What Project Safe does

Project Safe is a 501c3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Athens, Georgia, founded in 1991 (with roots in late-1970s volunteer efforts) that works to end domestic violence through crisis intervention, ongoing supportive services, systems change advocacy, and prevention and education. The organization serves survivors of domestic violence across Madison, Clarke, Oconee, and Oglethorpe Counties in Georgia, with the crisis hotline answering calls from 89 counties statewide. In 2024, Project Safe answered 3,399 hotline calls, sheltered 124 adults and children, and provided outreach services to 767 survivors, supported by 5,000+ volunteer hours.

The organization's core service offering comprises eight integrated programs: a 24/7 crisis hotline, a 22-bed confidential emergency shelter (pet-friendly with climate-controlled kennels), outreach services with legal advocacy and Temporary Protective Order filing, prevention and education, the Breaking Silence teen textline (statewide since 2017 for ages 13-24), community presentations, a thrift store (two locations in Athens and Danielsville providing free client vouchers), and a pet foster care program in partnership with Vets for Pets & People. Project Safe does not rely on proprietary technology; service delivery is staffed by trained advocates, interns, and volunteers, with technology limited to operational communications (phone, textline, website).

Project Safe's revenue model is a diversified nonprofit funding stack: individual and corporate donations, grants (including from Georgia Tech's Institute for People and Technology and the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council), four annual fundraising events (Dancing with the Athens Stars since 2008, Groovy Nights, Stomp out Domestic Violence, Acoustic Autumn), thrift store retail revenue, tiered corporate sponsorships ($250 Friend through $10,000+ Champion), and planned giving/estate donations. Services are provided free of charge to survivors; the organization states 90 cents of every dollar contributed goes directly to programs and services.

Name

Project Safe

Legal name

Project Safe

Website

https://project-safe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Project Safe is a 501c3 nonprofit in Athens, Georgia working to end domestic violence through crisis intervention, emergency shelter, outreach, prevention education, and a statewide teen textline (Breaking Silence), serving survivors across northeast Georgia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic Violence Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Temporary Shelters (624221), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response (BPAGAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Threat Assessment, Violence Prevention & Behavioral Intervention Support (EDAEACAH), Safeguarding, Accountability & Compliance (ESG, Gender/GBV, Do No Harm) (BPADAEAM)

Keywords

• Domestic violence services
• Crisis intervention hotline
• Emergency shelter
• Survivor support services
• Violence prevention education

Headquarters

HQ city

Athens

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: Charitable donations from individuals and businesses in the community, including one-time and recurring gift programs such as the 'Who Are You Thinking Of?' campaign honoring healthy relationships.
2. Grants and Government Funding: Grant funding from organizations including Georgia Tech's Institute for People and Technology and Criminal Justice Coordinating Council for specific programs like Breaking Silence.
3. Annual Fundraising Events: Revenue from four annual events: Dancing with the Athens Stars (since 2008), Groovy Nights, Stomp out Domestic Violence, and Acoustic Autumn.
4. Thrift Store Operations: Two thrift store locations generate revenue through retail sales while also providing free shopping vouchers to domestic violence clients fleeing abusive situations.
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Annual sponsorships at multiple tiers (Champion $10,000+, Partner $5,000+, Advocate $2,500+, Ally $1,000+, Supporter $500+, Friend $250+) providing recognition and benefits at events.
6. Planned Giving and Estate Donations: Deferred giving through wills, trusts, and bequests allowing donors to leave lasting legacies supporting survivors of domestic violence.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Project Safe is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that delivers free domestic violence intervention and prevention services to survivors and their families in Northeast Georgia. Its offerings span crisis intervention, a 22-bed confidential emergency shelter, a 24/7 crisis hotline, outreach and legal advocacy (including Temporary Protective Order filing), prevention and education programs, the Breaking Silence 24/7 teen textline, two retail thrift stores that double as client voucher programs, and a pet-friendly shelter program.

Product overview

Project Safe is a 501c3 nonprofit organization providing a comprehensive suite of domestic violence intervention and prevention services across Madison, Oconee, Clarke, and Oglethorpe Counties in Georgia. The organization operates as a single unified service offering rather than a platform architecture, combining crisis intervention, emergency shelter, outreach support, prevention education, a thrift store, 24/7 crisis hotline, Breaking Silence teen textline, and a pets and domestic violence program. These services work together to address the full spectrum of survivor needs from immediate crisis response through long-term safety planning and independence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Breaking Silence: A Project Safe initiative that helps teens recognize and avoid unhealthy relationships by encouraging them to speak out and get help when needed, operating a 24/7 confidential textline and education programs.

