NextStep Domestic Violence Project
NextStep Domestic Violence Project is a Maine-based 501c3 nonprofit that provides free 24/7 helpline, shelter, legal, housing, and education services to domestic violence survivors in Hancock and Washington Counties, funded by donations, community sponsorships, and government grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersEllsworth, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What NextStep Domestic Violence Project does
NextStep Domestic Violence Project is a 501c3 nonprofit (Tax ID 01-0482508) that provides free, confidential support to people affected by domestic violence in Hancock and Washington Counties, Maine. Founded in 1984 as a satellite of the Spruce Run Association, becoming independent in 1990 and expanding county-wide in 2004, the organization operates from offices in Ellsworth and Machias and runs a 24/7 helpline at 1-800-315-5579. Service lines include emergency shelter, legal assistance and court accompaniment, supportive housing, support groups, safety planning, community education, and youth education delivered through schools and the Relationship Rewind podcast on WERU 89.9FM.
The underlying technology stack is intentionally lean: Empower DB, a client data management system protected under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), is used to track survivors served and satisfy funder reporting requirements; the website additionally embeds the Recite Me accessibility toolbar for screen-reader and translation support. There are no commercial software products, mobile applications, or AI components.
Revenue is generated entirely through donations (individual and corporate), community sponsorships (e.g., Machias Savings Bank underwriting the June Legal Clinic, Darling's funding a PSA campaign), and federal and state government grants administered under the VAWA framework. All services are provided free of charge to survivors regardless of whether they choose to leave their relationship. NextStep is a member of the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence and coordinates with the Wabanaki Women's Coalition and a local Law Enforcement Task Force for cross-agency survivor support and abuser accountability.
NextStep Domestic Violence Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- NextStep Domestic Violence Project
- Legal name
- NextStep Domestic Violence Project
- Website
- https://nextstepdvproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- NextStep Domestic Violence Project is a Maine-based 501c3 nonprofit that provides free 24/7 helpline, shelter, legal, housing, and education services to domestic violence survivors in Hancock and Washington Counties, funded by donations, community sponsorships, and government grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
NextStep Domestic Violence Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Domestic Violence and Social Services
- NAICS
- Individual and Family Services (6241), 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
- Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response (BPAGAAAG), Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)
Keywords
Where NextStep Domestic Violence Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ellsworth
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
NextStep Domestic Violence Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations: Individual donations from community members supporting the nonprofit's mission. The organization is a 501c3 nonprofit with Tax ID #01-0482508.
- Community Sponsorships: Local businesses sponsor specific programs and services. Example: Machias Savings Bank sponsors the June Legal Clinic.
- Government Funding: Federal and state funding to satisfy reporting requirements. The organization shares general demographic information with funders.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | All services free |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
NextStep Domestic Violence Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NextStep Domestic Violence Project is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides free, confidential crisis intervention, emergency shelter, and ongoing support services to survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking in Hancock and Washington Counties, Maine. The organization delivers a 24/7 helpline, emergency shelter, legal advocacy, support groups, supportive housing, and community- and youth-focused prevention education.
Product overview
NextStep Domestic Violence Project is a nonprofit social services organization that does not offer a software product or technology platform. Instead, it provides a suite of direct support services for survivors of domestic violence, including a 24/7 Helpline (1-800-315-5579), emergency shelter, legal services, support groups, supportive housing, and community and youth education programs. The organization also produces the Relationship Rewind Podcast as an educational resource and distributes safety planning materials. Services are free and primarily serve Hancock and Washington Counties in Maine.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Relationship Rewind: A podcast program that analyzes relationships in movies, TV shows, and other media to discuss healthy and unhealthy relationship dynamics. Airs on WERU Community Radio 89.9FM and streams on Spotify and Apple Music.
Products and services
- 24/7 Helpline
- Emergency Shelter
- Legal Services
- Support Groups
- Supportive Housing
- Community Education
- Youth Prevention Education
Companies that use NextStep Domestic Violence Project
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
NextStep Domestic Violence Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
NextStep Domestic Violence Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Machias Savings BankminorCommunity sponsor for NextStep's June Legal Clinic. Demonstrates local business support for survivors in Hancock and Washington counties.
- Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence (MCEDV)coreNextStep is a member of the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence, which coordinates domestic violence resource centers throughout Maine to create communities where domestic abuse no longer exists.
- Wabanaki Women's CoalitioncoreCoalition focused on increasing capacity of tribal communities to respond to domestic and sexual violence, and influencing systems to increase awareness, safety, justice, and healing.
