A21

What A21 does

A21 is a global nonprofit organization founded in 2008 by Christine and Nick Caine in Thessaloniki, Greece, with the mission of abolishing human trafficking and modern-day slavery. It operates 19 locations across 14 countries spanning North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. The organization delivers its work through a three-pillar programmatic framework: Reach (prevention through education, awareness campaigns such as Can You See Me?, and an in-classroom curriculum), Recover (intervention via 24/7 country-specific hotlines, Child Advocacy Centers, professional training, and legal support for trafficker prosecution), and Restore (aftercare for survivors through holistic services, Freedom Centers, A21 Home emergency shelters, survivor relocation, and long-term support). Reported outcomes include 5,604 victims identified and assisted, 2,300 entering the Aftercare program, 295 traffickers sentenced to 5,100+ years, 53,775 frontline professionals trained, and 7.7 billion awareness impressions.

A21's technology stack comprises standard nonprofit operational tooling — donation processing, case management for survivor support, hotline infrastructure, and educational platforms — with no proprietary technology products. The company does not sell to customers in a traditional commercial sense; instead, it serves multiple stakeholder groups: individual donors (one-time and recurring Freedom Sponsors), volunteers and Walk For Freedom participants, survivors of human trafficking receiving services, frontline professionals receiving training, corporate partners (notably BCD Travel), general-public awareness recipients, and government/multilateral grantors (notably EEA Grants for A21 Greece).

The revenue model is diversified across individual donations (one-time and subscription-like monthly Freedom Sponsor program at preset tiers of $30/$40/$70/$150/$200 or custom), corporate partnerships and matching programs, merchandise e-commerce (apparel, accessories, survivor-artwork products), appreciated-securities donations, and government/NGO grants. A21 is legally structured as a 501(c)(3) entity in the US (A21 USA, Inc., EIN 86-2765873) with parallel charitable-company entities in Australia (ABN 25 135 595 578) and the UK (no. 7335469), supplemented by 11 additional country offices. The organization has no parent company, no external equity investors, and no public listing.

Name

A21

Legal name

A21 USA, Inc.

Website

https://a21.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

A21 is a global nonprofit founded in 2008 that combats human trafficking across 14 countries through prevention education, victim recovery, and survivor aftercare programs, funded primarily by individual donors, corporate partners, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Anti-Human Trafficking Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Anti-Trafficking, Smuggling Prevention & Safe Migration Services (BPADAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC), Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response (BPAGAAAG), Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)

Keywords

• Anti-human trafficking services
• Human trafficking prevention
• Survivor restoration programs
• Nonprofit advocacy services
• Victim aftercare support

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters globally. The Freedom Sponsor program enables monthly giving commitments. Donation tiers include preset amounts ($30, $40, $70, $150, $200) plus custom amounts.
2. Merchandise Sales: The organization operates an e-commerce shop selling branded merchandise including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, totes, hats, beanies, and accessories. All proceeds contribute to funding freedom for victims.
3. Stock Donations: Accepts donations of appreciated assets including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and exchange traded funds. Donors can receive tax benefits by avoiding capital gains while supporting the mission.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with corporations for funding recovery, rehabilitation, and prevention programs. Includes employee engagement and matching programs.
5. Government Grants: A21 Greece participates in the Active Citizens Fund Program, a €12 million program funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway through the EEA Grants mechanism.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

A21 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that combats human trafficking globally through three integrated program areas: prevention (awareness campaigns and education curriculum), recovery (national hotlines, law enforcement partnership, child advocacy centers, and freedom centers), and restoration (long-term aftercare programs for survivors). The organization operates across 14 countries with 19 locations, delivering services that span from public awareness to direct survivor support.

Product overview

A21 is a global anti-human trafficking organization operating 19 locations across 14 countries since 2008. Their service portfolio is organized around three core programmatic pillars: Reach (prevention through education and awareness), Recover (intervention through hotlines, advocacy, and professional training), and Restore (aftercare through holistic support and accommodation). Key offerings include 24/7 hotlines operating in multiple countries, Child Advocacy Centers, Freedom Centers for day services, emergency shelter (A21 Home), and long-term accommodation. The organization also runs the global 'Can You See Me?' awareness campaign, provides education curriculum and prevention programs for children, offers legal assistance for survivors, and operates survivor relocation services. Additional programs include the Freedom Pledge (monthly commitment) and Freedom Sponsor (monthly giving) programs, plus an annual Global Freedom Summit. A merchandise shop selling apparel and accessories supports funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Can You See Me?: Global public awareness campaign showing common scenarios of human trafficking that may be encountered and providing tools to report suspicions.
• Global Freedom Summit
• Freedom Pledge
• Freedom Sponsor
• Walk For Freedom