Products and services

• Crisis Intervention Services Immediate support services for domestic violence survivors including assistance with Temporary Protective Order paperwork, transportation, home security equipment, safety planning, shelter placement, and resource connections, delivered free of charge.
• Emergency Shelter 22-bed confidential emergency shelter with private bedrooms, communal spaces, family rooms, 24/7 trained advocates, and pet-friendly accommodations for survivors and their families.
• 24/7 Crisis Hotline Trained advocate-operated crisis hotline (706-543-3331) answering over 3,000 calls annually from 89 counties, providing empathetic support, safety planning, and referrals to shelter, outreach, or other agencies.
• Outreach Services Support services for survivors who may not need confidential housing, offering legal advocacy, Temporary Protective Order filing, community resource connections, and home safety equipment installation across Madison, Clarke, Oconee, and Oglethorpe Counties.
• Prevention & Education Community awareness programs, presentations, training sessions, law enforcement partnerships, and police report review designed to prevent domestic violence through early intervention and societal change.
• Breaking Silence Initiative Teen-focused program including a 24/7 confidential textline (706-765-8019), dating violence prevention presentations, and healthy relationship education for young people throughout Georgia.
• Thrift Store Community retail thrift store locations in Athens and Danielsville, Georgia, providing free shopping vouchers for clients fleeing abuse with first priority on donated items for client needs.
• Pets & Domestic Violence Program Pet-friendly shelter accommodations with climate-controlled kennels and outdoor areas, pet fostering partnerships with Vets for Pets & People, and veterinary care services to prevent survivors from returning to abusive situations due to pet concerns.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90 cents of every dollar contributed goes to programs and services directly benefiting survivors and their children
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vets for Pets & PeoplecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to locate foster homes and provide necessary medical services for survivors' companion animals. Supports Project Safe's pet-friendly shelter program.
• University of Georgia (UGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partnership including internship programs for students across multiple fields (social work, nonprofit administration, digital marketing, etc.). Also originated from UGA law student volunteers in the organization's founding.
• ACCPD (Athens-Clarke County Police Department)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with Project Safe Outreach team working closely with law enforcement to provide services to survivors throughout the service area.
• The CottageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency in the Outreach office collaboration providing services to domestic violence survivors.
• SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency collaborating with Project Safe Outreach to provide comprehensive services to survivors.
• Various Educational InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UGA and other institutions for internship programs including Direct Services, Breaking Silence, Fatality Review, Administrative, Thrift Store, and Digital Media internships.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV): National advocacy organization working to end domestic violence through public education, policy, and resource development. Comparable as a higher-tier DV organization that frames the policy and funding environment in which Project Safe operates.
• YWCA of Greater Atlanta: Large regional YWCA offering DV shelter, advocacy, and sexual violence services across metro Atlanta. Comparable as an established DV services provider in Georgia with a broader portfolio of programs and larger scale.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: National 24/7 DV hotline providing crisis support, resources, and referral. Comparable to Project Safe's hotline (706-543-3331) and Breaking Silence textline as a crisis-line channel serving DV survivors.
• Safe Horizon: Large New York-based victim services nonprofit providing DV shelter, hotline, and court advocacy. Comparable as a broad DV/crime victim services provider with hotline and shelter channels.

Direct peers

• The Cottage (Sexual Assault Center & Children's Advocacy Center): Athens-based partner agency co-located with Project Safe at the Family Protection Center providing sexual assault and child advocacy services. Directly comparable as a co-located Athens, GA victim-services nonprofit.
• Casa de Esperanza: National nonprofit providing DV shelter, advocacy, and community education with bilingual programming. Comparable as a DV shelter-and-outreach operator with similar integrated service model.
• Safe Homes-Domestic Violence Center: Augusta, GA-based DV shelter and services nonprofit operating a confidential shelter, hotline, and outreach program. Directly comparable to Project Safe as a Georgia regional DV shelter with similar core services.
• Sanctuary for Families: New York-based DV services nonprofit operating shelter, counseling, and legal advocacy. Comparable as a multi-program DV organization combining emergency shelter, crisis intervention, and legal advocacy.
• LiveSafe Resources: Georgia-based nonprofit providing domestic violence and sexual assault services including shelter, hotline, and outreach. Highly comparable as a regional DV/SA services organization operating in a similar Georgia footprint with similar service mix.

Emerging players

• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): National anti-sexual-violence organization operating the National Sexual Assault Hotline. Comparable to Project Safe's outreach and crisis-line work as a peer in the broader gender-based violence services space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/brkingsilence
• Xx.com/ProjectSafeInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/project-safe-inc.

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Project Safe