Free the Slaves

What Free the Slaves does

Free the Slaves is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2000 and headquartered in Washington, DC. Originally established as the sister organization of Anti-Slavery International in the United Kingdom before becoming independent, the organization works to end modern slavery through four interconnected pillars: engaging local communities, policy and advocacy, movement building, and continuous learning through research. It operates programs in more than 20 countries across Africa (DR Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritania, Senegal), the Americas (Barbados, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala), the Middle East and North Africa, and Asia and the Pacific (India, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam).

The organization's core offerings are programmatic rather than technology-based. Its flagship products include the Community Liberation Model & Toolkit (a four-module training framework deployed through NGO workshops), the Freedom from Slavery Forum (an annual global convening), the Summer & Winter School on Human Trafficking (jointly delivered with the Wilberforce Institute at the University of Hull), the Dignified Futures Research Network, and a portfolio of policy and survivor-engagement programs. Free the Slaves does not develop a software product, SaaS platform, or proprietary technology stack. Its outputs are advocacy, training, research publications, and convening platforms distributed through local partnerships, coalition participation, and institutional channels.

Free the Slaves generates no commercial revenue. Its funding model is donations and charitable contributions from individuals, foundations, and institutional donors solicited through its website, events, and fundraising campaigns. As of 2015, the organization reported having liberated more than 10,000 people from slavery since inception, and it holds leadership positions in Alliance 8.7 (Global Coordinating Group, Forced Labor and Survivor Engagement Action Groups), ATEST, the International Cocoa Initiative, and ICAR. The organization maintains a Candid (GuideStar) Platinum transparency rating.

Name

Free the Slaves

Legal name

Free the Slaves

Website

https://freetheslaves.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Free the Slaves is a Washington, DC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 that combats modern slavery across 20+ countries through community engagement, policy advocacy, survivor programs, and research, serving survivors, governments, NGOs, and corporate stakeholders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Anti-Slavery Advocacy and Human Rights Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Child and Youth Services (624110), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Legal Aid) (BPADADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG), Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Safeguarding) (BPADAHAF), Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE)

Keywords

• Anti-slavery advocacy
• Human trafficking prevention
• Community liberation programs
• Survivor engagement services
• Modern slavery research

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Free the Slaves is a nonprofit organization funded primarily through donations from individuals, foundations, and institutional donors who support the mission to end modern slavery. Donations are solicited through the organization's website, events, and fundraising campaigns.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Free the Slaves is a nonprofit organization that delivers anti-slavery programs and services aimed at liberating victims, protecting at-risk communities, and eliminating the conditions that allow modern slavery to persist. Its core offerings are community-led liberation programs (Community Liberation Model & Toolkit, Community Vigilance Committees, Community Savings and Loan Groups), survivor engagement and reintegration services, policy advocacy and Alliance 8.7 partnership support, participatory research publications, and convening platforms including the Freedom from Slavery Forum and the Summer & Winter School on Human Trafficking.

