National Organization for Victim Assistance

What National Organization for Victim Assistance does

The National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1975 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. NOVA is the leading national organization dedicated to victim services and crisis response, training advocates and crisis responders to deliver trauma-informed, survivor-centered assistance, offering professional credentialing programs, and promoting public policy supporting victims' rights. Its service portfolio spans professional credentialing through the National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP) and the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP), an annual training event with nearly 100 workshops, and specialized programs for campus, military-connected, and community crisis response settings.

NOVA's underlying technology is built on trauma-informed, survivor-centered advocacy practices codified into professional credentialing standards and training curricula accumulated over 50+ years. Core proprietary assets include the NACP competency framework, the DoD certification program, the National Advocacy Leadership Center (NALC) online training platform, and newly launched centers such as the NOVA Center for Responsible AI in Victim Services and NOVA Campus Advocacy Training (NCAT). Distribution is anchored by the Annual Training Event (now in its 52nd year), the NOVA Ambassador Program spanning all US territories, and direct membership engagement.

NOVA's business model combines subscription recurring revenue (national membership program), one-time fees (event registration, credentialing applications), fee-for-service training and technical assistance (including campus consultations), and nonprofit funding through donations and government grants (notably DOJ OVW, currently subject to funding volatility). Customer segments span professional victim advocates, higher education campus staff, military-connected survivor service providers, and civilian criminal justice professionals. Marketing is executed through content, social media, email, the Ambassador Program, and the flagship annual training event.

Name

National Organization for Victim Assistance

Legal name

National Organization for Victim Assistance

Website

https://trynova.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NOVA is a 50-year-old national nonprofit that trains, credentials, and supports victim advocates and crisis responders in the United States through professional certification programs, an annual training event, and specialized campus and military advocacy initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Victim Advocacy Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Services (611), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness Education (CPR/First Aid/Disaster Readiness) (EDAAAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Emergency Management, Disaster Response & Incident Command Training (EDAOAMAD)

Keywords

• Victim advocacy services
• Crisis response training
• Victim assistance certification
• Trauma-informed advocacy
• Professional credentialing programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Program: National community membership program empowering victim advocates through training, resources, and support network
2. Training and Credentialing Fees: Professional credentialing programs and training services for victim advocates and allied professionals
3. Donations and Grants: Nonprofit funding through donations and potentially government grants for victim services programs
4. Annual Training Event Registration: Fees for in-person and virtual attendance at annual training events featuring workshops and keynotes

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NOVA trains advocates and crisis responders to provide effective and compassionate victim assistance, and offers professional credentialing through the National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP) and the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP). The organization also hosts an Annual Training Event with nearly 100 workshops, delivers fee-for-service training and technical assistance, runs a national membership program, and operates specialized programs for campus, military, and community crisis response advocacy.

Product overview

NOVA (National Organization for Victim Assistance) is a victim advocacy organization offering a portfolio of training, credentialing, and support services. The core offerings include the Annual Training Event (a premier annual conference), professional credentialing programs (National Advocate Credentialing Program and D-SAACP), and a national membership program. Additional programs include the National Advocacy Leadership Center (online professional development), Victim Advocacy Ethics Office, Campus Advocacy Program with NCAT training, Military Advocacy Program, Victim Advocacy Corps, Community Crisis Response, and Policy Lab. Recently launched the NOVA Center for Responsible AI in Victim Services. These products work together to provide a comprehensive ecosystem for victim advocacy training, certification, and professional development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• National Advocate Credentialing Program: Professional credentialing program for victim advocates ensuring they meet highest standards and professional core competencies.
• National Advocacy Leadership Center (NALC)
• NOVA Policy Lab
• NOVA Center for Responsible AI in Victim Services
• Victim Advocacy Corps
• NOVA Ambassador Program