Products and services

• A21 National Human Trafficking Hotline A confidential national hotline operated by A21 that receives reports of suspected human trafficking and routes them to law enforcement and recovery teams. It serves the general public, victims, and partner agencies as the entry point into A21's recovery operations.
• Child Advocacy Centers Facilities providing legal advocacy, trauma-informed care, and recovery support specifically for child survivors of human trafficking. They serve rescued children referred through the A21 hotline, law enforcement, and partner NGOs.
• Freedom Centers Safe housing and recovery facilities operated by A21 that provide shelter, counseling, and reintegration support for survivors of human trafficking. They are located across A21's 14 operating countries and serve adult and child survivors referred through recovery operations.
• Aftercare Programs Long-term restoration program for survivors of human trafficking that provides ongoing counseling, education, vocational support, and reintegration assistance beyond initial rescue. It is delivered through A21's freedom centers and partner networks.
• Prevention Education Curriculum Curriculum-based prevention program designed to educate students, community groups, and at-risk populations about human trafficking risks and safe reporting channels. It is delivered in partnership with schools, community organizations, and corporate partners.
• Professional Training Specialized training program for law enforcement officers, first responders, medical professionals, and other frontline staff on identifying, responding to, and supporting victims of human trafficking. Delivered as structured courses and workshops.
• A21 Merchandise Shop Online and offline retail operation selling apparel, accessories, and awareness products whose proceeds support A21's anti-trafficking programs. It serves individual supporters and serves as a fundraising channel rather than a primary revenue line.
• Freedom Pledge Program Awareness and engagement program that invites individuals to publicly commit to standing against human trafficking through education, advocacy, and giving. It serves cause-aligned supporters and reinforces A21's prevention and fundraising reach.
• Freedom Sponsor Program Structured sponsorship program that allows corporations and high-net-worth individuals to fund specific A21 programs (such as survivor aftercare, hotlines, or freedom centers) at defined giving tiers. It serves corporate CSR programs and major donors seeking measurable impact.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,604 victims identified and assisted, 2,300 entered comprehensive Aftercare program
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• BCD TravelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025BCD Travel partnered with A21 to fund recovery, rehabilitation, and prevention programs. In 2025, nearly 100 BCD employees ran the TUI Palma Marathon in support of A21, raising over £150,000 - described as 'the power of partnership' by CEO Stephan Baars.
• Active Citizens Fund (EEA Grants)coreOthers · 1 January 2014A21 Greece is a beneficiary of the €12 million Active Citizens Fund Program, funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway through the European Economic Area (EEA) Grants mechanism for 2014-2021. The program aims to strengthen civil society and promote democratic participation. Managed jointly by Bodossaki Foundation and Solidarity Now.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• International Rescue Committee: Global humanitarian organization responding to humanitarian crises with programs that include protection from exploitation and trafficking. Broad incumbent — comparable international footprint and operational scale.
• World Vision International: Large global humanitarian organization with child protection and anti-trafficking components within a broader portfolio. Broad incumbent — comparable scale and donor base but operates as a multi-cause NGO.

Direct peers

• ECPAT International: Global network focused on ending the sexual exploitation of children, with member organizations in multiple countries. Direct peer with overlapping child protection, prevention, and advocacy focus.
• Free the Slaves: U.S.-based anti-slavery organization working on prevention, liberation, and restoration across multiple countries. Direct peer with similar mission, programmatic structure, and international footprint.
• Polaris: Operated the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline and runs survivor support, policy advocacy, and anti-trafficking programs in the U.S. and internationally. Direct peer in hotline-based intervention and survivor aftercare.
• International Justice Mission: Global anti-trafficking organization operating across multiple countries with a similar model combining rescue, victim aftercare, and trafficker prosecution. Closest direct peer given overlapping mission, scale, and field-office structure.
• Stop The Traffik: International anti-trafficking organization headquartered in the UK combining community organizing, supply chain disruption, and survivor support. Direct peer given shared global NGO mission and campaign-driven model.
• Freedom United: Global advocacy organization campaigning to end modern slavery and human trafficking through awareness, policy, and grassroots mobilization. Direct peer focused on engagement-driven anti-trafficking impact.

Emerging players

• Thorn: Tech-focused nonprofit building digital tools to combat child sexual exploitation and trafficking. Emerging player that overlaps with A21's child exploitation focus but differentiates through proprietary technology.
• Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS): U.S.-based organization serving survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking through survivor-centered programming. Emerging/niche peer overlapping on survivor aftercare and youth focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/A21UK
• Instagraminstagram.com/a21australia
• Xx.com/TheA21_Campaign
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a21uk

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries11 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 A21