Vanessa Behan

What Vanessa Behan does

Vanessa Behan is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit crisis nursery headquartered at 2230 E Sprague Avenue in Spokane, Washington. Founded in 1987 in memory of a two-year-old child who died from abuse injuries, the organization provides free, immediate, 24-hour emergency childcare for infants and children through age 12 (under 7 as primary, 7-12 case-by-case), along with parent education, crisis counseling, and referrals to community agencies. It also operates the Children's Waiting Room, a free drop-in childcare service on the Spokane County Courthouse campus protecting children from courtroom exposure, and offers prevention-oriented programs including Stay, Play & Learn (parent-child engagement), Emotion Coaching Bags (10 themed checkout kits on emotional regulation), diaper and formula assistance, and structured parenting classes. The organization also runs volunteer, internship, and practicum pipelines supporting social work students.

Name

Vanessa Behan

Legal name

Vanessa Behan

Website

https://vanessabehan.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Vanessa Behan is a Spokane-based 501(c)(3) crisis nursery founded in 1987 that provides free, 24-hour emergency childcare, parent education, and crisis counseling to at-risk families in Spokane County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Spokane

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, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund operations. This includes the Vanessa Promise Society monthly giving program and one-time donations.
2. Fundraising Events: Annual events including the Vanessa Promise Benefit Luncheon (goal of $200,000 for 2026), Rosauers Open Golf Tournament, Pumpkin Ball, Cheers for Kids, and Santa Express. These events generate revenue through ticket sales, sponsorships, and donations.
3. Supply Donations: The organization accepts in-kind donations of supplies including diapers, formula, and other immediate needs items which support operations without requiring cash expenditure.
4. Property Rental Income: Following the 2021 purchase of an adjacent lot (formerly a US Bank branch), the organization planned to lease the facility to another family-support organization, generating consistent annual rental income.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Vanessa Behan is a nonprofit crisis nursery that provides free, 24-hour emergency childcare for infants and children through age 12 during family crises, alongside parent education, crisis counseling, and referrals to community agencies. It complements this core with the Children's Waiting Room at the Spokane County Courthouse, the Stay Play & Learn program, Emotion Coaching Bags, and diaper and formula assistance to prevent child abuse and strengthen families.

Product overview

Vanessa Behan operates as a crisis nursery providing immediate refuge for children and support to strengthen families. The organization offers a coordinated suite of services centered around 24-hour emergency childcare for infants and children (birth through age 12), complemented by parent education programs, crisis counseling, and referrals to community agencies. Additional programs include the Children's Waiting Room at the Spokane Courthouse, Stay Play & Learn parent-child activities, Emotion Coaching Bags for emotional regulation education, diaper and formula assistance, and parenting classes. The organization also runs volunteer and internship programs and hosts the annual Vanessa Promise Benefit Luncheon as a major fundraising event.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 24-Hour Emergency Childcare

Quantifiable outcome

• 145,000+ children and families served since 1987
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• McKinstrycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMcKinstry is a Visionary Partner who has made a multi-year commitment to support Vanessa Behan. McKinstry representatives serve on the Board of Trustees (Bret Harger).
• RosauerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRosauers is a Visionary Partner and hosts the annual Rosauers Open Golf Tournament benefiting Vanessa Behan. Multi-year community partner commitment.
• Franz BakeryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFranz Bakery is a Visionary Partner with multi-year commitment to support Vanessa Behan's mission.
• Kalispell Tribe NQRCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Kalispell Tribe NQRC (NEWQA Research Center) is a Visionary Partner committed to supporting Vanessa Behan's family services.
• Spokane County CourthousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVanessa Behan operates the Children's Waiting Room at the Spokane County Courthouse campus, providing free childcare for families attending court proceedings. Partnership began to shelter children from witnessing courtroom events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Marymee Center (Catholic Charities Eastern Washington): Regional Eastern Washington social services provider serving at-risk families and children in the same Spokane-area market — directly comparable geography and beneficiary population as Vanessa Behan.
• Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA): National network of court-appointed volunteer advocates for children in the child welfare system — adjacent to Vanessa Behan's Children's Waiting Room at Spokane County Courthouse, but focused on advocacy rather than direct childcare.

Broad incumbents

• Childhelp: National nonprofit operating crisis hotlines, residential treatment, and prevention programs for abused and neglected children — comparable crisis-intervention and prevention mission at significantly larger national scale.
• Easterseals: Large national nonprofit providing disability services, child development programs, and family support — overlaps with Vanessa Behan's family-support mission at a far broader portfolio scale.
• National Children's Alliance: Accrediting and supporting body for Children's Advocacy Centers nationwide, coordinating multidisciplinary response to child abuse — adjacent to Vanessa Behan's role as a community safety-net partner for at-risk families.
• Prevent Child Abuse America: National umbrella organization dedicated to child abuse prevention through advocacy, research, and chapter-based program delivery — comparable in mission to Vanessa Behan but operating at a national policy and network scale.
• Children's Home Society of California: Regional nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, child abuse prevention, and family strengthening services — comparable service mix to Vanessa Behan but with broader adoption/foster programming.

Direct peers

• Parents Anonymous: Operates parent-led support groups and family strengthening programs aimed at preventing child abuse and neglect — directly comparable to Vanessa Behan's Stay, Play & Learn and parent education offerings.
• Safe Families for Children: National network offering voluntary crisis childcare and host homes for families in crisis — the closest analogue to Vanessa Behan's 24-hour emergency childcare model, though delivered primarily through volunteer host families rather than a single facility.

Emerging players

• The Mockingbird Society: Washington-state focused nonprofit advocating for and supporting youth in foster care and child welfare — comparable in regional focus and child-welfare mission but oriented toward policy advocacy rather than direct care.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/VanessaBehan
• Facebookfacebook.com/vanessabehanspokane
• Instagraminstagram.com/vanessabehanspokane
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vanessabehan

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Vanessa Behan