Products and services

• Annual Training Event Premier annual training event bringing together thousands of victim advocates, crisis responders, and allied professionals with nearly 100 workshops, inspiring keynotes, and networking opportunities. Available in-person and virtually.
• National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP) Professional credentialing program ensuring victim advocates meet and maintain the highest standards and professional core competencies, providing enhanced recognition, credibility, and mobility in the victim assistance field.
• Department of Defense Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP) Specialized certification program for advocates serving military members, veterans, and families affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
• NOVA Membership Program National community membership program empowering victim advocates through robust training, accessible resources, and a vibrant community of support. Members receive free Training and Technical Assistance.
• National Advocacy Leadership Center (NALC) Innovative online training and professional development options for aspiring to expert-level victim assistance providers and allied professionals.
• Victim Advocacy Ethics Office Comprehensive resource supporting victim advocates with training and professional resources on ethics.
• Campus Advocacy Program Trauma-informed, inclusive, and culturally responsive training and technical assistance for campus victim assistance staff and community partners addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in higher education.
• NOVA Campus Advocacy Training (NCAT) 30-hour advanced training academy focused on building knowledge and skills for campus victim advocates.
• Military Advocacy Program Training and technical assistance to civilian criminal justice and allied professionals serving military members, veterans, and families.
• Victim Advocacy Corps Program providing student fellows with training, mentorship, and paid field placements in local victim service organizations.
• Community Crisis Response Training and support for communities in trauma mitigation, education, and emotional first-aid in the aftermath of critical small-scale or mass-casualty incidents.
• NOVA Policy Lab Initiative connecting field knowledge to policy change, advancing victims' rights and services through research, advocacy, and action.
• NOVA Center for Responsible AI in Victim Services Center dedicated to helping victim advocacy professionals use AI responsibly with ethics and survivor safety at the center, offering practical tools and guidance.
• Fee-for-Service Training and Technical Assistance Customized training and technical assistance available to organizations, including campus consultations and tailored programs. Available free to NOVA members.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOVA provides training and technical assistance for OVW Campus Program grantees, helping institutions develop Coordinated Community Response (CCR) Teams and best practices for addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on college campuses. Technical assistance through OVW was temporarily paused due to funding limitations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RAINN: National sexual violence victim advocacy organization operating the National Sexual Assault Hotline and federal advocacy programs. Closest comparable in mission scope, federal advocacy posture, and victim-services training portfolio.
• National Center for Victims of Crime: National victim advocacy organization delivering parallel training, public policy, and resource programs serving similar victim advocate and allied professional audiences.
• Futures Without Violence: National domestic violence and sexual violence advocacy organization offering training, TA, and credentialing programs to similar professional audiences across healthcare, justice, and education sectors.
• National Coalition Against Domestic Violence: National domestic violence advocacy organization with parallel training, credentialing, and public policy infrastructure competing for similar member and grant dollars.
• National Children's Alliance: National child victim advocacy organization operating a parallel state-chapter accreditation model (NCA Accreditation) that mirrors NOVA's NACP credentialing approach for Children's Advocacy Centers.
• MADD: National victim advocacy organization with established victim services, training programs, and policy infrastructure serving a comparable national advocacy audience.
• National Network to End Domestic Violence: National domestic violence advocacy coalition providing training, technical assistance, and policy programs to similar professional audiences across state coalitions and service providers.
• International Association of Forensic Nurses: Provides training and certification for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs), a closely related advocacy/response profession whose certification infrastructure directly parallels NOVA's NACP model.
• End Violence Against Women International: International training-focused advocacy organization with specialized programs in sexual assault investigation and response that overlap directly with NOVA's Campus Advocacy and Military Advocacy programs.

Broad incumbents

• Office for Victims of Crime: Federal DOJ entity that funds victim services training and TA across the country; functions as both an upstream funder and broad incumbent competitor in the victim services training space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NOVAVictims
• Facebookfacebook.com/NOVAVictims
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-organization-for-victim-assistance-nova
• Instagraminstagram.com/novadvocacy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 National Organization for Victim Assistance