Adwas

What Adwas does

ADWAS (Abused Deaf Women's Advocacy Services) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1986 and headquartered at 8623 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, Washington (EIN #91-1339173). The organization provides free advocacy, counseling, children's programming, and supportive housing services for Deaf, DeafBlind, and DeafDisabled survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and gender-based violence across King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. ADWAS also operates The Deaf Hotline, a 24/7 national crisis line (local 206-812-1001, national 855-812-1001), serving Deaf survivors regardless of geographic residency.

ADWAS's service portfolio is structured around four core programs — Advocacy (safety planning, legal advocacy, system navigation), Counseling (crisis counseling, individual/family therapy, group therapy, support groups), Children's Program (therapy, support groups, advocacy, summer camps), and Supportive Housing (A Place of Our Own, a 19-unit Section 8-subsidized program for low-income homeless families). The organization also runs three summer camp formats for children ages 3–12: Preschool Camp, Deaf Camp, and CODA (Children of Deaf Adults) Camp. All services are provided free of charge to survivors, with no client-side pricing. The underlying 'technology' is the organization's linguistic and cultural capacity — a Deaf-led service model with ASL fluency as a core competency — rather than a proprietary software or platform. Service delivery occurs via in-person office hours, remote email/videophone Monday–Friday 9am–5pm PT, and the 24/7 hotline.

ADWAS generates revenue through a diversified mix of individual donations (average $227.68, top donation $2,000), foundation and government grants, workplace giving (Combined Federal Campaign, Combined Fund Drive, King County Employee Giving Program), and planned giving/bequests. Major funders include Boeing Employees Community Fund, Catherine Holmes Wilkins Charitable Foundation, Mary Kay Ash Foundation, King County DCHS, King County Veterans/Seniors/Human Services Levy, Washington State DSHS, Office of Crime Victims Advocacy, Seattle Mayor's Office on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, and federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds. Strategic community partners include YWCA Seattle/King/Snohomish, Api Chaya, Coalition Ending Gender Based Violence, Deaf Spotlight, Hearing Speech and Deaf Center, National Domestic Violence Hotline, and the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; 990 forms are referenced as publicly available.

Name

Adwas

Legal name

Abused Deaf Women's Advocacy Services

Website

https://adwas.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ADWAS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1986 and headquartered in Seattle that provides free advocacy, counseling, children's programming, and 19-unit supportive housing to Deaf, DeafBlind, and DeafDisabled survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault across three Washington State counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services / Domestic Violence Advocacy

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAFAF

Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Civil Rights, Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations

SECONDARYEDAJAKAI

Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Special Education Services

Keywords

• Deaf advocacy services
• Domestic violence support
• Crisis intervention services
• Survivor housing programs
• Community education outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: ADWAS generates revenue through individual donations, with an average donation of $227.68 and top donation of $2,000. Donations are accepted via check, stock transfers, car donations through Donate for Charity, and AmazonSmile purchases.
2. Foundation and Government Grants: ADWAS receives funding from multiple foundations and government sources including Boeing Employees Community Fund, Catherine Holmes Wilkins Charitable Foundation, King County Veterans Seniors & Human Services Levy, King County Department of Community and Human Services, Mary Kay Ash Foundation, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Office of Crime Victims Advocacy, Seattle Mayor's Office on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, and Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds.
3. Workplace Giving Programs: ADWAS accepts workplace payroll deductions through Combined Federal Campaign (CFC #51954), Combined Fund Drive for state employees (CFD #031613), and King County Employee Giving Campaign (KCEGP #9615).
4. Planned Giving and Bequests: ADWAS accepts gifts paid over the year(s) through pledge payments and gifts designated through wills and estates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ADWAS is a Deaf-led nonprofit that provides free advocacy, counseling, supportive housing, and children's programs for Deaf, DeafBlind, and DeafDisabled survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and gender-based violence. The organization operates a 24/7 Deaf Hotline, in-person advocacy at its Seattle office, and runs summer camps for Deaf and CODA children. All services are provided at no cost to residents of King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties in Washington State.

