Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking

What Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking does

CAST (Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking) is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1998 in response to the El Monte Thai worker trafficking case, operating as the largest US provider of comprehensive direct services to survivors of sex and labor trafficking. The organization delivers a continuum of care anchored by a 24/7 toll-free hotline (888-KEY-2-FREE) with live interpretation in 240+ languages, two shelters totaling 27 beds (Hummingbird Haven emergency and Mariposa Haven transitional), rapid rehousing with rental assistance, trauma-informed case management covering 13 life areas, free legal services (including T-visa assistance, criminal defense, post-conviction relief, and impact litigation), and a youth program for minors and transition-age youth. Services are provided at no charge to survivors in Los Angeles County regardless of when or where trafficking occurred; the organization has served survivors from 91 countries of origin.

The underlying technology stack comprises a multilingual hotline platform, case management systems, and a comprehensive client data platform tracking outcomes across 13 domains that powers original research and program evaluation. Beyond direct services, CAST operates a national Training and Technical Assistance program (free online courses, webinars, technical assistance calls), a Research and Evaluation unit producing original research, and a Policy Advocacy function engaging legislators at local, state, national, and global levels. Survivor leadership is institutionalized through Resilient Voices (LA-based) and the National Survivor Network (national membership organization co-founded by CAST). Revenue is sourced from individual donations, foundation grants (Douglas Foundation ~$1M in 2026, Conrad Hilton, Vera R. Campbell, Weingart, Ralph M. Parsons), government contracts (CalOES, LA County, City of LA, DOJ Office for Victims of Crime, OTIP), corporate sponsorships (Paul Mitchell Schools, SC Johnson), and workplace giving programs.

Name

Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking

Legal name

Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking

Website

https://castla.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CAST is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the largest US provider of comprehensive direct services to survivors of human trafficking, operating a 24/7 hotline, emergency and transitional housing, case management, legal services, and youth programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals supporting CAST's mission to end human trafficking. Various giving options including one-time donations, monthly giving, and gifts of stock.
2. Foundation Grants: Funding from private foundations such as The Douglas Foundation (nearly $1 million for hotline and response services), Conrad Hilton Foundation, Vera R. Campbell Foundation, and others.
3. Government Grants and Contracts: Funding from government entities including California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, LA County, City of LA, and other public sources for direct services and programs.
4. Corporate Sponsorships and Employee Matching: Support from corporate sponsors including Paul Mitchell Schools, SC Johnson, and others, plus employee matching gift programs.
5. Workplace Giving: Payroll deduction campaigns allowing employees to make tax-deductible gifts to CAST through workplace giving programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

CAST provides a comprehensive continuum of direct services to survivors of human trafficking, including a 24/7 multilingual hotline, emergency and transitional shelter, rapid rehousing, case management, free legal services, and youth programs. Beyond direct services, CAST delivers professional training and technical assistance nationwide, conducts original research using client data, drives policy advocacy, and operates survivor leadership programs (Resilient Voices and National Survivor Network). All services are provided free of charge to survivors.

