Alabaster Jar Project

What Alabaster Jar Project does

Alabaster Jar Project is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, incorporated in 2013 and tax-exempt since July 2014, that serves women survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in San Diego County, with a specific concentration in North County San Diego. It operates three core programs: Grace House, a long-term (two-year, four-phase) residential program for up to five women at a time, housed in a permanent home since 2021; a drop-in Resource Center providing clothing, toiletries, food, case management, and referrals for survivors in crisis, recovery, and aftercare; and survivor-led peer support groups addressing trauma, relapse prevention, and life-skills topics. The organization also runs the RESTORE social enterprise, which produces and sells handcrafted bodycare items (lotion bars, lip balms, body scrubs, bath salts, neck pillows) manufactured by survivors as paid trauma-informed work experience.

The underlying technology footprint is intentionally minimal: a Squarespace-hosted public website, a social-solutions intake/referral channel for survivor services, a standalone e-commerce storefront for RESTORE products, and Givebutter for event registration and donations. There is no proprietary platform, no AI/ML capability, and no mobile application; differentiation rests on the survivor-led staffing model (approximately 70% of staff are program graduates) and the two-year phased residential model rather than on technology.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through philanthropy rather than earned income. The funding mix is 68.5% individual donations (including the tiered Jar Keepers monthly membership at $5–$500+/month), 30% institutional grants (anchored by San Diego Foundation), and 1.5% events and corporate sponsorship, supplemented by cause-marketing partnerships (Talitha Coffee, Rise Resale, Mission Federal Credit Union, Bonfire) and modest RESTORE product sales. The organization is governed by a volunteer board and led by Executive Director Jessica Elliott-Pomerenke, with a total staff of approximately 11 and an explicitly faith-rooted origin as a ministry of North Coast Calvary Church.

Name

Alabaster Jar Project

Legal name

Alabaster Jar Project

Website

https://alabasterjarproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Alabaster Jar Project is a San Diego County 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating Grace House (long-term residential program for up to five women), a drop-in Resource Center, peer support groups, and the RESTORE survivor-made bodycare social enterprise for survivors of human trafficking and exploitation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Trafficking Survivor Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Individual and Family Services (6241), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Other Community Housing Services (624229)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO)

Keywords

• Human trafficking services
• Survivor recovery programs
• Residential trauma care
• Peer support groups
• Antitrafficking nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

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, Others, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Primary revenue source at 68.5% of funding. Includes monthly recurring donations through Jar Keepers membership program and one-time gifts.
2. Grants: Grant funding constitutes 30% of revenue. Includes grants from San Diego Foundation and other institutional funders.
3. Events & Sponsorship: 1.5% of revenue from annual golf tournament, gala events, and corporate sponsorships.
4. RESTORE Social Enterprise Products: Handcrafted bodycare products (lotions, lip balms, body scrubs, bath salts) made by survivors, sold via e-commerce. Provides paid trauma-informed work experience.
5. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsorships, employee matching programs, and cause marketing partnerships (Talitha Coffee, Rise Resale, Amazon Wish List).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Alabaster Jar Project provides trauma-informed recovery services for adult survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in San Diego County. Core offerings include Grace House (a two-year, four-phase residential program for up to five women), a Resource Center drop-in facility supplying basic needs and case management, and survivor-led peer support groups. The RESTORE social enterprise sells handcrafted bodycare products to fund paid work experience for survivors.

Product overview

Alabaster Jar Project is a nonprofit organization offering a multi-program portfolio focused on empowering survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. The core programs include: Grace House (long-term residential housing with a two-year, four-phase program for up to five women), the Resource Center (drop-in support with clothing, toiletries, food, and referrals), and Peer Support Groups (survivor-led trauma-informed groups). The RESTORE social enterprise provides handcrafted bodycare products manufactured by survivors, creating paid work experience. The organization also operates donor engagement programs including the Jar Keepers monthly membership and hosts fundraising events (Annual Golf Tournament and The Next Chapter Gala). All programs are designed to support survivors through crisis, recovery, and long-term independence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Grace House: Long-term residential housing program providing a safe and nurturing living environment for survivors of trafficking and exploitation. A two-year program with four phases of customized wraparound services.
• Resource Center
• RESTORE

