Freely In Hope

What Freely In Hope does

Freely In Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2010 by Nikole Lim and headquartered in Berkeley, California, with operational offices in Nairobi (Kenya) and Lusaka (Zambia). The organization equips survivors and advocates to lead in ending the cycle of sexual violence in Sub-Saharan Africa, where it reports more than 370 million girls and women have experienced rape or sexual assault before age 18. Its primary beneficiaries are young women survivors of sexual violence in Kenya and Zambia, with secondary beneficiaries including children (ages 4–10), faith-based organizations, NGOs, and government ministries seeking survivor-centered training.

The organization's underlying delivery model combines holistic education (academic scholarships paired with healthcare, counseling, safe housing, and legal aid), leadership development (training survivors to design and run their own programs), and storytelling platforms (ethical representation of survivors to drive advocacy and fundraising). Core proprietary assets include The Butterfly Effect retreat curriculum, the Pendo's Power children's book with caregiver and teacher guides, the Redeeming Sanctuaries church-facing resource kit, and the Liberation is Here book plus 10-series video course. Survivor-leaders staff all major program areas, and outcomes reported include 100% university scholar graduation and employment, 92% high school graduation among scholars versus 22%/6% national averages in Kenya and Zambia, and 6,000+ people directly impacted in 2023.

Revenue is generated across seven streams: individual donations (one-time and Hope Circle monthly giving at $20/$30/$60 tiers), corporate sponsorships ($5,000–$10,000+ tiers), curriculum licensing (Butterfly Effect, Redeeming Sanctuaries at $29/package), product sales through a WooCommerce storefront and major retailers (Bookshop.org, Amazon, Barnes & Noble), fee-for-service workshops (From Victims to Survivors, Transformational Leadership, Restorative Storytelling, Sexual Violence Prevention), ticket sales for the Advocates Connect Conference (500–4,000 KSH / 100–800 ZMW), and matching-gift facilitation through Double the Donation. Payment infrastructure spans PayPal, M-Pesa, and PCI-DSS compliant gateways. Distribution combines direct online sales, on-site workshop delivery across Kenya, Zambia, and the US Bay Area, and a global donor base nurtured through events (Gala, book launches), content marketing, and PR coverage.

Name

Freely In Hope

Legal name

Freely in Hope

Website

https://freelyinhope.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Freely In Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit equipping survivors and advocates in Kenya and Zambia to lead in ending sexual violence, delivering holistic education, leadership development, survivor-led curricula, and trauma-informed workshops across Sub-Saharan Africa and the US.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters. 100% of donations fund education for survivors of sexual violence. The Hope Circle monthly giving program encircles scholars with holistic support.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners align with the mission through financial sponsorships at events like the annual Gala and book launches. Sponsorship tiers range from $5,000 to $10,000+.
3. Hope Circle Monthly Giving: Monthly donor program providing consistent funding for scholars. Members receive updates, engagement opportunities, and participate in virtual events with scholars and alumni.
4. Product Sales: E-commerce store selling Pendo's Power children's books, Redeeming Sanctuaries resources, and other educational materials. Proceeds support organizational programs.
5. Consulting Services: Fee-for-service workshops and trainings on ending sexual violence delivered to organizations, churches, schools, and companies. Survivor-leaders facilitate workshops on topics including From Victims to Survivors, Transformational Leadership, Restorative Storytelling, and Sexual Violence Prevention.
6. Curriculum Licensing: Organizations must purchase their own curriculum licenses for The Butterfly Effect and other proprietary materials. Fees support Freely in Hope's work of funding education and leadership for survivors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Freely in Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that equips survivors and advocates to end the cycle of sexual violence by delivering holistic education scholarships, trauma-informed survivor-led programs, and proprietary curricula (The Butterfly Effect, Pendo's Power, Redeeming Sanctuaries, Liberation is Here) across Kenya, Zambia, and the United States. Core activities include funding scholarships, facilitating survivor retreats and support groups, training children and adults in body safety and consent, and providing workshops to churches, schools, corporations, and NGOs.

Product overview

Freely in Hope operates as a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of survivor-centered programs and educational resources. The core offerings include The Butterfly Effect Curriculum (a trauma-healing retreat program for survivors of sexual violence), Pendo's Power (a children's body safety book with companion guides), and Liberation is Here (a book and video course by founder Nikole Lim). Supporting offerings include Reclaim (survivor support groups), workshop programs (From Victims to Survivors, Transformational Leadership, Restorative Storytelling, Sexual Violence Prevention), and the Advocates Connect conference consortium. The organization also sells merchandise through its WooCommerce-powered store and offers specialized resources like Redeeming Sanctuaries for churches. Programs are delivered through its Hope Circle monthly giving model and supplemented by volunteer engagement through the Advocates Society.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pendo's Power: Children's book teaching body safety, consent, and reporting to prevent child sexual abuse. Includes animations, music, games, and caregiver companion guide.
• The Butterfly Effect Curriculum
• Super Girls Revolution (SGR)
• Reclaim
• Advocates Connect
• Redeeming Sanctuaries
• Hope Circle

