Suicide Awareness Voices of Education

What Suicide Awareness Voices of Education does

Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in August 1989 in Bloomington, Minnesota, by six Minneapolis couples who each lost a child to suicide. The organization delivers a portfolio of mission-aligned programs across four pillars: education and training (One Step Ahead gatekeeper training, Educational Materials), lethal-means safety (free cable gun lock distribution), suicide-loss support (support groups and the LOSS Team postvention model), and advocacy (Kayla's HOPE initiative and youth online-safety policy). Its flagship specialized programs are the Green Bandana Project, a student-driven peer-support initiative now offered free to U.S. schools nationwide as of February 2026, and IBEAM (Ideal Body, Environment, and Mind), a construction-industry suicide-prevention program co-developed with WTW (Willis Towers Watson). SAVE does not sell products; instead it distributes free programs and earns operating revenue through individual donations, government grants (notably a $750,000 Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry award running February 2026 through December 2027), corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events including Run with the Herd, Bright Night, and the Tom Boxell Memorial Golf Tournament.

SAVE extends its reach through institutional partnerships and coalitions rather than a commercial sales motion. Key partners include WTW for IBEAM distribution, the Minnesota Department of Transportation for bridge-barrier infrastructure, the Bloomington Police Department for the state's first LOSS Team activated in July 2025, the Spare Key / HelpMeBounce platform for survivor financial assistance, and the National Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network (NSPAN), which SAVE co-founded in August 2025 with member organizations such as LifeAct, Solace House, Hope for Heroes, and the Megan Meier Foundation. SAVE also co-founded the Coalition for Suicide Prevention in Public Infrastructure (CSPPI) and was instrumental in the passage of Minnesota's Kayla's HOPE Act signed May 7, 2026, and youth social-media protections in SF 2696.

SAVE operates with a lean paid staff of 1-10 employees led by CEO Erich Mische, supported by an all-volunteer Board of Directors. Technology use is limited to standard nonprofit tooling: a website (save.org), social-media channels, email newsletter, webinar platforms, and partner-hosted training portals (e.g., WTW's platform for IBEAM). The organization has no proprietary AI, software products, or patents; its distribution advantage rests on partnerships, brand reputation (Charity Navigator Four-Star, Guidestar Gold Transparency, Best in America), 36+ years of operating history, and a growing coalition footprint rather than technology differentiation.

Name

Suicide Awareness Voices of Education

Legal name

Suicide Awareness Voices of Education

Website

https://save.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SAVE is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989 in Bloomington, MN, delivering suicide-prevention education, training, lethal-means safety, survivor support, and advocacy. It serves the general public, students, construction workers, and suicide-loss survivors through programs like the Green Bandana Project, IBEAM, and the LOSS Team.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Advocacy Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC), Gun Violence Prevention & Public Safety Policy Advocacy (BPAGAFAM), Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF)

Keywords

• Suicide prevention education
• Mental health advocacy
• Crisis intervention training
• Suicide loss support
• Lethal means safety

Headquarters

HQ city

Bloomington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, SAVE relies on public donations. EIN 41-1702239. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
2. Government Grants: SAVE receives government grants for specific programs. Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry awarded $750,000 grant for mental health and suicide prevention in construction industry (Feb 2026 - Dec 2027).
3. Event Fundraising: SAVE hosts annual fundraising events including Run with the Herd, Tour de SAVE, Stride to SAVE Lives, Tom Boxell Memorial Golf Tournament, Bright Night gala, and other community events.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors support SAVE events and programs. Sponsors include companies like Walser, Executive Title, TitleSmart, Hill Wilkinson, SFM, Aid Electric, Bell Bank, and many others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SAVE is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that prevents suicide through public awareness, education, and training programs (IBEAM for construction, One Step Ahead gatekeeper training, Green Bandana Project for student peer support), lethal means safety resources (free cable gun locks), postvention and survivor support (support groups, LOSS Team response), and policy advocacy (NSPAN, Coalition for Suicide Prevention in Public Infrastructure). Programs are delivered free of charge to individuals and partner organizations, supported by donations, government grants, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events.

