The Willow

What The Willow does

The Willow Domestic Violence Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 48-0853356) founded in 1976 in Lawrence, Kansas, originally as Women's Transitional Care Center and renamed in 2010. It is the first domestic violence agency established in Kansas and is accredited by the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence. The organization provides a comprehensive suite of free and confidential services to survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking across Douglas, Franklin, and Jefferson counties, including a 24/7 crisis hotline, a confidential emergency shelter accommodating up to 28 survivors and their children, court advocacy, community-based advocacy, rural outreach, transitional housing (Phoenix House) for at-risk youth aged 18-24, and free community education and prevention presentations. Annual service volumes include 3,000+ crisis calls, nearly 13,000 nights of safe shelter, and 14,647 individual services delivered.

The Willow is funded entirely through contributed revenue — individual donations, vehicle donations via Vehicles for Charity, in-kind gifts, annual fundraising events (e.g., the Garden Party raised over $30,000 in 2025), and grants from Kansas Health Foundation, Douglas County Community Foundation, the Department of Children and Families, and the Victims of Crime Act. It operates a staff of 30+ led by Executive Director Jessica Beeson, with a leadership team spanning development, communications, grants, housing, and community services. The organization maintains formal partnerships with Tenants to Homeowners, The Sexual Trauma and Abuse Care Center, The Children's Shelter, Lawrence Arts Center, KU Endowment, and the City of Lawrence, alongside deep referral relationships with law enforcement, courts, schools, and healthcare providers. There is no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is human-staffed and in-person (with one weekly Zoom-based support group). The organization is currently preparing for its 50th anniversary in 2026.

Name

The Willow

Legal name

Willow Domestic Violence Center

Website

https://willowdvcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Willow Domestic Violence Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Lawrence, Kansas, providing free, confidential shelter, 24/7 crisis hotline, advocacy, transitional housing, and prevention education to survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking across three Kansas counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Social Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)

Keywords

• Domestic violence services
• Human trafficking support
• Emergency shelter
• Crisis hotline advocacy
• Transitional housing

Headquarters

HQ city

Lawrence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time, monthly, or custom frequency donations from individuals; contributions help provide food, shelter, immediate needs, and program development.
2. Vehicle Donations: Partnership with Vehicles for Charity to accept cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, RVs, campers; proceeds support survivors.
3. In-Kind Donations: Personal care hygiene items, gift cards to Walmart, Target, Kroger, QT, Casey's; essential supplies for shelter residents.
4. Event Fundraising: Annual Garden Party, 50th Reunion celebration, sponsorships, live auctions, raffles; Garden Party 2025 raised over $30,000.
5. Grants: Funding from Kansas Health Foundation, Douglas County Community Foundation, Department of Children and Families grants, Victims of Crime Act grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Willow operates a comprehensive suite of free, confidential services for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking in Douglas, Franklin, and Jefferson counties in Kansas. Core offerings include a 24/7 crisis hotline, a confidential emergency shelter accommodating up to 28 survivors and their children, court and community advocacy, rural outreach, transitional housing for at-risk youth (Phoenix House), and free community education and prevention presentations.