Product overview

Free the Slaves operates as a non-governmental organization focused on ending modern slavery through a multi-dimensional approach encompassing four strategic pillars: Movement Building (Freedom from Slavery Forum, survivor networks, coalitions), Engaging Local Communities (Community Liberation Model & Toolkit, local partnerships), Continuous Learning (research publications, Dignified Futures Research Network), and Policy & Advocacy (Alliance 8.7, international policy reform). The organization offers educational programs through its Summer & Winter School on Human Trafficking in partnership with the University of Hull. Free the Slaves does not offer a software product or SaaS platform; its offerings consist entirely of advocacy services, training programs, research publications, and convening platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Liberation Model & Toolkit A four-module training toolkit designed to empower organizations and communities to transform the conditions that perpetuate modern slavery, covering community empowerment, survivor care, rule of law, and essential services. Used by partner NGOs implementing anti-slavery programs in the field.
• Freedom from Slavery Forum An annual convening platform that brings together civil society organizations, survivors, policymakers, researchers, academics, and corporate stakeholders to collaborate, share best practices, and develop collective strategies against modern slavery.
• Survivor Engagement Programs Locally based survivor networks providing capacity-building, advocacy, mobilization, and movement-building opportunities for survivors of modern slavery to lead anti-trafficking efforts.
• Policy and Advocacy Services International, regional, and in-country policy influencing services including Alliance 8.7 partnership, Pathfinder Country support, ATEST coalition engagement, and judicial capacity building for governments working toward SDG 8.7.
• Research Publications Evidence-based research reports and publications covering child labor, forced labor, climate change, indigenous communities, women and girls, and supply chain exploitation, used to inform programming, advocacy, and policy.
• Summer & Winter School on Human Trafficking A joint learning initiative with the Wilberforce Institute at the University of Hull, offering interdisciplinary education on human trafficking through expert lectures, case studies, and interactive workshops held twice annually. Participants receive a jointly issued certificate.
• Dignified Futures Research Network A global collaborative platform connecting researchers, practitioners, communities, and survivors to advance understanding of human trafficking through community-based, survivor-engaged research.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 10,000 people freed from slavery since inception in 2000
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alliance 8.7coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Alliance 8.7 is a UN-inspired initiative focused on achieving SDG 8.7 (eradicating forced labor, modern slavery, human trafficking, and child labor by 2030). Free the Slaves is one of only three civil society organization members of the Global Coordinating Group, led the development of the Accountability Framework, and leads the Forced Labor and Survivor Engagement Action Groups. Alliance 8.7 comprises 26 Pathfinder Countries and more than 370 partner organizations.
• Organization of American States (OAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree the Slaves is a registered nonprofit with the OAS inter-American system, the world's oldest international institutional network bringing together all 35 independent states of the Americas. OAS uses a four-pronged approach based on democracy, human rights, security, and development.
• Global Impact Charity AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Impact supports an alliance of more than 120 U.S.-based international relief and development charities. Rigorous membership standards ensure each charity practices sound financial management and effective program delivery.
• International Corporate Accountability Roundtable (ICAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICAR is a coalition of human rights, environmental, labor, and development organizations that creates, promotes, and defends legal frameworks to ensure corporations respect human rights in their global operations.
• International Cocoa Initiative (ICI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICI works with the cocoa industry, civil societies, and national governments in cocoa-producing countries to eliminate child labor. Free the Slaves is a board member of the ICI, contributing governance oversight and anti-slavery expertise.
• Child Labor CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Child Labor Coalition believes no child should be exploited regardless of race, sex, nationality, religion, economic status, place of residence, or occupation. It advocates against exploitative child labor through awareness, policy, and action.
• Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerATEST is a U.S.-based coalition of 16 independent organizations advocating for solutions to prevent and end all forms of human trafficking and modern slavery worldwide. Free the Slaves participates in ATEST to advocate for U.S. government priorities on the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and related policy issues.
• METIP: Trafficking in PersonsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMETIP is a community-of-practice group of monitoring and evaluation and research staff focused on anti-trafficking programming. Members network and share best practices, tools, strategies, and ideas for monitoring and evaluation in counter-trafficking work.
• Wilberforce Institute, University of HullcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree the Slaves and the Wilberforce Institute jointly deliver the Summer and Winter School on Human Trafficking, held twice annually (January and June). The program combines cutting-edge academic research with real-world practitioner insights through lectures, case studies, and interactive workshops. Participants receive an official certificate jointly issued by both institutions.
• Dignified Futures Research NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn inclusive and collaborative global platform for researchers, practitioners, communities, and survivors to advance understanding of human trafficking through community-based research. The network elevates all stakeholders in the knowledge production process, promoting survivor-friendly, safe, and respectful spaces.
• JPIC-IDC (Philippines)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree the Slaves partnered with JPIC-IDC to conduct research on the linkages between climate change, climate-related hazards, and human trafficking in Eastern Visayas and Caraga regions of the Philippines.
• ONOTZI (Peru)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree the Slaves partnered with ONOTZI, a Peruvian indigenous rights organization, to research linkages between illegal extractivism, human trafficking risk, and climate change in indigenous communities of the Peruvian Amazon.
• CWISH NepalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree the Slaves partnered with CWISH Nepal to document the realities of child domestic workers in Kathmandu and turn research findings into prevention by bringing findings directly into classrooms and communities.
• University of Nottingham Rights LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree the Slaves co-authored a study with the Rights Lab on modern slavery as a security concern within the United Nations Security Council, examining intersections with Women Peace and Security, Children and Armed Conflict, and Protection of Civilians agendas.
• Global Learning Community (GLC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree the Slaves partnered with 11 organizations and universities, led by the Global Learning Community, to develop guidelines on ethical anti-trafficking practices for faith-based organizations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• A21: Nonprofit operating anti-trafficking programs across multiple continents with survivor aftercare and prevention focus. Comparable peer in international field operations and awareness-raising approach.
• International Justice Mission (IJM): Large U.S.-based anti-trafficking and modern slavery NGO operating field programs and survivor aftercare globally. Closest direct peer in mission and operational model, though significantly larger in budget and headcount.
• Polaris Project: U.S.-based anti-trafficking organization operating the National Human Trafficking Hotline and policy advocacy. Peer in advocacy and survivor services, with overlapping focus on labor and sex trafficking.
• Not For Sale: Anti-slavery nonprofit focused on survivor reintegration and supply chain transparency. Comparable peer in survivor-focused programming and awareness campaigns.
• Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST): U.S.-based coalition of 16 anti-trafficking organizations where Free the Slaves is an active member. Direct peer in coalition-based policy advocacy on the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.
• Anti-Slavery International: World's oldest anti-slavery organization (founded 1839); Free the Slaves was originally its U.S. sister organization. Direct peer with overlapping mission, advocacy approach, and historical lineage.

Emerging players

• Thorn: Tech-enabled nonprofit focused on child sexual exploitation and trafficking using data and platforms. Overlaps with Free the Slaves' child protection and anti-trafficking mission but differentiates via technology-led approach.

Broad incumbents

• Human Rights Watch: Large international human rights research and advocacy organization. Broader incumbent with overlapping advocacy and reporting on forced labor in supply chains and migrant worker rights.

Others

• ILO International Labour Organization: UN agency publishing the global estimates of forced labor (49.6 million) cited by Free the Slaves. Not a peer, but the standard-setting organization whose data and frameworks underpin Free the Slaves' policy advocacy.
• International Cocoa Initiative (ICI): Multi-stakeholder coalition where Free the Slaves serves on the board, focused on eliminating child and forced labor in cocoa supply chains. Adjacent organization with shared supply chain focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/freetheslaves
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/freetheslaves
• Facebookfacebook.com/FreetheSlaves
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/free-the-slaves
• Instagraminstagram.com/freetheslaves/?hl=en
• TikToktiktok.com/@freetheslavesofficial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Free the Slaves