What Empower Work does

Empower Work is a California-based nonprofit (EIN: 82-2696116) founded in 2017 by Jaime-Alexis Fowler that operates a free, confidential peer counseling service for U.S. workers facing workplace challenges. Users access the service primarily through SMS text to 510-674-1414 or a web chat widget on empowerwork.org, and are typically connected to a trained volunteer peer counselor—a working professional from a different industry—within ten minutes during operating hours (weekdays 8:30am-8pm PT). Counselors provide one-on-one emotional support, practical coaching, and personalized action plans covering issues such as bullying, harassment, discrimination, job loss, manager conflicts, burnout, salary negotiations, and unsafe working conditions. The service is targeted at any U.S. worker in need of confidential workplace support, with particular focus on underserved populations including women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, first-generation professionals, and vulnerable or hourly workers. Since launch, the organization reports having supported over 500,000 people, with self-reported outcomes of 91% feeling helped and 90%+ would recommend.

The platform is built on text and web chat infrastructure with an anonymized architecture where peer counselors do not see phone numbers. The most recent product addition is an optional AI-generated follow-up feature branded as 'Next Steps Helper' (also referenced as 'Ask Mackenzie') that uses generative AI and natural language processing to produce private post-conversation summaries, key takeaways, suggested resources, and next steps, accessible via a secure link and verification code. Empower Work also offers Healthy Workplace Trainings and Workshops for businesses and organizations as a service product, alongside an extensive blog resource library and published research reports covering workplace trends (e.g., 2024 Hidden Realities of Job Searching, 2022 State of Vulnerable Workers, 2020 COVID and Gender Pay Gap research).

The organization operates on a donation-funded, non-transactional model: the service is 100% free to end users, with no subscription, pricing tier, or fee structure. Revenue consists of individual donations, foundation grants, and corporate partnerships that are philanthropic rather than revenue-generating in nature. Notable documented funding includes a $100,000 Pineapple Fund grant in 2017, and corporate partnerships include Verizon's Total Wireless ('Total Spark' social impact program) and Visible ('Connection Protection' program). Distribution relies on community-led and direct-to-consumer channels—PR/media coverage in Forbes, Quartz, NPR, and Fast Company; organic social; conference speaking; community partnerships with workforce organizations (SkillUp, NPower, Per Scholas, MAM-Houston, YUU Alumni); and an emerging institutional channel through public libraries.

Name

Empower Work

Legal name

Empower Work

Website

https://empowerwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Empower Work is a nonprofit that provides free, confidential text- and chat-based peer counseling to U.S. workers facing workplace challenges, delivered by trained volunteer working professionals, with an optional AI-generated post-conversation follow-up feature.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workplace Support Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Worksite Financial Wellness & Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) (FSAIAMAN)

Keywords

• Peer counseling service
• Workplace support
• Text-based counseling
• Employee mental health
• Workplace conflict resolution

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Empower Work is a nonprofit organization (EIN: 82-2696116) funded entirely by generous donors. The service is free to all users thanks to donations, volunteers, and partners. Revenue comes from individual donors, foundation grants, and corporate sponsors.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with corporations (e.g., Verizon's Total Wireless, Visible) provide program funding and expand reach to working populations. These are not revenue-generating arrangements but rather philanthropic/mission-aligned contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Empower Work is a nonprofit that provides free, confidential peer counseling to U.S. workers via SMS text and web chat. Trained volunteer peer counselors help people navigate workplace challenges such as harassment, burnout, job loss, and manager conflicts, delivering personalized support and action plans, with an optional AI-generated follow-up summary.

