Forbes House

What Forbes House does

Forbes House is a nonprofit domestic violence shelter located in Lake County, Ohio, founded in 1980 and serving as the only domestic violence shelter in the county. The organization provides a comprehensive suite of free services to survivors of domestic violence and their children, including a 24/7 confidential crisis helpline, emergency shelter with 7 private bedrooms, court advocacy and legal system navigation, licensed individual and group counseling, weekly support groups, children's programs, aftercare support for alumni, relocation assistance, and the Ohio Safe at Home Program application assistance. In 2023, Forbes House served 533 individuals, answered 1,562 crisis calls, provided 6,808 bed nights of shelter, conducted 406 court advocacy sessions, and delivered over 7,000 total services across Northeast Ohio.

The organization operates as a private nonprofit with no revenue-generating activities; all services are provided free of charge. Funding is sourced from a diversified mix of individual donations, corporate sponsorships (including VISTRA for the 2025 Reverse Raffle and Marous Brothers Construction for the Mother's Day Tea), government grants (notably an $800,000 ARPA grant in 2024 and ongoing Office for Victims of Crime funding through the Ohio Attorney General's Office), in-kind contributions, and community fundraising events. Forbes House distributes services through its 24/7 helpline, the secure shelter facility, non-residential counseling and support groups, and a community education program that delivers prevention curriculum at schools, correctional facilities, and community organizations.

The organization's go-to-market is community-embedded rather than transactional: it builds awareness through community outreach, social media, speaking engagements, and partnerships with Lake County courts, multiple municipal police departments, United Way of Lake County, the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, local schools, and corporate partners. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors led by Executive Director Kathy Strancar, with board members contributing legal, real estate, and corporate expertise. There is no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no technology platform beyond a WordPress website and standard social media presence.

Name

Forbes House

Legal name

Forbes House

Website

https://forbeshouse.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Forbes House is a nonprofit providing free emergency shelter, 24/7 crisis helpline, counseling, and advocacy services to domestic violence survivors and their children in Lake County, Ohio, where it is the only such shelter.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic Violence & Social Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

Keywords

• Domestic violence services
• Emergency shelter
• Crisis hotline
• Victim advocacy
• Community education

Headquarters

HQ city

Painesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Forbes House operates as a nonprofit organization that relies on donations from individuals, businesses, and community members. Contributions of any size are appreciated and help advocates focus on supporting survivors of domestic violence.
2. Government Grants: The organization receives grant funding from government sources, including a $800,000 ARPA grant received in 2023 and funding from the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, through the Ohio Attorney General's Office.
3. Event Fundraising: The organization hosts fundraising events including an Annual Reverse Raffle (presented by VISTRA in 2025), Mother's Day Tea (sponsored by Marous Brothers Construction), and other community events. Sponsorship benefits include logo placement on printed materials, website, and social media.
4. Volunteer and In-Kind Contributions: Support comes in forms including volunteer time, item donations, and in-kind contributions such as holiday adopt-a-family programs, Takeout Tuesday meal donations, and Cram the Ram collection drives.

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Forbes House is a nonprofit organization that provides free, confidential support services to survivors of domestic violence in Lake County, Ohio. Its core offerings include a 24/7 helpline, emergency shelter, victim advocacy, individual and group counseling, children's programs, and community education aimed at preventing and responding to intimate-partner violence.

Product overview

Forbes House is a nonprofit domestic violence shelter organization offering a comprehensive suite of victim services. The organization operates a 24/7 crisis helpline, emergency shelter with 7 private bedrooms, advocacy services (including court and family advocacy), licensed counseling and support groups, children's programs, community outreach and education, aftercare support, and assistance with the Ohio Safe at Home Program. All services are provided free of charge to survivors of domestic violence and their children in Lake County, Ohio. The organization serves Northeast Ohio and beyond, operating as Lake County's only domestic violence shelter staffed 24/7.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 24/7 Domestic Violence Helpline Round-the-clock telephone helpline providing immediate crisis support, safety planning, and resource connection for domestic violence survivors in Lake County, Ohio.
• Emergency Shelter Confidential residential shelter providing safe, temporary housing for survivors of domestic violence and their children fleeing abusive situations.
• Victim Advocacy Trained advocates assist survivors in navigating legal, social service, and safety-planning systems, accompanying them through protective orders, law enforcement interactions, and benefit applications.
• Counseling Services Individual and group counseling sessions delivered in person to support survivors' emotional recovery from intimate-partner violence trauma.
• Children's Programs Specialized programming for children of survivors, providing age-appropriate therapeutic activities, support, and education to address exposure to domestic violence.
• Community Education and Prevention Awareness, prevention, and education programming delivered to schools, community groups, and local organizations across Lake County to address domestic violence.