Product overview

SAVE - Suicide Awareness Voices of Education is a national nonprofit organization that operates a comprehensive suite of suicide prevention programs rather than a single product. The core offerings include education and training programs (One Step Ahead gatekeeper training, Educational Materials), the IBEAM program for construction industry suicide prevention developed with WTW, the Green Bandana Project for student-led peer support, lethal means safety initiatives including free cable gun locks, suicide loss survivor support including LOSS Team postvention services, and advocacy programs. SAVE also facilitates the National Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network (NSPAN) connecting community-based organizations and the Coalition for Suicide Prevention in Public Infrastructure (CSPPI) advocating for physical barriers on high-risk structures. Events include Run with the Herd, Tour de SAVE cycling event, Stride to SAVE Lives, Bright Night fundraising gala, and Tom Boxell Memorial Golf Tournament.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Green Bandana Project: A nationally recognized, student-driven initiative designed to increase awareness of mental health and suicide prevention resources while empowering students to support one another. Trained students wear green bandanas to signal they are safe, trusted peers.
• IBEAM
• LOSS Team
• Kayla's HOPE

Products and services

• IBEAM (Ideal Body, Environment, and Mind) A suicide prevention program for the construction industry developed by SAVE in partnership with WTW. It includes three components: IBEAM Executive (a 15-minute leadership microlearning), IBEAM Supervisor (a 2-3 hour online course), and IBEAM Workforce (five educational videos for all workforce levels). All components are free for construction industry workers and companies and address occupational risk factors including transient workforce, substance abuse, and access to lethal means.
• The Green Bandana Project (TGBP) A nationally recognized, student-driven initiative that trains high school and college students to act as peer supporters for mental health and suicide prevention. Trained students wear green bandanas to signal that they are safe, trusted peers who can connect others to help. The program is free nationwide for U.S. schools.
• National Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network (NSPAN) A national membership-based advocacy network that connects, elevates, and empowers small and mid-sized nonprofit organizations whose core mission is suicide awareness, prevention, postvention, and support. Partners include LifeAct, Solace House, Hope for Heroes, WithHope Foundation, Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, Megan Meier Foundation, and others.
• Coalition for Suicide Prevention in Public Infrastructure (CSPPI) A national coalition led by suicide loss survivors and family members working to ensure suicide prevention is prioritized and integrated into national infrastructure through advocacy for physical barriers on high-risk structures. CSPPI contributes to statewide criteria such as those under Minnesota's Kayla's HOPE Act for bridge and infrastructure suicide prevention measures.
• Lethal Means Safety Program A program focused on lethal means safety, including free cable gun lock distribution to reduce access to lethal means among individuals at risk for suicide. Locks are provided at no charge to U.S. states and territories.
• One Step Ahead An online, self-led suicide prevention gatekeeper training program that educates trainees on the basic facts of suicide and demonstrates how to support someone who is suicidal.
• Suicide Loss Support Programs A suite of programs providing empathetic assistance, helpful referrals, and resources to help suicide loss survivors navigate grief, including support groups and the LOSS Team (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors) postvention model delivering on-scene, peer-based support to newly bereaved survivors often within hours of a suicide. The program also includes the Named Memorial Program and HelpMeBounce community fundraising with Spare Key.
• Educational Materials Basic suicide prevention information packets for general or targeted audiences, covering warning signs, statistics, misconceptions, mental illness and suicide, and prevention strategies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90% of people prevented at high-risk locations do not go on to die by suicide elsewhere
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Minnesota Department of Labor and IndustrycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2026Awarded $750,000 grant to SAVE and Associated General Contractors of Minnesota Foundation for mental health and suicide prevention in construction industry. Grant runs from February 2026 through December 2027.