- WERU Community Radio 89.9FMcoreBroadcast partner for Relationship Rewind podcast, airing monthly on WERU 89.9FM from 4:30-5:00 pm and streaming at WERU.org, mobile app, Spotify, and Apple Music.
- Darling'sminorLocal community partner that funded NextStep's PSA video campaign featuring staff members. Their commitment to charitable giving enables awareness collaborations.
- Partners for PeacecoreCo-episode on Relationship Rewind podcast featuring both organizations' executive directors discussing their partnership and celebrating 30th (NextStep) and 50th (Partners for Peace) year milestones.
- Law Enforcement Task ForcecoreTask Force comprising representatives from police departments, probation, and district attorney's office to ensure abuser accountability and victim safety.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
NextStep Domestic Violence Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- YWCA: National nonprofit network with many local affiliates operating DV shelters, hotlines, and sexual violence response programs — including YWCA Maine affiliates serving similar populations. Comparable free-service DV offerings, but at significantly larger national scale.
- Safe Horizon: Large New York City-based nonprofit operating DV shelters, hotlines, court advocacy, and youth programs. Comparable service continuum but vastly larger urban scale and budget relative to NextStep's rural two-county operation.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: National 24/7 crisis hotline and referral service for DV survivors. Comparable as a free, helpline-anchored DV response organization, but operates nationally and at much larger scale than NextStep's two-county focus.
Direct peers
- Wabanaki Women's Coalition: Maine-based coalition serving tribal communities on domestic and sexual violence response, awareness, and healing. Directly comparable mission and listed as a core strategic partner of NextStep; both operate at the intersection of DV services and tribal community capacity-building.
- Hope House: Maine DV organization providing emergency shelter, advocacy, and community education in central Maine. Comparable as a rural MCEDV-member DV resource center with similar staff size and free service model.
- Spruce Run Association: Maine's first domestic violence project and NextStep's organizational predecessor. Operates as a Penobscot/Piscataquis County DV resource center offering shelter, advocacy, and youth programming — a near-identical operating model in an adjacent rural geography.
- Family Violence Project: Maine DV resource center serving Kennebec and Somerset Counties with shelter, legal advocacy, and youth prevention. Directly comparable service portfolio and rural-county footprint as a fellow MCEDV member.
- Partners for Peace: Maine-based domestic violence resource center offering shelter, advocacy, and education across central, eastern, and northern Maine. Most directly comparable to NextStep — both are MCEDV member organizations delivering the same continuum of free DV services in rural Maine counties and even co-produce the Relationship Rewind podcast.
- New Hope for Women: Maine DV resource center serving Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, and Waldo Counties with helpline, shelter, legal advocacy, and youth prevention. Closely matches NextStep's service mix, rural county footprint, and MCEDV membership.
Others
- Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence (MCEDV): Statewide coalition of which NextStep is a member; MCEDV coordinates and advocates on behalf of Maine's DV resource centers. Comparable mission focus but operates as an umbrella/funding intermediary rather than as a direct service provider, so it functions as an ecosystem partner rather than a competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
NextStep Domestic Violence Project social profiles
Digital presenceNextStep Domestic Violence Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NextStep Domestic Violence Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
NextStep Domestic Violence Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NextStep Domestic Violence Project M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about NextStep Domestic Violence Project
What does NextStep Domestic Violence Project do?
NextStep Domestic Violence Project is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides free, confidential crisis intervention, emergency shelter, and ongoing support services to survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking in Hancock and Washington Counties, Maine. The organization delivers a 24/7 helpline, emergency shelter, legal advocacy, support groups, supportive housing, and community- and youth-focused prevention education.
Is NextStep Domestic Violence Project a public or private company?
NextStep Domestic Violence Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was NextStep Domestic Violence Project founded?
NextStep Domestic Violence Project was founded in 1984. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is NextStep Domestic Violence Project based?
NextStep Domestic Violence Project is headquartered in Ellsworth, United States, in the North America region.
How does NextStep Domestic Violence Project make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are community Sponsorships and government Funding.
Who are NextStep Domestic Violence Project's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are YWCA, Safe Horizon and National Domestic Violence Hotline. Direct peers are Wabanaki Women's Coalition, Hope House, Spruce Run Association, Family Violence Project, Partners for Peace and New Hope for Women. Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence (MCEDV) is listed as an others.
Does NextStep Domestic Violence Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for NextStep Domestic Violence Project.
What industry is NextStep Domestic Violence Project in?
NextStep Domestic Violence Project's product category is Domestic Violence and Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAD, Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services, with a secondary code of BPAGAAAG, Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response. Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8300.