Product overview

CAST is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive continuum of care for human trafficking survivors through direct services, education, and advocacy. The organization operates multiple interconnected programs including a 24/7 Human Trafficking Hotline, emergency shelter (Hummingbird Haven), transitional shelter (Mariposa Haven), rapid rehousing, community case management, legal services, and a Youth Program. Beyond direct services, CAST provides Training and Technical Assistance to professionals nationwide, conducts Research and Evaluation, and engages in Policy Advocacy. Survivor empowerment is central to the model through the Survivor Leadership Program, Resilient Voices (LA-based network), and National Survivor Network (national membership group). The organization also offers Film & Media Consultation services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 24/7 Human Trafficking Hotline A 24-hour toll-free hotline (888-KEY-2-FREE / 888-539-2373) providing crisis response, referrals, and technical assistance to victims of human trafficking. Available in 240+ languages through live interpretation. Not associated with law enforcement.
• Hummingbird Haven Emergency Shelter A 15-bed emergency shelter for survivors escaping trafficking situations or in crisis, offering safe housing, food, and counseling.
• Mariposa Haven Transitional Shelter A 12-bed transitional housing program providing longer-term support and comprehensive services for survivors ready to move beyond emergency care; the first shelter in the US exclusively for trafficking victims.
• Rapid Rehousing Program Rental assistance program supporting survivors who are ready to move into permanent housing with dedicated case management.
• Community Case Management Client-centered, trauma-informed case management addressing 13 areas of clients' lives including basic necessities, safety planning, counseling, medical, education, life skills, employment, and benefits.
• Legal Services Comprehensive legal representation including immigration assistance (T-Visa), victim rights advocacy, criminal defense support, post-conviction relief, civil litigation, and family law for trafficking survivors.
• Youth Program Specialized services for minors and transition age youth (up to 24 years), including 24/7 access to case managers, monthly group activities, and life skills workshops.
• Training and Technical Assistance Program Free online courses, materials, and individual technical assistance to legal and social service professionals working with survivors across the United States, including technical assistance calls and on-demand learning.
• Labor & Sex Trafficking of Youth Training Survivor-led trainings on human trafficking of youth available to the public, with special focus for foster caregivers, law enforcement, service providers, government agencies, mental health partners, corporations, faith-based organizations, and community groups.
• Research and Evaluation Original research on human trafficking using comprehensive client data to support advocacy efforts and improve outcomes for survivors. Current priorities include survivors' health and wellbeing, criminalization of survivors, and ethical storytelling.
• Policy Advocacy Advocacy efforts pressing local, state, national, and global leaders to pass policies protecting survivors and preventing human trafficking, using evidence from survivors and human rights frameworks.
• National Survivor Network A values-based membership group that develops, equips, and empowers survivors engaged in advocacy, education, peer-to-peer mentorship, prevention, and policy work nationwide.
• Resilient Voices Los Angeles-based survivor network that empowers survivors to connect and develop skills to inform the public about human trafficking and bring about change.
• Film & Media Consultation Script and production consultation and training for industry professionals on authentic representations of human trafficking, provided for a fee.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,259 survivors and family members served (July 2024 - June 2025)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (CalOES)coreOthersGovernment agency partner providing emergency services funding and coordination for human trafficking response in California.
• California Attorney General OfficecoreOthersState law enforcement partner working on human trafficking prosecution and victim protection initiatives.
• United Nations Human Rights Office of the High CommissionermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational human rights body collaborating with CAST on human rights frameworks for trafficking prevention and survivor protection.
• LA Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative addressing intersection of homelessness and human trafficking, recognizing housing instability as a root cause of vulnerability.
• Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty agency partner for serving minor survivors of trafficking and youth programming.
• Paul Mitchell SchoolsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeauty schools network mobilizing community support and donations for CAST's mission. PeggyLee Cao, President, joined CAST Board in 2026.
• Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal airport operator partner for anti-trafficking awareness and reporting initiatives.
• National Survivor NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerValues-based membership organization of trafficking survivors that CAST co-founded and supports; develops, equips, and empowers survivor advocates.
• Freedom Network USAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational alliance of human trafficking advocates and organizations providing resources and training for service providers.
• HEAL TraffickingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth-focused anti-trafficking organization providing resources and training for healthcare providers.
• National Human Trafficking HotlinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral resource for survivors outside Los Angeles County; CAST connects callers to regional hotlines.
• National Crime Victim Legal InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal resource organization providing support and training for victim advocacy.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Polaris: Polaris operates the National Human Trafficking Hotline (the federal backbone) and runs direct service programs focused on human trafficking survivors; the most direct peer organization to CAST in anti-trafficking service provision and policy advocacy.
• A21: A21 is a global anti-trafficking nonprofit providing direct services (shelters, aftercare), a 24/7 helpline, awareness programs, and legislative advocacy — comparable in mission and service model to CAST, with broader geographic reach.
• Freedom Network USA: National alliance of trafficking survivors and service providers offering technical assistance, training, and advocacy to member organizations; closely aligned with CAST's training and policy mission.
• HEAL Trafficking: Health-sector-focused anti-trafficking organization that convenes healthcare providers and develops protocols; relevant as a thematic peer in survivor-serving infrastructure.
• Thorn: Nonprofit building technology to combat child sexual exploitation; operates the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's CyberTipline; relevant peer in tech-enabled anti-trafficking and policy advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• Covenant House: Large national nonprofit providing shelter and services to youth experiencing homelessness and human trafficking; comparable in shelter-bed model and youth trafficking segment to CAST's Youth Program.
• Safe Horizon: Largest victim services nonprofit in the US, providing shelter, counseling, and legal services to trafficking, DV, and crime victims in NYC; comparable direct-service and legal-representation model.
• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: Major national nonprofit operating the CyberTipline and recovery services for missing and exploited children; comparable in child-trafficking recovery, hotline operation, and federal advocacy.

Emerging players

• Girls Educational & Mentoring Services (GEMS): NYC-based nonprofit serving commercially sexually exploited and trafficked girls and young women; directly comparable youth-sex-trafficking service focus.
• Restore NYC: NYC-based nonprofit providing holistic long-term services (housing, case management, legal, education) to survivors of sex trafficking — closely comparable direct-service and case-management model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/castlosangeles
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/castla
• Instagraminstagram.com/castlosangeles
• Xx.com/castla

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking