What TESSA does

TESSA is a Colorado Springs-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 84-0746803), founded in 1975, that delivers trauma-informed services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking across El Paso and Teller Counties in Southern Colorado. Its integrated service model centers on three functions: a confidential Safehouse emergency shelter, a comprehensive advocacy and recovery program suite (24/7 Safeline crisis hotline, legal advocacy, clinical therapy by licensed clinicians, housing assistance, and case management), and community prevention education delivered to schools, businesses, and organizations. All services are provided at no cost to survivors regardless of income, immigration status, or documentation, and information is not shared without written consent. The organization reports 10,571 crisis calls answered, 5,992 nights of shelter, and 7,376 students receiving prevention education in 2025.

TESSA operates a community-led go-to-market model: outreach and intake occur through the 24/7 Safeline, walk-in services at the 435 Gold Pass Heights headquarters, the confidential safehouse, and direct education engagements, supplemented by partnerships with Pikes Peak United Way, Give an Hour, and Easter Seals Colorado. Revenue is sourced from tax-deductible individual and organizational donations, community fundraising events (Pasta in the Park, Bleating Heart Night), earned media partnerships such as the KOAA News5 Day of Giving, and government service agreements — most notably a $350,000 Douglas County service agreement approved in March 2025 to establish a third-county shelter. The organization is expanding operationally into Douglas County by fall 2025 and holds a Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating and a GuideStar/Candid Platinum Transparency Seal.

The underlying technology footprint is intentionally lean: a Squarespace-hosted public website (tessacs.org) for service information, donations, and volunteer intake; telephone-based crisis delivery; and in-person program operations. TESSA has no mobile application, no public API, and no disclosed AI, machine-learning, or automation capabilities, with service confidentiality requirements constraining digital data collection. Strategic direction is defined by geographic and programmatic expansion rather than technology differentiation.

Name

TESSA

Legal name

TESSA

Website

https://tessacs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TESSA is a Colorado Springs-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1975, that provides free, confidential crisis, shelter, legal, clinical, housing, and prevention-education services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking across Southern Colorado.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Victim Advocacy Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Legal Aid) (BPADADAH), Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM)

Keywords

• Victim advocacy services
• Domestic violence support
• Crisis intervention hotline
• Emergency shelter services
• Trauma-informed counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Colorado Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: TESSA operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 84-0746803) relying primarily on charitable donations from individuals, organizations, and community supporters. Donations are tax-deductible.
2. Government Grants and Service Agreements: TESSA receives government funding through service agreements, such as the $350,000 Douglas County service agreement to establish a domestic violence shelter.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

TESSA is a nonprofit victim advocacy organization that delivers free, confidential, trauma-informed services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. Its core offerings include a 24/7 crisis hotline (Safeline), emergency safehouse shelter, legal advocacy, clinical therapy, housing assistance, children and teen support, and community prevention education, all provided at no cost to individuals and families.

Product overview

TESSA is a nonprofit victim advocacy organization providing a comprehensive suite of confidential support services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. The organization operates a single integrated service model built around three core functions: emergency safehouse shelter, comprehensive advocacy programs (legal, clinical, housing, and case management), and community prevention education. The 24/7 Safeline serves as the primary access point connecting individuals to all services including the Safehouse emergency shelter, legal advocacy, clinical therapy, housing assistance, and youth programs. All services are provided at no cost and are confidential.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 24/7 Safeline Crisis Hotline A 24/7 confidential crisis hotline providing immediate support, safety planning, and connections to resources for individuals affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. Reachable at (719) 633-3819.
• Safehouse Emergency Shelter Confidential emergency shelter providing safe housing for women, men, and children fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking, with placement based on safety and lethality assessment.
• Legal Advocacy Services Legal advocates assist survivors with protection orders, family law matters related to safety and abuse, and may accompany survivors to court proceedings.
• Clinical Services Individual and group therapy tailored for adults who have experienced trauma from abuse, provided by licensed and supervised pre-licensed clinicians including graduate-level interns.
• Housing Program Housing assistance helping survivors transition to stable, long-term housing with case management, rental assistance, and community referrals.
• Prevention Education and Outreach Community education programs covering healthy relationships, consent, abuse prevention, bystander intervention, and trauma-informed care delivered to schools, businesses, and organizations.
• Children and Teen Services Support programs for children and teens impacted by abuse, including case management, prevention education, and youth-specific advocacy services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,571 crisis calls answered in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Douglas CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2025Douglas County approved a $350,000 service agreement with TESSA to establish a domestic violence shelter, with expansion planned for fall 2025.
• Pikes Peak United WaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing community funding and resource coordination for TESSA's services in the Pikes Peak region.
• Give an HourcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing mental health and support services for survivors accessing TESSA's programs.
• Easter Seals ColoradocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing additional support services and resources for survivors and families.
• KOAA News5minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partnership for Day of Giving campaign to raise awareness about domestic violence and support survivors in the community.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): Largest US anti-sexual-violence organization operating the National Sexual Assault Hotline and survivor support services. Directly comparable in operating confidential crisis hotlines, survivor services, and prevention education for sexual assault, which is a core TESSA service line.
• ECPAT-USA: US affiliate of an international network combating human trafficking and exploitation, providing advocacy, training, and survivor support. Directly comparable because TESSA explicitly lists human trafficking as one of its core survivor populations.
• National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV): National membership and advocacy organization for state and local domestic violence coalitions and service providers. Comparable in mission focus on DV intervention and policy, though it operates at the umbrella/advocacy level rather than direct service.

Broad incumbents

• YWCA USA: National federation of local YWCAs many of which operate domestic violence shelters, sexual assault services, and advocacy programs. Comparable because local YWCAs compete with TESSA for the same donor dollars, government grants, and survivor clients in many US regions.
• Catholic Charities USA: Large national network of social service agencies that frequently operate domestic violence, housing, and crisis programs. Comparable as a broader social-services incumbent that overlaps with TESSA's mission and competes for similar federal, state, and faith-based funding pools.

Regional players

• SafeHouse Denver: Denver-area nonprofit providing emergency shelter, advocacy, and counseling for survivors of domestic violence. Highly comparable to TESSA in service mix (shelter + advocacy + clinical) and operates in an adjacent Colorado geography, making it a direct regional peer.
• Family Violence Prevention Services (San Antonio): Texas-based nonprofit operating a domestic violence shelter, children's services, and community education programs. Comparable as a multi-service DV nonprofit with shelter + education + youth programming, but serving a different region.

Others

• Pikes Peak United Way: United Way affiliate covering the Pikes Peak region (El Paso and Teller counties). Comparable as an ecosystem partner and funding intermediary that funnels donations to TESSA and similar social-service agencies; not a direct competitor but a closely linked adjacent organization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TESSAofCO
• Xx.com/TESSAofCS
• Facebookfacebook.com/TESSAofColoradoSprings
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tessaofcos

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 TESSA