Empowered Network
Empowered Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps survivors of labor and sex trafficking achieve economic independence through personalized Empowerment Plans addressing employment, education, and housing barriers, delivered via a referral network of 100+ aftercare organizations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersNew London, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Empowered Network does
Empowered Network (EN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in New London, Connecticut, founded in 2017 by Kristy Norbert (LCSW-C) and Abby Fabiaschi to serve survivors of labor and sex trafficking in the transitional window after crisis stabilization but before economic self-sufficiency. The organization's core offering is the Empowerment Plan Program, in which trained advocates collaborate with each survivor to co-create a personalized plan addressing employment, education, and housing barriers. Survivors are referred exclusively through a partner network of 100+ immediate aftercare organizations (shelters, legal services, case management providers) that nominate candidates via a secure online Partner Portal once survivors reach basic stability; Operational Agreements with each partner define scope boundaries. The program operates across 11 trafficking hubs with dedicated regional advocates and reported outcomes of 95% graduation into stable housing and a 51% average annual wage increase (from $19,179 to $29,042) achieved in under 18 months, with 107 graduates celebrated in 2025.
The underlying technology stack is intentionally lean: a web-based platform anchored by the secure referral portal, Salesforce CRM for active grant tracking and reporting timelines, and Instrumentl for grant pipeline management; no AI/ML components, mobile app, or proprietary models are in evidence. All technology and marketing services are reported as pro bono, which supports the organization's claim that 89% of funding reaches survivor programming versus a 75% sector average. EN does not charge beneficiaries for services and has no commercial pricing model.
EN's revenue is a diversified mix of individual donations (website, text-to-give, Venmo, stock, employer matching), foundation grants (NoVo Foundation through 2025, Nord Family Foundation, Hilton Global Foundation $500K in 2026, AHLA Foundation Survivor Fund 2025-2026, The Jensen Project, Foster Family Foundation, LifeStory/Rockefeller, Stand Together Foundation), corporate philanthropy (GEICO, MGM Resorts, Walmart, Lexus), and federal funding (HHS Innovation Challenge Phase 1 winner 2024, Ohio Criminal Justice). Annual budget is approximately $2.3 million supporting 13 full-time staff and 150 survivors served annually. Go-to-market is community-led: the partner aftercare network functions as the primary distribution channel, complemented by earned media, content marketing, organic social, email newsletters, and a diversified donation portal.
Empowered Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Empowered Network
- Legal name
- Empowered Network
- Website
- https://empowerednetwork.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Empowered Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps survivors of labor and sex trafficking achieve economic independence through personalized Empowerment Plans addressing employment, education, and housing barriers, delivered via a referral network of 100+ aftercare organizations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Empowered Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Anti-Trafficking Survivor Services
- NAICS
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)
Keywords
Where Empowered Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New London
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Empowered Network 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: Public donations via website, text-to-give, Venmo, stock donations, and employer matching programs
- Foundation Grants: Grants from foundations including NoVo Foundation, Nord Family Foundation, Hilton Global Foundation, AHLA Foundation, and others
- Corporate Grants and Partnerships: Corporate giving programs from GEICO, MGM Resorts, Walmart, Lexus, and other corporate partners
- Government Grants: HHS Innovation Challenge award and other government funding sources including Ohio Criminal Justice
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Empowered Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Empowered Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports human trafficking survivors beyond initial crisis intervention through its Empowerment Plan Program, in which trained advocates collaborate with survivors to identify and overcome employment, education, and housing barriers. The organization operates via a referral network of 100+ aftercare organizations that nominate eligible survivors through a secure partner portal under formal Operational Agreements. All survivor services are provided free of charge and funded by individual donations, foundation grants, corporate giving, and government grants.
Product overview
Empowered Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides survivor-centered services to human trafficking survivors beyond initial crisis intervention. The core offering is the Empowerment Plan Program, where trained advocates collaborate with survivors to identify barriers and co-create paths to economic independence through employment, education, and housing support. The organization operates through a Referral Partner Network of 100+ aftercare organizations that nominate eligible survivors via a secure Partner Portal. Additional services include a Donation Platform with multiple giving mechanisms (text-to-give, Venmo, stock), an Employment Partners Program connecting survivors with job opportunities, and Awareness & Education Content for public outreach. This is a service-based nonprofit rather than a technology product platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Empowerment Plan Program Survivor-centered program in which trained advocates collaborate with trafficking survivors to identify and overcome key employment, education, and housing barriers to establish longer-term financial resilience and independence. Provided at no cost to survivors.