Products and services

• RESTORE Bodycare Products Handcrafted bodycare line (lotion bars, lip balms, body scrubs, bath salts, neck pillows, relief body balm) created by women survivors of human trafficking, providing paid, trauma-informed work experience. Sold online at $2-$25 per item.
• Grace House Residential Program Long-term, two-year residential program with four phases (Restorative Reflection, Empowerment, Community Integration, and Launch) serving up to five women survivors of trafficking and exploitation at a time in North County San Diego. Provides wraparound services beyond emergency shelter.
• Resource Center Drop-In Services Drop-in center providing care for survivors in crisis, recovery, and ongoing aftercare with tangible basic needs such as clothing, toiletries, food, transportation, case management, and referrals.
• Peer Support Groups Weekly survivor-led, trauma-informed peer support groups for navigating healing and recovery from trafficking and exploitation, covering topics on boundaries, 12 Steps, PTSD coping, and action planning.
• Jar Keepers Membership Program Monthly giving membership program with three tiers (Hope $5-$99, Restoration $100-$499, Leadership $500+) offering perks including quarterly impact updates, event tickets, product samples, and special recognition.
• Annual Golf Tournament Annual fundraising golf tournament held at Rancho Bernardo Inn with player registration at $175/individual or $700/team (4-person scramble), and corporate sponsorship opportunities.
• The Next Chapter Gala Annual gala event honoring survivors of human trafficking, featuring survivor stories and organizational updates, hosted at BoujieMana, with ticket sales and corporate sponsorships.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% of survivors transition to a healthy next step
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 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 minor and core.

• Talitha CoffeeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCoffee company offering 10% off purchases plus 10% of every purchase donated to AJP. Partnership provides cause marketing and donor engagement.
• Rise ResaleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity boutique in Rancho Bernardo that regularly donates proceeds and essential items to AJP, providing ongoing funding and in-kind donations.
• Amazon Wish ListminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon registry of curated items for survivors. Supporters purchase directly through Amazon, ensuring survivors receive needed supplies.
• BonfireminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMerchandise platform selling AJP shirts and apparel. A portion of every purchase supports the organization.
• Mission Federal Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing Partner$100 Mission For Non-Profit offer: When members open new Mission Fed accounts, $100 is donated to AJP. Valid through 12/31/25.
• USD Nursing SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with University of San Diego Nursing School students to implement Health and Wellness programming at Grace House, providing survivors with wellness training and healthy habit development.
• Corporate Sponsors (Six Flags, Others)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsors supporting events and programming. Includes event sponsors, in-kind service donors, and volunteer project providers.
• North Coast Calvary ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal founding church ministry. AJP began as a ministry of this church before becoming an independent 501(c)(3) in 2013.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Thistle Farms: Nonprofit social enterprise in Nashville employing survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction to manufacture and sell bodycare products. Operates a residential program and a Healhty, healed, employed model that closely parallels AJP's RESTORE social enterprise and Grace House.
• Starfish Project: Nonprofit social enterprise employing survivors of trafficking to create jewelry and accessories, sold globally online. Closely comparable to AJP's RESTORE in social-enterprise model, though operating a different product category.
• Wellspring Living: Atlanta-based nonprofit providing long-term residential programming (up to 18 months) and outreach for women survivors of domestic sex trafficking. Direct program analog to Grace House with similar phased residential model.
• Restore NYC: New York-based nonprofit providing long-term safe housing, education, and career development to foreign-born survivors of sex trafficking. Direct analog to AJP's long-term residential model with similar focus on holistic recovery.
• Magdalene House: Nonprofit in Nashville providing residential recovery and economic empowerment to women survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. Closely comparable to AJP's holistic residential-plus-social-enterprise model.
• GEMS (Girls Educational and Mentoring Services): New York-based nonprofit serving commercially sexually exploited and trafficked girls and young women with housing, education, and wraparound services. Direct program analog with similar survivor-led model.

Broad incumbents

• Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST): Los Angeles-based anti-trafficking organization providing direct services, housing, and legal aid to trafficking survivors. Operates broader program portfolio than AJP and serves a similar Southern California urban population.
• Polaris Project: National anti-trafficking organization operating the National Human Trafficking Hotline plus direct client services, policy advocacy, and survivor programs. Operates the U.S. infrastructure backbone (hotline, data) that AJP likely refers survivors to.
• Hope for Justice: International anti-trafficking nonprofit operating direct-service programs, residential recovery homes, and advocacy across multiple countries. Most comparable to AJP's Grace House model at scale, though operates with much broader geographic reach and resources.
• Safe Horizons: Large New York-based social services nonprofit with anti-trafficking programs including housing, counseling, and case management. Comparable in service breadth, though much larger and more diversified across issue areas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/JarAlabaster
• Facebookfacebook.com/alabasterjarproject

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Alabaster Jar Project