Friends of Yates

What Friends of Yates does

Friends of Yates Inc. is a private nonprofit organization founded in 1913 in Kansas City, Kansas, that provides comprehensive domestic violence intervention and prevention services to survivors and their dependent children across Wyandotte County and the greater Kansas City metropolitan area. The organization operates the Della Gill/Joyce H. Williams Center, which is the only domestic violence emergency shelter in Wyandotte County, offering 24-hour crisis response, safe housing, hot meals, personal care items, strengths-based case management, court and legal advocacy, individual and group counseling, and transitional housing for up to 24 months. Specialized programs include the P.A.V.E. initiative (a TANF alternative pathway co-administered with the Department of Children and Families), Bridge S.P.A.N. (a hospital-based victim advocacy program), teen dating violence prevention, community education/speaker requests for schools and workplaces, and signature annual events such as the Community Awards Luncheon, C.A.C.E. forum, and Black Men and Women of Distinction ceremony.

The business model is grant- and donation-funded: the organization receives federal and state government grants for DV programming, individual tax-deductible donations, corporate sponsorships (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, JE Dunn, Gates BBQ, Sherwin Williams, Liberty Bank, Geiger Ready-Mix, and others), foundation grants (United Way, Do Good for Erin Foundation, Ray-Ann Memorial Foundation), and in-kind contributions of goods from community groups. All direct services—emergency shelter, hotline, counseling, legal advocacy, transitional housing, education—are provided free of charge to survivors. Distribution is via a 24-hour crisis hotline, walk-in shelter intake, hospital-based Bridge S.P.A.N. referrals, law enforcement and DCF referrals, and proactive community outreach education to schools, churches, and employers. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Dr. Desmond Lamb following the retirement of long-time CEO LaDora Lattimore.

Name

Friends of Yates

Legal name

Friends of Yates Inc.

Website

https://friendsofyates.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Friends of Yates is a Kansas City, Kansas nonprofit founded in 1913 that operates the only domestic violence emergency shelter in Wyandotte County, providing free crisis intervention, advocacy, counseling, transitional housing, and prevention education to survivors and families across the Kansas City metro.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic violence victim services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Victim Services & Witness Assistance (Justice System) (BPAIAFAJ)

Keywords

• Domestic violence services
• Emergency shelter
• Victim advocacy
• Crisis intervention
• Community education

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grants and Government Funding: Federal and state grants for domestic violence programs, including funding for emergency shelter, advocacy services, and prevention programs. Organization has advocated for release of federal funds for domestic violence programs.
2. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting domestic violence survivors. Donation options include $5, $10, $50, $250, $500 and other amounts, made online, by mail, or in person.
3. Corporate and Foundation Sponsorships: Support from corporate sponsors including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, EK Building Excellence, Gates BBQ, Geiger Ready-Mix, JE Dunn, Liberty Bank, RMC Rodriguez Mechanical Contractors, Sherwin Williams, and others.
4. In-Kind Donations: Donations of clothing, toys, household items, and other supplies from community partners such as the Ray-Ann Memorial Foundation and Wyandotte County Christian Church Piecemakers group.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Friends of Yates is a nonprofit domestic violence services agency operating the Della Gill/Joyce H. Williams Center in Kansas City, Kansas. It provides confidential emergency shelter, a 24-hour crisis hotline, advocacy, counseling, court and legal advocacy, transitional housing for up to 24 months, strengths-based case management, economic and child advocacy, and community education on domestic violence prevention. All services are provided free of charge to survivors and their families in Wyandotte County and the greater Kansas City metropolitan area.