• National Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network (NSPAN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 August 2025NSPAN is a national membership-based advocacy network launched in August 2025 to connect, elevate, and empower suicide prevention organizations. SAVE CEO Erich Mische serves as a key leader. NSPAN partners include LifeAct, Solace House, Hope for Heroes, WithHope Foundation, Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, Megan Meier Foundation, and many others.
• WTW (Willis Towers Watson)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWTW is a key national partner in SAVE's work, including co-developing IBEAM (Ideal Body, Environment, and Mind) - a mental health and suicide prevention initiative for the construction industry. WTW hosts IBEAM training modules on their platform and played a critical role in securing $8 million in funding for suicide prevention barriers on the Washington Avenue Bridge. WTW has also supported SAVE through Charity Golf Tournaments.
• Spare Key / HelpMeBouncecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAVE and Spare Key collaborate on HelpMeBounce.org to provide community-based fundraising to suicide loss survivors. Families can create fundraising campaigns to receive financial assistance with bills after losing a loved to suicide. SAVE provides a $250 donation per family as funds are available.
• Bloomington Police DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAVE partnered with the Bloomington Police Department to create the Bloomington LOSS Team - the first LOSS Team in Minnesota, activated in July 2025.
• Minnesota Department of TransportationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for implementing suicide prevention barriers and deterrents on Minnesota's high-risk public infrastructure including the Washington Avenue Bridge.
• Coalition for Suicide Prevention in Public Infrastructure (CSPPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSPPI is a national coalition co-founded by MJ Weiss Blair and Trish Merelo with support from SAVE. The coalition advocates for suicide prevention barriers in public infrastructure nationwide.
• The Green Bandana Project PartnerssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchools and educational institutions that previously invested in the Green Bandana Project helped fund its development and expansion before fees were removed.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: The largest U.S. suicide-prevention nonprofit, funding research, advocacy, and survivor support; directly comparable to SAVE in mission, programs (loss survivor support, public education, advocacy), and donor base, though at substantially greater scale.
• The Trevor Project: National nonprofit focused on suicide prevention among LGBTQ+ youth; directly comparable to SAVE's Green Bandana Project in targeting youth mental health, with overlapping crisis-line and peer-support program models.
• The Jed Foundation: Protects emotional health of teens and young adults through campus-based programs; directly comparable to SAVE's Green Bandana Project in the youth/school segment and shares the prevention-education program model.
• Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services: Operates one of the original U.S. suicide crisis centers and broad suicide-prevention programs; directly comparable in providing crisis-line support, survivor services, and community-based prevention education.
• Crisis Text Line: National 24/7 text-based crisis intervention service; directly comparable to SAVE's crisis-resource navigation function and serves overlapping at-risk populations including youth and survivors.
• Jason Foundation: Focuses on youth and young-adult suicide prevention through education programs for schools, communities, and workplaces; directly comparable to SAVE's school-based (Green Bandana) and gatekeeper-training (One Step Ahead) offerings.
• SPAN USA: Suicide Prevention Action Network USA, a national nonprofit advocating for suicide-prevention policy and supporting survivors; directly comparable to SAVE's advocacy arm (Kayla's HOPE, CSPPI) and survivor-support work.

Broad incumbents

• American Association of Suicidology: Professional membership organization for suicide prevention and research; comparable to SAVE as a national convener in the same field, but operates as a broad membership/professional body rather than direct-service nonprofit.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Large U.S. mental-health grassroots organization providing education, advocacy, and support groups; broad incumbent whose mission overlaps substantially with SAVE's mental-health education, family/survivor support, and advocacy work.

Regional players

• Lines for Life: Oregon-based nonprofit operating crisis lines, suicide prevention, and substance-abuse programs with national training reach; comparable in mission and program mix to SAVE, though primarily regional in direct-service operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SAVEvoicesofedu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SAVEonfilm
• Facebookfacebook.com/savevoicesofedu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/savevoicesofedu
• Instagraminstagram.com/savevoicesofedu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Suicide Awareness Voices of Education