YWCA West Central Michigan

What YWCA West Central Michigan does

YWCA West Central Michigan is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization founded in 1900 and headquartered at 25 Sheldon Avenue SE in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It serves survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking across West Michigan through a coordinated suite of programs: the Sojourner House emergency shelter, Project HEAL (transitional and permanent housing with employment and legal advocacy), 24/7 Advocacy & Resource Services with a crisis hotline, the Nurse Examiner Program providing medical-forensic examinations in partnership with area hospitals, ongoing counseling/therapy, and weekly support groups. All direct survivor services are provided at no cost.

The organization is led by CEO Deb O'Leary and employs 51–100 staff. Revenue is generated entirely through donations, grants, and fundraising rather than service fees. Diversified revenue streams include individual donations (with the Persimmon Club monthly giving program), planned giving and endowments (Caroline Putnam Heritage Society and the Helen Claytor Recognition Society & Endowment Fund), corporate matching gifts (with partners including Steelcase and Microsoft), federal and state grants including HUD funding for Project HEAL, and a portfolio of special events such as the Women Lawyers vs Judges Charity Softball Game (cumulative >$500K since 1983), Voices in Harmony, the Iron Chef Strolling Gala, and Arise!. The organization also operates the Helen Claytor Center for Girls Leadership in collaboration with Michigan Women's Foundation.

In December 2025, the board announced a strategic decision to sell the historic 25 Sheldon Avenue building and relocate to a more accessible, purpose-fit space, citing the intent to strengthen financial foundation, grow core programs, and build long-term stability. Mission and service delivery remain unchanged during the transition. Tech stack is minimal: a Squarespace website, blog, email newsletter, Facebook page, and the Quorum-based YWCA Action Center for policy advocacy. No proprietary technology, APIs, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

Name

YWCA West Central Michigan

Legal name

YWCA West Central Michigan

Website

https://ywcawcmi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1900

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

YWCA West Central Michigan is a Grand Rapids-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1900 that provides free emergency shelter, crisis advocacy, housing, counseling, and forensic nursing services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault across West Michigan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survivor Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

Keywords

• Domestic violence services
• Sexual assault response
• Emergency shelter
• Crisis intervention
• Survivor advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Contributions: One-time and recurring donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission to eliminate racism and empower women. Monthly giving program called Persimmon Club provides stable recurring revenue.
2. Planned Giving and Endowments: Bequests, estate gifts, and endowment funds including Caroline Putnam Heritage Society for planned giving and YWCA Helen Claytor Endowment Fund for girls' leadership programs.
3. Corporate Matching Gifts: Corporate employee giving programs where employers match staff donations, including companies like Steelcase, Microsoft, and many others.
4. Government Grants: Federal and state funding including HUD grants for housing programs (Project HEAL) and other victim services funding.
5. Special Events Revenue: Annual fundraising events including Women Lawyers vs Judges Charity Softball Game (raising over $500,000 to date), Voices in Harmony, Iron Chef Strolling Gala, and other community events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

YWCA West Central Michigan is a nonprofit organization that delivers no-cost, trauma-informed direct services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking in West Michigan, including emergency shelter, transitional and permanent housing assistance, 24/7 crisis advocacy, legal advocacy, counseling, and medical-forensic examinations. It also operates girls' leadership development and community education programs aimed at eliminating racism and empowering women and girls.

Product overview

YWCA West Central Michigan is a nonprofit social services organization offering a coordinated suite of programs for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. The core offerings include Sojourner House (emergency shelter), Project HEAL (transitional housing and economic empowerment), Advocacy & Resource Services (24/7 crisis support and legal advocacy), Counseling/Therapy Services, and the Nurse Examiner Program (medical-forensic exams). The organization also operates the Helen Claytor Center for Girls Leadership, an after-school leadership program. Supporting programs include the Persimmon Club (monthly giving), Caroline Putnam Heritage Society (planned giving), and YWCA Helen Claytor Recognition Society & Endowment Fund. Most direct services are offered at no cost to survivors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sojourner House: Short-term emergency shelter providing confidential domestic violence shelter with a healing environment for families and individuals.
• Project HEAL
• Helen Claytor Center for Girls Leadership
• Persimmon Club