Product overview

Empower Work offers a single unified product: a free, confidential peer counseling service delivered via SMS text and web chat. The core service connects workers with trained volunteer peer counselors who provide personalized support and action plans for workplace challenges. The company has also developed an AI-powered feature called 'Next Steps Helper' (Ask Mackenzie) that generates optional AI follow-up summaries after conversations. Additionally, Empower Work provides corporate training programs for organizations seeking to build healthier workplace environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Empower Work Peer Counseling Service A confidential, free text (510-674-1414) and web chat service connecting U.S. workers with trained volunteer peer counselors for one-on-one support and action plans on workplace issues including bullying, harassment, job loss, burnout, and manager conflicts.
• Next Steps Helper (Ask Mackenzie) An optional AI-generated follow-up feature that provides users with a private summary of their conversation, key takeaways, suggested resources, and next steps via a secure link and verification code after certain text conversations.
• Healthy Workplace Trainings and Workshops Tailored training programs for businesses and organizations to foster healthy work environments, plus group trainings for employees interested in becoming Empower Work peer counselors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of users felt Empower Work helped them navigate their work situation
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Public LibrariescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Empower Work partners with public libraries nationwide to help workers access confidential support through trusted community institutions. Libraries serve as access points for connecting patrons to workplace resources.
• Verizon's Total WirelesscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2025Total Spark is Total Wireless's first-ever social impact program, developed in partnership with Empower Work to support working students with free workplace coaching and resources.
• SkillUpminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorkforce development partner helping connect job seekers and workers to Empower Work's free confidential support services for workplace challenges.
• YUU AlumniminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAlumni network partner connecting members to workplace support resources through Empower Work.
• NPowerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnology workforce nonprofit connecting young adults and veterans to career resources, including partnership with Empower Work for workplace support.
• MAM-HoustonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHouston-based community organization partnership to reach local workers with Empower Work's confidential support services.
• Per ScholasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnology workforce development nonprofit partnership connecting trainees to workplace support services during career transitions.
• Visible (Verizon)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnection Protection program partnership between Visible and Empower Work. Applicants receive recurring automated informational SMS messages with workplace support resources as part of Visible's social impact initiative.
• Office of the Surgeon GeneralcoreOthersFounder Jaime-Alexis Fowler joined a panel hosted by the Office of the Surgeon General in October 2022 when the nation announced its Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being.
• Mental Health of AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrusted partner organization for more serious mental health-related issues. Referrals to MHA when users need specialized mental health support beyond workplace issues.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Modern Health: Modern Health is a global mental health platform for employers offering coaching, therapy and self-guided content via app and chat. Comparable as an employer-funded workplace mental health service competing for the same end users and corporate wellness budgets.
• Spring Health: Spring Health provides precision mental health benefits to employers, with digital self-service, coaching and therapy. Comparable as a paid workplace EAP/mental health platform competing for the same employer contracts Empower Work accesses via Verizon and library partnerships.
• Calm Business: Calm Business offers mindfulness, meditation and wellness content to employers. Comparable as a workplace wellness/mental health channel that competes with Empower Work for employer wellness sponsorship and employee mindshare.
• Talkspace: Talkspace provides online therapy and EAP services delivered via text and video to consumers and employers. Comparable as a text-based mental health service that overlaps with Empower Work's chat-based delivery model for workplace issues.
• Lyra Health: Lyra Health provides mental health and EAP benefits to employers, including live text-based coaching and therapy. Most directly comparable paid analog to Empower Work's free peer counseling model, differentiated by employer-paid funding and broader clinical scope.
• Crisis Text Line: Crisis Text Line provides 24/7 free text-based crisis support staffed by trained volunteers — the closest mission-aligned analog to Empower Work, differentiated by crisis (vs workplace) focus and 24/7 coverage.
• 7 Cups: 7 Cups offers free text-based peer support and paid therapy. Comparable as a text-first peer counseling platform that overlaps with Empower Work's anonymous chat delivery model and similar demographic targeting.
• Headspace for Work: Headspace for Work sells mindfulness, coaching and mental health resources to employers. Comparable as a workplace mental wellness channel and an indirect competitor for the corporate partnership dollars Empower Work pursues.

Others

• Mental Health America: Mental Health America is a national nonprofit providing mental health screening, resources and advocacy — explicitly listed as a referral partner for Empower Work. Comparable as a mission-adjacent nonprofit, not a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Ginger (now part of Headspace): Ginger, now part of Headspace, delivers on-demand text-based coaching, therapy and psychiatry through employer benefits. Comparable as a larger, well-capitalized incumbent offering text-based mental health support that overlaps with Empower Work's text channel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=2IO0KiL9SpI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/empower-work
• Xx.com/empowerwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Empower Work