Blackburn Center

What Blackburn Center does

Blackburn Center is a private nonprofit organization headquartered in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, founded in 1976 (originally as Westmoreland Alliance Against Rape) and rebranded under its current name in 2011. It provides comprehensive, free services to survivors and victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and more than a dozen additional crime categories across Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Core service lines include a 24-hour crisis hotline (1-888-832-2272), emergency shelter for survivors and their dependent children, individual and group counseling and therapy, legal advocacy and Protection from Abuse order assistance, hospital accompaniment during forensic exams, and community education/prevention programming delivered through schools, workplaces, and civic groups. The organization also runs signature engagement programs — the annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes fundraiser/awareness event, the youth-driven Future Advocates of Blackburn (FAB), the men's engagement initiative FAME, and the Red Sand Project human trafficking awareness installation.

The organization's "technology" is fundamentally a human-delivered service delivery infrastructure: trauma-informed advocacy protocols, a 24/7 hotline operation, safety planning tools, and educational content distributed through a website/blog, monthly eNewsletter, and social media (Facebook, Twitter). There is no proprietary software product or platform; the core operational backbone is its trained staff of 30+ and an active volunteer corps, backed by partnerships with local hospitals, law enforcement, schools, and the Westmoreland County Human Trafficking Task Force.

Blackburn Center's business model is that of a 501(c)-style regional social services nonprofit. It has no commercial pricing — all client services are free of charge. Operating revenue is sourced from Pennsylvania state and federal government grants (administered through the PA Coalition Against Domestic Violence, PA Coalition to Advance Respect, PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency, and PA Department of Public Welfare via Westmoreland County Commissioners), United Way of Westmoreland County, foundation grants, local businesses, churches, civic groups, in-kind product donations, and individual donors (both one-time and recurring via the website). It is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Renee Reitz.

Name

Blackburn Center

Legal name

Blackburn Center Against Domestic & Sexual Violence

Website

https://blackburncenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Blackburn Center is a Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania nonprofit founded in 1976 that provides free 24/7 crisis hotline, emergency shelter, counseling, legal advocacy, and community education to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other violent crimes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic Violence and Crisis Intervention Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Temporary Shelters (624221)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM), Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response (BPAGAAAG), Victim Services & Witness Assistance (Justice System) (BPAIAFAJ)

Keywords

• Domestic violence services
• Crisis intervention support
• Victim advocacy services
• Sexual assault support
• Community violence prevention

Headquarters

HQ city

Greensburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funding: Funding from state and federal sources administered through Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, and Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare through Westmoreland County Commissioners
2. Donations and Contributions: Local funding from United Way of Westmoreland County, foundations, local businesses, churches, civic groups, and individual donors. Single and recurring donation options available through website.
3. Product Drives: Accepts donations of shelter items, food, and supplies needed for emergency shelter operations and client support

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Blackburn Center is a nonprofit anti-violence organization that provides free crisis intervention and survivor support services to residents of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, including a 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, counseling and therapy, support groups, legal advocacy with protection-from-abuse order assistance, hospital accompaniment, and community education and professional training programs addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, stalking, and other violent crimes.

Product overview

Blackburn Center is a non-profit social services organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs and services for survivors and victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other violent crimes. The organization's core offerings include a 24-hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter, counseling and therapy, support groups, legal advocacy, and community education programs. These services are provided free of charge to residents of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Additionally, the organization runs community engagement programs including the annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes fundraising event, the Future Advocates of Blackburn (FAB) youth program, and the Fearless Advocacy for Men's Engagement (FAME) initiative. The organization communicates with stakeholders through monthly eNewsletters and publishes annual reports documenting its activities and impact.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Walk a Mile in Her Shoes: Annual signature fundraising and awareness event held each April to stand against all forms of gender-based violence, including sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking.
• Fearless Advocacy for Men's Engagement (FAME)
• Future Advocates of Blackburn (FAB)
• Red Sand Project

Products and services

• 24-Hour Crisis Hotline A 24/7 telephone crisis hotline at 1-888-832-2272 (with TDD accessibility) that provides immediate crisis counseling, safety planning, and referrals to survivors and victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other violent crimes in Westmoreland County. Free of charge and can be used anonymously.
• Emergency Shelter Services Emergency safe housing and supportive services for survivors and victims of intimate partner violence and their dependent children in Westmoreland County, provided free of charge to those in need.
• Counseling and Therapy Professional counseling and therapeutic services for survivors and victims of violence and crime, addressing emotional trauma and supporting recovery.
• Support Groups Peer support groups for survivors and victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and their children, providing community and shared healing experiences.
• Legal Advocacy and Protection Orders Legal advocacy services including assistance with Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders, court accompaniment, and support during legal proceedings specific to the type of victimization.
• Victim Services for Various Crime Types Comprehensive services for survivors and victims of multiple crime types including arson, assault, child abuse, DUI/vehicular crime, elder abuse, harassment, hate crime, homicide, human trafficking, identity theft, kidnapping, robbery/burglary, stalking, and terroristic threats.
• Community Education Programs Educational programs and awareness initiatives for schools, workplaces, civic groups, and community members on domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of gender-based violence prevention.
• Professional Training Services In-service trainings for professionals on recognizing and responding to domestic violence, sexual assault, and trauma-informed practices.
• Future Advocates of Blackburn (FAB) Youth-driven membership program that engages young people in the mission to end gender violence through events, social media activism, and community action.
• Fearless Advocacy for Men's Engagement (FAME) Engagement program that recruits and mobilizes men as allies in the effort to end gender-based violence, promoting male involvement in prevention.