Quantifiable outcome

• 533 individuals served in 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• VISTRAminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 September 2025VISTRA is the presenting sponsor of the 2025 Forbes House Annual Reverse Raffle. Sponsorship benefits include logo and recognition on printed materials, website, and social media.
• Marous Brothers ConstructionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 March 2025Marous Brothers Construction is the presenting sponsor of the 2025 Mother's Day Tea event. Sponsorship benefits include logo and recognition on event materials.
• Lubrizol CorporationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 31 August 2023Lubrizol Corporation was the presenting sponsor of the 2023 Forbes House Reverse Raffle event.
• Ohio Secretary of State - Safe at Home ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 April 2017Forbes House is an application site for the Ohio Safe at Home Program, which allows domestic violence survivors to keep their address confidential. Forbes House advocates are certified application assistants.
• Avery DennisonminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 June 2014Avery Dennison employees volunteer through United Way Day of Caring, providing facility improvements such as playroom organization, painting, and playground maintenance at Forbes House.
• United Way of Lake CountycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUnited Way of Lake County is a key supporter and partner of Forbes House. The organization sponsored the United Way Day of Caring and provides grants to support Forbes House operations, including funding for facility improvements like a new oven.
• Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOhio Domestic Violence Network is listed as a supporting organization on Forbes House's website footer, indicating partnership in the statewide network of domestic violence services and advocacy.
• Lakeland Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerForbes House Community Educators speak at Lakeland Community College and partner for events including the Silent Witness Initiative display at Lakeland's Women's Center.
• Lake County Police DepartmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForbes House partners with police departments in Kirtland, Painesville, Madison, Willoughby, and Mentor-on-the-Lake for community education and victim assistance programs. Also partners with Eastlake Police Department Victim Assistance for support groups.
• Lake County CourtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForbes House provides court advocates who assist survivors with navigating the legal system, protection orders, and connect with Painesville and Willoughby Municipal Courts, Domestic Relations Court.
• Local Schools and Educational InstitutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with Thomas Jefferson Elementary School (Healthy Relationship Curriculum K-5), Auburn Career Center, Lake Erie College, Summit Academy, and others for domestic violence education and prevention programming.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): National anti-sexual-violence organization operating the national sexual assault hotline and supporting a network of local providers. Comparable survivor-services mission and free, hotline-driven service model, with overlapping but broader scope than Forbes House's DV focus.
• Safe Horizon: One of the largest U.S. nonprofit providers of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking services, headquartered in New York. Comparable full-continuum service stack (hotline, shelter, counseling, advocacy) and nonprofit funding model, though at far larger scale.
• National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV): National social change organization representing state and territorial DV coalitions, including those that include Forbes House. Comparable mission and nonprofit funding model focused on DV advocacy and capacity building at the systems level.

Direct peers

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: National 24/7 crisis hotline and resource hub for domestic violence survivors. Directly comparable to Forbes House's 24/7 helpline and resource-and-referral service component, although at national rather than regional scale.
• YWCA of Greater Cleveland (Northeast Ohio): Regional YWCA in Northeast Ohio operating a domestic violence shelter and advocacy services. Comparable mission, regional footprint, and free-of-charge service model for survivors in the same broader Ohio market.
• Ohio Domestic Violence Network: Statewide coalition of Ohio domestic violence programs and shelters, of which Forbes House is a member. Most directly comparable as a peer network addressing the same survivor population and operating model in the same state regulatory environment.
• A Safe Place (Lake County, IL): Mid-sized domestic violence shelter serving Lake County, Illinois, with hotline, shelter, counseling, and court advocacy. Closely analogous county-level DV shelter operating model and service mix to Forbes House.

Regional players

• Family & Children First Council of Lake County: Lake County, Ohio coordinating body for family- and child-serving agencies. Comparable local social-services provider in Forbes House's exact service geography, with overlapping referral relationships and shared funder ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/theforbeshouse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forbeshouse
• Instagraminstagram.com/forbes_house
• Xx.com/forbeshouse_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Forbes House