Products and services

• Sojourner House (Short-term Emergency Shelter) Confidential domestic violence shelter providing a healing environment with private secure rooms and shared amenities (restrooms, living space, kitchen, laundry) for individuals and families leaving dangerous intimate partner violent situations, offered at no cost.
• Project HEAL (Housing, Employment, Advocacy, Legal Assistance) Program providing transitional housing, permanent housing assistance, and support services to empower survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking toward personal independence and economic self-sufficiency, offered at no cost.
• Advocacy & Resource Services 24/7 phone-based and by-appointment advocacy plus legal advocacy to help survivors navigate the legal and court system, available at no cost.
• Counseling/Therapy Services Ongoing therapeutic counseling helping victims and survivors evaluate and establish goals to move beyond abuse, available at no cost during business hours.
• Nurse Examiner Program Comprehensive, timely, sensitive medical-forensic examinations (rape kits) for sexual assault survivors, including injury treatment, pregnancy/STI prevention, and evidence collection, provided 24/7 at no cost through hospital partnerships.
• Helen Claytor Center for Girls Leadership After-school girls' leadership program offering young women opportunities to become involved in social justice and create social change, operated in collaboration with Michigan Women's Foundation.
• Support Groups for Survivors Weekly peer support groups for women survivors of domestic or dating abuse and sexual assault/abuse, providing validation, peer support, and healing in a safe, confidential space.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Michigan Women's FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through the Young Women for Change initiative, a collaboration providing girls with opportunities to become involved in social justice and create social change. The Helen Claytor Center for Girls Leadership is a key program emerging from this partnership.
• Gazelle Girl Half MarathonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYWCA has been a proud beneficiary of the Gazelle Girl Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K event since it began seven years ago. The organization benefits from fundraising through Team YWCA participants and event visibility.
• Women Lawyers Association of Michigan-Western RegioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual Women Lawyers vs Judges Charity Softball Game partnership hosting women lawyers and area judges in fundraising competition. Proceeds support YWCA programs and amplify visibility in the legal community.
• Grand Rapids Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint statement partnership with Women's Resource Center addressing sexual harassment and gender-based violence. Collaborative advocacy and community engagement on issues affecting women in West Michigan.
• Women's Resource CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint statement partnership addressing sexual harassment and gender-based violence alongside Grand Rapids Community Foundation. Collaborative advocacy efforts in the West Michigan community.
• Mercantile BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMercantile Bank presented the Arise! Still Here event as a sponsor, demonstrating corporate social responsibility partnership supporting the YWCA's annual spring luncheon.
• LMCU BallparkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partnership for the Women Lawyers vs Judges Charity Softball Game held at LMCU Ballpark in Comstock Park.
• Wealthy TheatreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partnership for the Voices in Harmony benefit concert at Wealthy Theatre in Grand Rapids.
• Goei CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partnership for the Iron Chef Strolling Gala culinary competition event.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Safe Haven Ministries (Grand Rapids): West Michigan-based Christian nonprofit providing domestic violence shelter and counseling in the same Grand Rapids market — directly comparable as a regional competitor in survivor services.
• YWCA of Central Massachusetts: Regional YWCA affiliate offering domestic violence services, housing, and women's empowerment programs — directly comparable in programmatic structure, nonprofit status, and survivor-centered approach.
• YWCA of Greater Los Angeles: Another YWCA affiliate delivering domestic violence shelter, advocacy, and empowerment programming — directly comparable mission, service mix, and nonprofit funding model, differing primarily in scale and geography.
• YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago: Midwest YWCA affiliate providing domestic violence services, sexual assault support, and economic empowerment — directly comparable as a fellow Midwestern YWCA operating a similar continuum of survivor services.
• SafeHouse Center (Ann Arbor / SafeHouse Center): Michigan-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, counseling, and advocacy for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault — directly comparable in service mix, geography, and free-to-client model.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities West Michigan: Larger regional social services nonprofit operating across West Michigan with broader case management, housing, and counseling offerings — comparable as a competing nonprofit in the same regional funding pool.
• YWCA USA (National Office): National federation body that supports and advocates on behalf of YWCA affiliates — comparable as the umbrella organization influencing brand standards, advocacy priorities, and donor partnerships.
• Mel Trotter Ministries (Grand Rapids): Established Grand Rapids nonprofit providing shelter, food, and recovery services — comparable as a regional nonprofit competitor for donor dollars and emergency shelter capacity.

Emerging players

• Family Promise of Grand Rapids: Grand Rapids-area nonprofit focused on family homelessness and housing stability — partial overlap with Project HEAL's housing mission, operating as a regional peer in transitional/permanent housing services.

Others

• National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV): National policy and capacity-building organization for the domestic violence field — comparable as a sector-shaping ally that influences funding, policy, and best-practice standards for YWCA's core work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ywcawcmi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ywca-west-central-michigan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 YWCA West Central Michigan