Quantifiable outcome

• All client services provided free of charge to survivors and victims of violence and crime
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Seton Hill University Art Therapy DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 April 2026Collaborated with Seton Hill University's Art Therapy Department for hands-on activities at the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes 2026 event.
• University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg - Spanish in the CommunityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 April 2026Partnered with University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg's Spanish in the Community class for educational activities at the Walk a Mile event.
• Penn Trafford's Sunrise Elementary School Art DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 April 2026Collaborated with Penn Trafford's Sunrise Elementary School Art Department for art activities at the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes 2026 event.
• Greensburg Salem High School Art DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 April 2026Greensburg Salem High School's Art Department designed the event t-shirts for the 2026 Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event.
• Tuscano AgencycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 April 2026Underwriting sponsor for the 2026 Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event. Team from Tuscano Agency led the Walk.
• Redstone HighlandsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 April 2026Continued annual supporter of the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event with involvement across their communities.
• Bikers Against Child AbuseminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 April 2026Provided security support for the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes 2026 event.
• Gatekeepers Security ServicesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 April 2026Provided security services for the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes 2026 event.
• Sports Medic LLCminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 April 2026Provided medical support for the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes 2026 event.
• SkySight PhotographyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 April 2026Event photography services for the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes 2026 event.
• DJ Chris StankayminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 April 2026Provided music and entertainment for the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes 2026 event.
• Starbucks, Walmart, Target, Giant Eagle, Donut Chef, Herr's, Oakmont Bakery, Eat 'n ParkminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 April 2026Food and refreshment donors for the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes 2026 event breakfast tent.
• Frick HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2019Location partner for Red Sand Project awareness event to raise awareness about human trafficking.
• Latrobe HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2019Location partner for Red Sand Project awareness event to raise awareness about human trafficking.
• Westmoreland County CourthouseminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 September 2019Location partner for Red Sand Project awareness event, displaying grains of red sand to represent victims of human trafficking who have slipped through societal cracks.
• Westmoreland HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 September 2019Location partner for Red Sand Project awareness event to raise awareness about human trafficking in Westmoreland County.
• Westmoreland County Human Trafficking Task ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Blackburn Center is a member of the Westmoreland County Human Trafficking Task Force, which coordinates awareness and prevention efforts across the county including events like the Red Sand Project.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV): National advocacy organization representing state and territorial coalitions and local programs serving domestic violence victims. Provides policy advocacy, technology resources, and training to member organizations including Blackburn Center's type of services.
• Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV): Statewide coalition of which Blackburn Center is a member, providing training, resources, and policy advocacy for local domestic violence programs across Pennsylvania. Acts as a funder and back-office support network for member centers like Blackburn Center.

Broad incumbents

• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): The largest national anti-sexual-violence organization, operating the National Sexual Assault Hotline and providing public education, policy advocacy, and resources. Operates at a much larger scale and serves as a back-end resource for many local centers including the type of services Blackburn Center provides.
• Safe Horizon: Large New York City-based victim services organization providing hotline, shelter, counseling, legal advocacy, and community education for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes. Comparable in mission and comprehensive service mix but at significantly larger scale.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: National 24/7 hotline and resource hub for domestic violence survivors, providing safety planning, information, and referrals. Operates a parallel national hotline that often routes or supplements local crisis-line services like Blackburn Center's 1-888-832-2272.

Direct peers

• Women Against Abuse: Philadelphia-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, hotline, counseling, and legal advocacy for domestic violence survivors in the Philadelphia region. Directly comparable in service mix (24/7 hotline, shelter, counseling, legal services) but operates at a larger urban scale than Blackburn Center.
• Center for Victims: Pittsburgh-area nonprofit providing crisis intervention, counseling, advocacy, and education for victims of crime, violence, and trauma. Highly comparable as a regional Western PA victim services organization with hotline, counseling, and community education offerings.
• Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh: Provides emergency shelter, 24-hour hotline, counseling, legal advocacy, and prevention education for survivors of domestic violence in the greater Pittsburgh area. Direct peer in the same Western PA service ecosystem with very similar service portfolio.

Regional players

• Alternatives Inc. (Westmoreland County): Westmoreland County-based nonprofit providing counseling, victim services, and prevention programming. Operates in the same local market as Blackburn Center with overlapping services for survivors of violence and crime.
• YWCA of Westmoreland County: Local YWCA chapter providing domestic violence and sexual assault services, emergency housing, and advocacy in the same Westmoreland County service area. Operates in the same regional market with overlapping mission and service delivery model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/blackburncenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/blackburncenterpa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blackburn-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Blackburn Center