Products and services

• The Butterfly Effect Curriculum

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of Freely in Hope University Scholars graduate and find employment
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministry of Health (Kenya)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn partnership with the Ministry of Health, Freely in Hope is scaling survivor-informed SGBV prevention trainings to ensure quality of care for survivors across Kenya.
• Brave MovementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFreely in Hope provides trauma-informed, survivor-centered workshops and trainings on sexual abuse prevention, ethical storytelling, child protection, and leadership sustainability to support the Brave Movement.
• Church World ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides training support for sexual abuse prevention and survivor care programs.
• Coalition for Adolescent GirlsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal partnership supporting adolescent girls through advocacy and resource sharing.
• Prevention NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal partnership focused on prevention strategies for gender-based violence.
• She MattersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership supporting women's empowerment initiatives.
• GVRC (Kenya)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGender-based violence recovery center in Kenya providing support services for survivors.
• Salvation Army (Kenya)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based organization partnership for survivor support and programs in Kenya.
• Garden of Hope FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKenyan foundation supporting hope and healing for vulnerable populations.
• Right2Thrive (Kenya)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKenyan organization focused on rights-based approaches to supporting survivors.
• International Justice Mission (IJM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal organization working to end violence against people in poverty. Gary Haugen, IJM CEO, has provided endorsement and support for Freely in Hope's work.
• ICANFLY InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization supporting vulnerable populations through various programs.
• One Lamb (Kenya)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKenyan faith-based organization serving vulnerable communities.
• Spur Afrika (Kenya)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKenyan organization supporting youth and community development.
• UbyKotex (Kenya)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMenstrual health partnership supporting girls' education and wellbeing.
• WLS&A Foundation (Zambia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's leadership and empowerment foundation in Zambia.
• Savannah Intercultural Mission (Zambia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterfaith mission organization in Zambia supporting community development.
• MNK Therapy (Zambia)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTherapy and mental health services provider in Zambia supporting survivor healing.
• Unilever (Zambia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partnership supporting women's empowerment and economic opportunities.
• Woman Up AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPan-African women's empowerment organization.
• Chikumbuso (Zambia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZambian organization supporting women and children through creative programs.
• NGOC (Zambia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-governmental organization coordinating council in Zambia.
• WILDAF-AO (Zambia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen in Law and Development in Africa regional organization.
• The Kukhoma Project (Zambia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZambian project supporting community health and development.
• Copper Rose ZambiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZambian organization focused on women's health and empowerment.
• University Teaching Hospital (Zambia)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMajor hospital in Lusaka providing medical support for survivors.
• YWCA (Zambia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYoung Women's Christian Association in Zambia supporting women's programs.
• Seminary NowcoreTechnology or IntegrationProduced the 10-series Liberation is Here video course with Seminary Now. Course features conversations on advocacy efforts for faith-based leaders taught by Nikole Lim and Freely in Hope alumni.
• Kenya National Library ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment sponsor for Pendo's Power book launch in Kenya.
• ICEA LionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor for Pendo's Power Kenya launch.
• Directorate of Children's ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for Pendo's Power Kenya launch, supporting child protection initiatives.
• Ujamaa AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Freely in Hope for self-defense training empowerment for girls in Kibera, Kenya.
• Imarika YouthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Freely in Hope for self-defense trainings in Kenya.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CARE International: Large humanitarian organization running global programs on women's empowerment, GBV response, and girls' education — including in Kenya and Zambia. Broad incumbent in the same thematic space with substantially greater resources.
• International Justice Mission (IJM): Large global anti-trafficking and anti-violence organization led by Gary Haugen, who has publicly endorsed Freely in Hope. IJM operates a broader anti-slavery and violence portfolio with multi-country programs and government partnerships comparable in mission, though at much greater scale and breadth.

Direct peers

• Raising Voices: Uganda-based nonprofit that designs and implements violence prevention programs — particularly the SASA! methodology for preventing violence against women. Direct peer in survivor-/community-led GBV prevention programming across East Africa.
• One Girl Can: Canada- and Kenya-based nonprofit supporting girls' secondary and higher education, including survivors of gender-based violence. Direct peer in scholarship-driven girls' empowerment programming in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Brave Movement: Global survivor-led movement to end childhood sexual violence, partnered with Freely in Hope. Operates the Global Survivor Council (which includes Freely in Hope's Lydia Matioli), making it a direct peer in survivor-led advocacy against child sexual abuse.
• No Means No Worldwide: Organization operating evidence-based sexual violence prevention and self-defense programs for girls and boys in Kenya and other African countries. Direct peer in Kenya-focused survivor/rape prevention education, with similar school-based and curriculum-driven delivery.
• Equality Now: International human rights organization working to end violence and discrimination against women and girls through legal advocacy, with a focus on sexual violence, female genital mutilation, and trafficking. Closely comparable mission, multi-country footprint, and advocacy-led model.

Others

• Together Women Rise: U.S.-based giving circle investing in women and girls in the Global South, currently funding Freely in Hope's Pendo's Power expansion with a $50K, two-year grant. Adjacent funder/partner in the same gender-equity ecosystem, not a direct program operator.
• Coalition for Adolescent Girls: Global partnership dedicated to advancing the rights and well-being of adolescent girls, listed as one of Freely in Hope's partner organizations. Adjacent ecosystem player in girls' empowerment and adolescent-focused programming.

Regional players

• Ujamaa Africa: Kenya-based self-defense and empowerment organization partnered with Freely in Hope for self-defense training for girls in Kibera. Regional peer in girls' empowerment and violence prevention programming in Kenya.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/freelyinhope
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCDlmrZbGLmkZQOTihCTj5vg
• Facebookfacebook.com/freelyinhope
• Instagraminstagram.com/freelyinhope

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Freely In Hope