Product overview

Friends of Yates operates as a comprehensive domestic violence support agency providing a unified portfolio of crisis intervention and prevention services centered around the Della Gill/Joyce H. Williams shelter facility. The organization's service model combines direct survivor support through emergency shelter, advocacy, counseling, and economic empowerment programs, with community-wide prevention via education, outreach, and awareness events. Key offerings include the 24-hour crisis hotline, court advocacy, strengths-based case management, transitional housing, and specialized programs like P.A.V.E. for TANF recipients and Bridge S.P.A.N. for healthcare settings. Annual signature events include the Community Awards Luncheon, Black Men and Women of Distinction ceremony, and Crime Awareness Coordinating Effort (C.A.C.E.) forum. The organization serves as the only domestic violence shelter in Wyandotte County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Della Gill/Joyce H. Williams Center Emergency Shelter Confidential emergency shelter for domestic violence survivors in Wyandotte County, providing safe housing, hot meals, personal care items, emotional support, and access to advocacy services free of charge.
• 24-Hour Crisis Hotline Round-the-clock crisis support hotline (local: 913.321.0951; toll-free: 855.232.0252) providing immediate crisis intervention, safety planning, and connection to Friends of Yates resources and shelter.
• Advocacy Services Support services for survivors in shelter and community members including court advocacy, safety planning, referrals, and empowerment programs designed to enable self-sufficiency.
• Strengths-Based Case Management Individualized case management in which case managers partner with survivors using strengths-based assessment to set and achieve personalized goals for self-sufficiency.
• Transitional Housing Program Support and therapeutic services for families residing at the shelter for up to 24 months, using strength-based case management to help survivors become self-sustaining.
• Court Advocacy Legal system navigation including court accompaniment, completion of Temporary Protective Order paperwork, and follow-up through court processes.
• Support Groups and Individual Counseling Peer support groups and individual counseling provided free to domestic violence survivors to help rebuild their lives after abuse.
• Economic Advocacy Employment and education support including resume updates, interview practice, job application help, GED/high school completion, and post-secondary program access.
• Child Care Advocacy Care for child victims while parents attend appointments, support groups, and job search activities, supporting the whole family during shelter stays.
• Community Outreach Education Training modules and presentations for community groups, corporations, churches, schools, and agencies covering domestic violence awareness and prevention.
• Teen Dating Violence Prevention Program Prevention education targeted at teens to raise awareness about teen dating violence and promote healthy relationships in school and community settings.
• P.A.V.E. (Pathway to Advocacy for Violence-Free Living and Economic Empowerment) Voluntary program for families receiving TANF assistance offering client-centered advocacy including safety planning, counseling, legal advocacy, and job search services as an alternative to traditional work requirements.
• Bridge S.P.A.N. Healthcare Advocacy Program Hospital-based victim advocacy program linking hospitals and clinics to community resources, offering safety assistance, legal resources, counseling referrals, and police reporting support to survivors identified in healthcare settings.
• Education and Training Programs (Request a Speaker) Domestic violence education and training delivered on request to schools, churches, workplaces, and events, covering topics such as healthy relationships and teen dating violence prevention.

Quantifiable outcome

• Comprehensive services to thousands of persons throughout the community each year

Named customers5 records

Segments5 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 core and minor.