Product overview

The Willow is a nonprofit social services organization providing a comprehensive suite of programs for domestic violence and human trafficking survivors. The core offerings include emergency shelter (accommodating up to 28 survivors), a 24/7 crisis hotline, court advocacy, community-based advocacy, rural services, and human trafficking-specific services. Transitional housing is available through Phoenix House for at-risk youth aged 18-24. The organization also provides education and prevention presentations through its External Affairs team, and hosts a weekly support group. All services are free and confidential, serving Douglas, Franklin, and Jefferson counties in Kansas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Shelter A confidential, 24-hour staffed emergency shelter accommodating up to 28 survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking and their children, providing safety planning, advocacy, and on-site support services.
• 24/7 Crisis Hotline A round-the-clock crisis hotline (785-843-3333) available 365 days a year for immediate crisis support, safety planning, shelter inquiries, and community referrals.
• Court Advocacy Assistance for survivors navigating the civil and criminal justice systems, including filing Protection from Abuse (PFA) and Protection from Stalking (PFS) petitions, attending court proceedings, and making legal referrals.
• Community Advocacy Program (CAP) Community-based advocacy in Lawrence and Douglas County assisting survivors with safety planning, appropriate referrals, emotional support, and filing PFA/PFS petitions.
• Rural Services Program Community and court advocacy serving rural Douglas County, Franklin County, and Jefferson County, providing safety planning, court system navigation, local resources, and emotional support.
• Human Trafficking Services Confidential advocacy, shelter, and information services for survivors of human trafficking (labor and sex trafficking) in Franklin, Douglas, and Jefferson counties.
• Phoenix House Transitional Housing A 1-2 year transitional living program for youth ages 18-24 who have aged out of foster care, are homeless, or are at risk, including LGBTQIA+ youth, offering low-cost housing with on-site case management, life skills training, and financial literacy.
• Foster Transitions Program Support services for youth exiting foster care, including education on healthy relationships, emotional support, employment assistance, and housing support.
• Education and Prevention Presentations Free educational presentations and professional training on domestic violence, human trafficking, teen dating violence, and healthy relationships for schools, businesses, community groups, and civic organizations.
• Elevate Ad Astra Support Group A weekly open Zoom-based support group for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking to discuss recovery topics in a confidential virtual setting.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,000+ crisis and referral calls answered annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Point B Dance / Lawrence Dance GalleryminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Benefit dance show (Carnival 2025) raising funds for the Willow Domestic Violence Center
• Garden Party 2025 SponsorsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Multiple sponsors including BartWest, WinterSchool, Stephens Real Estate, Lawrence Pet Friends, CCR with Key, and many others who support the annual Garden Party fundraiser
• The Sexual Trauma and Abuse Care CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 August 2019Shared office location at 313 Jefferson Street in Oskaloosa (Jefferson County); both organizations provide complementary services to survivors
• Tenants to HomeownerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for Phoenix House transitional living program for at-risk youth ages 18-24; combines Willow's domestic violence expertise with Tenants to Homeowners' housing services
• The Children's SheltercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Risking Connections trauma-informed care training; combined forces to bring national training program for staff education
• Lawrence Arts CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for ArtHeals event during Domestic Violence Awareness Month; hosted documentary screening, survivor art exhibition, workshops, and concert
• Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic ViolencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccrediting body for the agency; provides standards and recognition for domestic violence services
• Vehicles for CharityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party organization facilitating vehicle donations; accepts cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, RVs, campers; handles scheduling towing and tax documentation

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Genesis Women's Shelter & Support: Dallas-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, hotline, counseling, and advocacy for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault — directly comparable in service mix, nonprofit funding model, and shelter-centric operating model.
• Casa de Esperanza: Houston-area nonprofit serving survivors of domestic violence with bilingual shelter, housing, and advocacy services — comparable as a regional DV nonprofit reliant on donations and grants with an integrated shelter-to-housing continuum.
• YWCA of Northeast Kansas: Lawrence-headquartered YWCA affiliate delivering domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking services to overlapping Kansas counties — the closest geographic service-area competitor with overlapping DV/HT programming.
• New Beginnings: Seattle-area nonprofit providing confidential shelter, housing, and advocacy for DV survivors — comparable as a mid-sized, donation-funded regional DV shelter operator with a continuum from emergency to transitional housing.
• Polaris Project: National nonprofit focused on human trafficking with hotline operations and survivor services — comparable along The Willow's HT services vertical, particularly around confidential advocacy and shelter for trafficking survivors.
• Hope's Door New Beginning Center: Texas-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, counseling, legal advocacy, and education for DV survivors — comparable mid-sized regional shelter operator with a comparable integrated service continuum.

Regional players

• Domestic Violence Intervention Services (DVIS): Tulsa-based nonprofit offering emergency shelter, advocacy, and prevention for DV survivors across northeastern Oklahoma — comparable in scale, regional scope, and service breadth, but operating in a different state geography.

Broad incumbents

• Safe Horizon: New York City's largest DV and victim services nonprofit offering hotline, shelter, courts, and counseling — a much larger-scale DV agency with an overlapping service portfolio that establishes the upper-bound operating model.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: National 24/7 DV hotline and resource provider — comparable as a crisis-call responder and referral hub, though operating at national scale rather than as a regional direct-service agency.

Others

• Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (KCSDV): Statewide membership coalition that accredits and supports Kansas DV/SA service providers — peer-adjacent as The Willow's accrediting body and ecosystem convener, providing training, public policy, and funding flow.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@willowdomesticviolencecent3527?si=vVZK2_9jzKpkc83q
• Facebookfacebook.com/WillowDVCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/willow-domestic-violence-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/willowdvcenter
• TikToktiktok.com/@thewillowdvcenter
• Xx.com/WillowDVCenter

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Willow