenterminorHRDVI partner providing medical services and healthcare access for domestic violence survivors.
- Mayor's Office of Latino AffairsminorHRDVI partner supporting Spanish-speaking and Latino survivors accessing services.
- Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA)minorHRDVI partner providing supervision services and offender accountability measures.
- DC Superior CourtcoreHRDVI partner providing judicial oversight and access to civil protection orders for survivors.
- DC Department of Human ServicescoreHRDVI partner providing housing assistance and benefits coordination for survivors.
- DC Housing AuthorityminorHRDVI partner providing public housing access and housing vouchers for survivors.
- Office of the Attorney General for DC - Domestic Violence UnitcoreHRDVI and Legal Services Continuum partner providing legal representation and prosecution in domestic violence cases.
- United States Attorney's Office for DCminorHRDVI federal partner providing criminal prosecution for domestic violence offenses.
- Network for Victim Recovery of DCcoreCrisis Continuum partner providing comprehensive victim services alongside DC SAFE.
- Wendt Center for Loss and HealingminorCrisis Continuum partner providing mental health and grief support services.
- Jewish Coalition Against Domestic AbusecoreCrisis Continuum partner and co-located tenant in SAFE Space building providing DV services.
- Amara Legal CenterminorLegal Services Continuum partner providing immigration-related legal services for survivors.
- Ayuda, Inc.minorLegal Services Continuum partner providing immigration and family law services for low-income immigrants.
- Legal Aid Society of DCcoreLegal Services Continuum partner providing free civil legal services to low-income residents.
- Georgetown University Domestic Violence ClinicminorLegal Services Continuum partner providing law students trained in DV representation.
- Safe Sister's CircleminorLegal Services Continuum partner providing culturally specific DV services.
- Open Arms HousingminorCo-located tenant in SAFE Space building providing housing services.
- ConsigliminorGeneral contractor for SAFE Space Crisis Shelter construction. Team included women engineers Hannah Gelfant and Julia Bausano working on the project.
- Luis Peralta del ValleminorArtist creating custom mural on the side of the new SAFE Space building depicting diversity and inclusivity. Entire mural costs approximately $75,000.
- DC Coalition Against Domestic ViolencecoreInitiated the DC Housing Continuum in 2016; DC SAFE participates in this interagency partnership with DV housing providers.
- Council of the District of ColumbiacoreDC SAFE works with the Council to advocate for survivor-centered legislation and effective policy implementation.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DC SAFE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence: DC's broader coalition of DV service providers and DC SAFE's former parent organization. It is directly comparable as the citywide umbrella for DV advocacy, policy, and provider coordination that DC SAFE both partners with and historically emerged from.
- Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (JCADA): A Washington DC-area nonprofit providing DV crisis intervention, counseling, and education services. JCADA is directly comparable as a co-located SAFE Space tenant providing overlapping survivor services within the same regional geography.
- Network for Victim Recovery of DC: A DC-based nonprofit providing comprehensive victim services including crisis response and legal advocacy. It is directly comparable as a Crisis Continuum partner delivering parallel, complementary services to DC survivors alongside DC SAFE.
- House of Ruth Maryland: A Maryland-based nonprofit operating shelters, hotlines, and counseling for DV survivors across the Baltimore-DC corridor. It is directly comparable as a regional DV shelter and crisis intervention peer with overlapping mid-Atlantic service territory.
- Wendt Center for Loss and Healing: A DC nonprofit providing mental health, trauma, and grief services to survivors. It is directly comparable as a Crisis Continuum partner offering mental-health specialization that complements DC SAFE's crisis intervention model.
- Amara Legal Center: A DC-based nonprofit providing free legal services to immigrant DV and trafficking survivors. It is directly comparable as a Legal Services Continuum partner delivering parallel, complementary services to DC SAFE clients in the same region.
Broad incumbents
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: The federally-designated national 24/7 DV hotline serving all U.S. jurisdictions. It is broadly comparable as the national-scale provider of crisis-line infrastructure that DC SAFE's DC Victim Hotline directly complements and refers survivors into.
- National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV): A national policy and capacity-building organization addressing DV through public policy, technology (Safety Net), and provider coalitions. It is broadly comparable as an industry-wide coordinating and advocacy counterpart shaping DV policy that DC SAFE's systems advocacy work aligns with.
Regional players
- Sanctuary for Families: A New York City-based nonprofit providing shelter, counseling, and legal services to DV survivors. It is comparable as a city-level DV crisis intervention and shelter operator, though focused on the New York rather than DC market.
Emerging players
- Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project (DVRP): A DC-area nonprofit providing culturally-specific DV services to Asian/Pacific Islander survivors. It is comparable as a peer DV crisis response provider in DC, focused on a specific underserved linguistic and cultural segment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DC SAFE social profiles
Digital presenceDC SAFE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DC SAFE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
DC SAFE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DC SAFE 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 DC SAFE
What does DC SAFE do?
DC SAFE is the largest crisis intervention agency in Washington, DC providing 24/7 domestic violence services including a crisis hotline, two walk-in intake centers, a 30-unit emergency shelter with 1-hour placement capability, and a Spanish-language ACCION Line. The organization coordinates the High-Risk Domestic Violence Initiative (HRDVI) with 17 partner agencies, conducts lethality assessments to identify high-risk survivors, and offers court advocacy, training programs, and systems advocacy for survivor-centered policy reform.
Is DC SAFE a public or private company?
DC SAFE is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was DC SAFE founded?
DC SAFE was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is DC SAFE based?
DC SAFE is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does DC SAFE make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are training Services and commercial Office Leasing.
Who are DC SAFE's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (JCADA), Network for Victim Recovery of DC, House of Ruth Maryland, Wendt Center for Loss and Healing and Amara Legal Center. Broad incumbents are National Domestic Violence Hotline and National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV). Sanctuary for Families is listed as a regional player. Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project (DVRP) is listed as an emerging player.
Does DC SAFE have an API?
No public API is recorded for DC SAFE.
What industry is DC SAFE in?
Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAD, Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services. Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8300.