• Do Good for Erin FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 October 2024The Do Good for Erin Foundation provided a grant to Friends of Yates to fund the construction of the Della Gill/Joyce H. Williams Domestic Violence Center's new Respite Playground and Park Area. The foundation was started as a comfy clothing drive in memory of Erin Langhofer, a 25-year-old social worker who served domestic violence survivors and was killed in August 2019. The foundation is dedicated to supporting domestic violence programming and violence-free living initiatives across the Kansas City Metropolitan Area.
• Ray-Ann Memorial FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024The Ray-Ann Memorial Foundation, founded by Gayle Williams who lost two daughters in a domestic violence incident in 2017, made a Mother's Day donation of household goods and food items to Friends of Yates. The foundation aims to form partnerships with DV shelters and other organizations to help women and children in domestic violence situations.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of KansasminorOthersCorporate sponsor and partner of Friends of Yates, supporting the organization's mission to combat domestic violence and provide support services.
• EK Building ExcellenceminorOthersCorporate sponsor and partner of Friends of Yates.
• Gates BBQminorOthersCorporate sponsor and partner of Friends of Yates.
• Geiger Ready-MixminorOthersCorporate sponsor and partner of Friends of Yates.
• JE DunnminorOthersCorporate sponsor and partner of Friends of Yates.
• Liberty BankminorOthersCorporate sponsor and partner of Friends of Yates.
• RMC Rodriguez Mechanical ContractorsminorOthersCorporate sponsor and partner of Friends of Yates.
• Sherwin WilliamsminorOthersCorporate sponsor and partner of Friends of Yates.
• Jayhawk & Son One-Day CleanersminorOthersCorporate sponsor and partner of Friends of Yates.
• Kansas City Board of Public UtilitiesminorOthersCorporate sponsor and partner of Friends of Yates.
• Wyandotte County Sheriff's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in the Crime Awareness Coordinating Effort (C.A.C.E.), presenting the annual forum-style panel discussion on combatting crime and promoting healing in Wyandotte County.
• Kansas City Kansas Police Department Victim Services UnitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in C.A.C.E. events and ongoing referrals of domestic violence survivors to Friends of Yates services.
• Wyandotte County District Attorney's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the C.A.C.E. initiative and collaborative efforts to honor crime victims and provide victim assistance services.
• Wyandotte County Christian Church PiecemakersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization that donated hand-made quilts to Friends of Yates for survivors.
• Metropolitan Family Violence Coalition (MFVC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFriends of Yates is a participant in this collaborative effort representing the six domestic violence programs in the Greater Kansas City Area, committed to providing safety for domestic violence victims across the metropolitan area.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• YWCA Greater Kansas City: As a broader YWCA affiliate operating domestic violence, sexual assault, and economic empowerment programs across the KC metro, YWCA Greater Kansas City is the institutional successor to the Yates Branch YWCA lineage and a directly comparable nonprofit DV/women's-services provider at greater scale.

Others

• Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence: KCSDV is the statewide coalition providing training, funding pass-through, and policy advocacy to Kansas domestic violence programs including Friends of Yates; it serves as a critical funding intermediary and peer network rather than a direct service competitor.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: The National Domestic Violence Hotline operates a 24/7 crisis line and resource directory reaching survivors nationwide; it is thematically aligned with Friends of Yates' 24-hour crisis hotline function and routing pathway for survivors in Wyandotte County.
• Metropolitan Family Violence Coalition: The MFVC is a collaborative of six KC-area domestic violence programs (including Friends of Yates) that coordinates regional response and shared advocacy; it is an ecosystem participant rather than a direct service competitor.

Direct peers

• Newhouse (previously Newhouse) Kansas City: Newhouse is a Kansas City domestic violence shelter and counseling organization serving women, children, and men fleeing intimate-partner violence; closely comparable to Friends of Yates as a regional DV shelter with emergency housing and trauma-informed services.
• Rose Brooks Center: Rose Brooks Center is a Kansas City-based domestic violence agency providing emergency shelter, counseling, court advocacy, and community education across the metro—directly comparable to Friends of Yates in service scope, geography, and survivor-centered model, and part of the same Metropolitan Family Violence Coalition.
• Hope House (Kansas City): Hope House operates shelter and advocacy services for survivors of domestic violence in the Kansas City area; its direct service model, 24-hour crisis line, and shelter operations mirror Friends of Yates' core offerings and make it a same-metro functional peer.
• SAFEHOME: SAFEHOME is an Overland Park, Kansas-based domestic violence services provider offering emergency shelter, advocacy, counseling, and prevention education—directly comparable as a Kansas-side DV shelter with overlapping service categories and a regional draw overlapping Friends of Yates' service area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/friendsofyates
• Facebookfacebook.com/FriendsofYates
• Instagraminstagram.com/friendsofyates

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles29 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 Friends of Yates