Product overview

ADWAS provides a comprehensive suite of survivor-centered programs for Deaf, DeafBlind, and DeafDisabled individuals and families affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and gender-based violence. Core programs include the Advocacy Program, Counseling Program, Children's Program, and Supportive Housing Program (A Place of Our Own). The organization also operates The Deaf Hotline (24/7), and offers seasonal Children's Summer Camps in three formats: Preschool Camp (ages 3-5), Deaf Camp (ages 6-12), and CODA Camp (ages 6-12). All services are free of charge and designed to be fully accessible.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advocacy Program Free advocacy services for Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing survivors of domestic and sexual violence, including safety planning, legal advocacy, and connections to resources.
• Counseling Program Short-term crisis counseling, ongoing individual and family therapy, group therapy, and support groups for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
• Children's Program Therapy, support groups, advocacy, and structured educational and recreational activities for children affected by domestic violence or sexual assault.
• Supportive Housing Program (A Place of Our Own) 19-unit supportive housing program with subsidized units for low-income families who are homeless, providing housing stability and supportive services.
• The Deaf Hotline 24/7 national hotline (Local: 206-812-1001; National: 855-812-1001) providing crisis support and resources for Deaf survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
• Preschool Summer Camp Free summer camp for Deaf and CODA preschoolers ages 3-5, featuring ocean-themed activities, language development, and peer interaction in a signing environment.
• Deaf Summer Camp Free summer camp for Deaf children ages 6-12, offering recreational and educational activities in an accessible environment.
• CODA Summer Camp Free summer camp for Children of Deaf Adults (CODA) ages 6-12, featuring field trips, creative arts, and drama activities in partnership with Deaf Spotlight.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• YWCA (Seattle, King & Snohomish)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with YWCA providing services and shelter to domestic violence survivors across the region.
• Api ChayacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization collaborating to strengthen services for survivors.
• Coalition Ending Gender Based Violence (CEGBV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional coalition partner working to end gender-based violence through coordinated community response.
• Deaf SpotlightcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeaf arts and cultural organization. ADWAS partners with Deaf Spotlight for drama programming at CODA Camp 2026, with the drama team helping campers prepare a play performance.
• Hearing Speech and Deaf Center (HSDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional organization providing hearing, speech, and deaf services. Community partner supporting accessible services.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational hotline partner providing 24/7 support and referrals for domestic violence survivors.
• Washington State Coalition against Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault (WSCADVSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide coalition working to end domestic violence and sexual assault through advocacy, education, and policy.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center (HSDC): Seattle-based nonprofit serving Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing individuals across the Pacific Northwest with advocacy, interpreting, and community services. Operates in the same regional Deaf-services ecosystem and is a named community partner of ADWAS.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: Operates a national 24/7 hotline and referral network for DV survivors. ADWAS partners with NDVH on Deaf survivor referrals and operates The Deaf Hotline as a complementary national crisis line, making them directly comparable in mission and hotline delivery model.
• Api Chaya: Seattle-based nonprofit providing culturally specific DV and sexual assault services to survivors from API communities. Listed as a community partner of ADWAS; comparable as a culturally specific DV advocacy nonprofit in the same Seattle ecosystem.
• YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish: Regional DV provider offering shelter, advocacy, and counseling across the same King/Pierce/Snohomish service area as ADWAS. ADWAS has a formal strategic partnership with YWCA for shelter and DV services, making it a directly comparable peer in geography and core service mix.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of the Deaf (NAD): Largest civil rights organization representing Deaf and Hard of Hearing Americans, advocating for accessibility and equal opportunity. Broader in scope than ADWAS but operates in the same disability rights/Deaf advocacy space and competes for similar federal and foundation funding.
• Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WSCADV): Statewide coalition coordinating DV prevention and survivor services across Washington. ADWAS is a member organization; WSCADV is a broader-incumbent policy/training body that channels state and federal funding to member agencies like ADWAS.

Regional players

• Domestic Violence Center of Santa Clara County: Regional DV provider offering counseling, advocacy, and shelter in California. Comparable as a multi-service regional DV organization with similar program mix to ADWAS (advocacy, counseling, housing), though serves a different geographic market.
• Safe Alliance (Austin, TX): Texas-based DV and sexual assault provider with shelter, advocacy, and counseling services. Comparable as a multi-service DV nonprofit model; serves a different geography than ADWAS but operates a similarly integrated service portfolio.

Emerging players

• Deaf Counseling Center: Provides ASL-accessible mental health and counseling services to Deaf individuals nationwide, including DV-related therapy. Comparable as an emerging Deaf-led provider of counseling/mental health services, though narrower in scope than ADWAS's full advocacy+housing+hotlinemix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/adwas_seattle
• Facebookfacebook.com/ADWAServices
• Instagraminstagram.com/adwas_seattle

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Adwas