Women's Advocates

Name

Women's Advocates

Legal name

Women's Advocates, Inc.

Website

https://wadvocates.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Women's Advocates is a Saint Paul, Minnesota-based nonprofit founded in 1974 and recognized as the nation's first domestic violence shelter, providing emergency housing, 24/7 crisis support, aftercare, and violence prevention education to victim-survivors and their children in the Twin Cities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic Violence Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Legal Aid) (BPADADAH)

Keywords

• Domestic violence shelter
• Crisis intervention services
• Victim advocacy services
• Violence prevention education
• Emergency housing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the Annual Fund for daily operations including emergency shelter, crisis line, children's programs, advocacy support, meals, transportation, and counseling services.
2. Capital Campaign: Major fundraising campaign for shelter expansion - raising $16.4 million to more than double shelter capacity with two new buildings offering private apartments where victim-survivors can heal with their pets 24/7.
3. Legacy Giving: Bequests through wills/trusts, retirement plan assets, and insurance beneficiary designations. Federal Tax ID: 23-7310701.
4. Charitable Distribution: IRA charitable distributions for donors age 70+ providing tax benefits while supporting the organization.
5. Donor Advised Funds: Donors can contribute through DAFs for immediate tax deduction with grants recommended over time.
6. Stock Donations: Donors can give stocks and securities as an alternative giving method.
7. Workplace Giving & Community Events: Corporate matching gifts, workplace giving programs, and community-based fundraisers hosted by businesses and groups.
8. Government Grants: Supported by grants from the Office on Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice (Grant No. A-CVS-2024-WOMADV-028) and other government funding sources.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Women's Advocates operates the nation's first domestic violence shelter, providing 24/7 emergency shelter, crisis line support, advocacy, counseling, and aftercare services for victim-survivors of domestic violence. The organization also delivers violence prevention education, professional training, and community outreach programs across the Twin Cities metro area. It runs a 75-bed shelter in Saint Paul, a pet-friendly shelter program, and an aftercare program that can extend up to one year with rental support.

Product overview

Women's Advocates offers a comprehensive suite of domestic violence support services centered on emergency shelter, aftercare, and violence prevention education. The organization operates the nation's first domestic violence shelter, providing 24/7 crisis support, housing stability programs, children's services, advocacy, and rental assistance for up to one year post-shelter. Complementing direct services, the organization provides education and outreach through presentations, video series, and school-based prevention programs. A current Capital Campaign aims to expand shelter capacity by 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Shelter Services
• 24/7 Crisis Line Support Around-the-clock crisis intervention line that victim-survivors, family members, and professionals can call or text to reach a Crisis Resource Advocate for safety planning and resource connection.
• Aftercare Program Ongoing case management and rental assistance for survivors for up to one year after leaving shelter, designed to help maintain housing stability and long-term recovery.
• Mental Health Counseling Therapeutic counseling provided by staff Mental Health Therapists to survivors of domestic violence as part of the organization's wraparound services.
• Children's Advocacy Services Advocacy and support services for child survivors of domestic violence, delivered by Children's Advocates as part of a two-generational program that serves parents and children together.
• Violence Prevention Education and Training Education and training programs on domestic violence prevention delivered by Education and Outreach Coordinators to schools, community groups, and partner organizations via Zoom and in person.
• Legal Advocacy Advocacy and support for survivors navigating legal processes related to domestic violence, provided as part of the organization's broader service offering.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $112,000 raised during 2022 Domestic Violence Awareness Month fundraiser
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Minnesota Pet Foster CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2024Partnership with Cornerstone, Tubman, Animal Humane Society, The Bond Between, and Four Winds Connections to keep victim-survivors of domestic violence with their pets. The coalition addresses the fact that nearly half of victim-survivors stay in abusive situations rather than leave their pets behind.
• SFM InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Ally Circle member supporting Women's Advocates' mission to end the cycle of domestic violence.
• PCL ConstructionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Ally Circle member supporting Women's Advocates' mission to end the cycle of domestic violence.
• CHSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Ally Circle member supporting Women's Advocates' mission to end the cycle of domestic violence.
• Luther AutominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Ally Circle member supporting Women's Advocates' mission to end the cycle of domestic violence.
• HB FullerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Ally Circle member supporting Women's Advocates' mission to end the cycle of domestic violence.
• 3M Community FundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Ally Circle member supporting Women's Advocates' mission to end the cycle of domestic violence.
• CH RobinsonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Ally Circle member supporting Women's Advocates' mission to end the cycle of domestic violence.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• RedRover: National nonprofit funding Safe Housing grants that keep families and pets together during crisis; funder/partner relationship with Women's Advocates (RedRover Safe Housing Grantee) and an adjacent ecosystem player rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• YWCA St. Paul: Twin Cities YW chapter delivering DV shelter, advocacy, and housing services; directly competes for the same victim-survivor population and donor base in the same geographic market.
• Tubman: Minnesota-based nonprofit providing domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking shelter and advocacy services; co-founding partner in the Minnesota Pet Foster Coalition with Women's Advocates, directly overlapping service lines and population served.
• Cornerstone (Cornerstone Advocacy Service): Minnesota domestic violence advocacy organization offering shelter and supportive services; co-partner in the MN Pet Foster Coalition, sharing Women's Advocates' regional DV service footprint and target population.
• Casa de Esperanza: National nonprofit focused on domestic violence services in the Latino community, operating shelter and community-based advocacy; directly comparable mission and service model to Women's Advocates, with a distinct cultural focus.
• Alexandra House: Twin Cities metro area DV shelter and advocacy organization providing emergency shelter, legal advocacy, and support groups; named by Women's Advocates staff as a previous employer, indicating tight peer overlap in services and geography.

Regional players

• Violence Free Minnesota: Statewide coalition representing DV programs across Minnesota including Women's Advocates; operates as a peer umbrella/coalition rather than direct service provider but shares advocacy, policy, and member-overlap relationships.

Broad incumbents

• National Network to End Domestic Violence: National advocacy and capacity-building organization for the DV field; not a direct service peer but shapes federal funding, policy, and best-practice frameworks that materially affect Women's Advocates' operating environment.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: Nationwide 24/7 crisis intervention and referral resource for DV victim-survivors; overlaps with Women's Advocates' crisis line and referral model but operates nationally rather than as a regional shelter provider.
• Safe Horizon: One of the largest U.S. victim-services organizations operating DV shelters, hotlines, and counseling across New York City; comparable service menu (shelter, hotline, advocacy, counseling) but at much larger scale and in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubewadvocates.org/category/our-videos
• Xx.com/womensadvocates

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Women's Advocates