- Partner Portal Secure online portal used by 100+ aftercare partner organizations to nominate survivors for EN services, manage ongoing referrals, and communicate with EN staff. Operates under Operational Agreements that define each partner's service boundaries.
- Donation Platform Donation platform offering multiple giving mechanisms for individual and institutional supporters, including text-to-give (475-267-1100), Venmo, stock donations, and employer matching programs. All donations are fully tax-deductible through EN's 501(c)(3) status.
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% of members graduate the program in stable housing
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Empowered Network
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Empowered Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Empowered Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Aftercare Referral Partners (100+)coreNetwork of 100+ immediate aftercare organizations including shelters, legal services, and case management organizations. Partners identify survivors who have achieved basic stability and nominate them via secure portal. EN has Operational Agreements with every partner.
- Employment PartnerscoreCorporate employers who hire survivors through the EN program. EN reports that employment partners consistently describe EN graduates as the hardest working staff members on their team.
- 4SarahcoreAftercare referral partner in Atlanta founded by Kasey McClure
- Safe House ProjectcoreAftercare referral partner organization
- Sanctuary for FamiliescoreMajor aftercare referral partner; former employer of EN's Clinical Director and Program Manager
- Rachel Thomas (Sowers Education Group)coreBoard member who developed Ending The Game curriculum; helps millions become aware of trafficking and hundreds of survivors break bonds of exploitation
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Empowered Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sanctuary for Families: Major NYC-based anti-trafficking and gender-based violence services organization; directly comparable as both a direct service provider to trafficking survivors and as one of EN's largest referral partners (and former employer of EN's Clinical Director and Program Manager).
- Safe House Project: National anti-trafficking nonprofit operating survivor homes and aftercare services; direct peer serving trafficking survivors with case management and economic empowerment—cited as a referral partner in EN's data.
- 4Sarah: Atlanta-based anti-trafficking organization (founded by Kasey McClure) providing survivor aftercare services; comparable as a regional direct-service peer and EN referral partner.
- RAHAB Ministries: Ohio-based anti-trafficking organization providing direct services to survivors; comparable as a regional aftercare peer and EN referral partner (EN's Ohio Area Manager previously served here).
- The Freedom Network USA: Coalition of service providers advocating for and supporting trafficking survivors in the US; comparable as a survivor-services intermediary in the anti-trafficking nonprofit ecosystem.
Broad incumbents
- Polaris Project: National leader in the anti-trafficking movement operating the National Human Trafficking Hotline and BeFree TextLine; comparable as a broader anti-trafficking nonprofit with overlapping survivor-service mission, though at significantly larger scale and with an advocacy/hotline focus rather than economic empowerment.
- A21: International anti-trafficking organization operating survivor aftercare programs globally; comparable mission and direct-service model, but larger footprint and broader geographic scope than EN.
- Thorn: Tech-focused anti-trafficking nonprofit building tools to identify victims and disrupt trafficking networks; comparable as an established anti-trafficking nonprofit with a different (technology) intervention model.
- Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW): International anti-trafficking organization focused on policy advocacy and survivor support; comparable as a larger, more advocacy-oriented anti-trafficking nonprofit with survivor service components.
Emerging players
- EPIK Project: Oregon-based survivor-led anti-trafficking organization; comparable as a smaller, regional direct-service peer (EN's Intake Manager Robin Miller serves on its board).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Empowered Network social profiles
Digital presenceEmpowered Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Empowered Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Empowered Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Empowered Network 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 Empowered Network
What does Empowered Network do?
Empowered Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports human trafficking survivors beyond initial crisis intervention through its Empowerment Plan Program, in which trained advocates collaborate with survivors to identify and overcome employment, education, and housing barriers. The organization operates via a referral network of 100+ aftercare organizations that nominate eligible survivors through a secure partner portal under formal Operational Agreements. All survivor services are provided free of charge and funded by individual donations, foundation grants, corporate giving, and government grants.
Is Empowered Network a public or private company?
Empowered Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Empowered Network founded?
Empowered Network was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Empowered Network based?
Empowered Network is headquartered in New London, United States, in the North America region.
How does Empowered Network make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are foundation Grants, corporate Grants and Partnerships and government Grants.
Who are Empowered Network's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sanctuary for Families, Safe House Project, 4Sarah, RAHAB Ministries and The Freedom Network USA. Broad incumbents are Polaris Project, A21, Thorn and Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW). EPIK Project is listed as an emerging player.
Does Empowered Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for Empowered Network.
What industry is Empowered Network in?
Empowered Network's product category is Anti-Trafficking Survivor Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAB, Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations, with a secondary code of BPAGADAM, Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 62431 and its SIC code is 8300.