WOAR

What WOAR does

WOAR - Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence (formerly Women Organized Against Rape) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 and incorporated in 1973 by Jody Pinto. It is Philadelphia's only designated rape crisis center and the oldest and largest in Pennsylvania, operating from 1617 John F Kennedy Blvd (One Penn Center). WOAR delivers a comprehensive continuum of free, confidential, survivor-centered services through approximately 40 staff plus volunteers, anchored by a 24/7/365 crisis hotline (215-985-3333) and including individual and group therapy (English and Spanish), forensic exam accompaniment at the Philadelphia Sexual Assault Response Center (PSARC), court advocacy, human trafficking support, prevention education, and specialized programs for LGBTQIA+, Latino, youth (Teen WOARRIOR), and male/male-identifying survivors (Healthy Masculinity Initiative).

Revenue is generated through a nonprofit funding mix: government grants from federal, state, and local agencies (notably the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape/Coalition to Advance Respect, Philadelphia Department of Health, Department of Human Services, District Attorney's Office); foundation and corporate grants (Bar Foundation, Connelly Foundation, Verizon); United Way workplace giving; individual donations; and fundraising events (Bridge of Courage, Teal Reception, Be The Change Symposium). All direct services are provided at no cost to survivors. The organization has no venture capital or private equity backing.

WOAR's operations have come under sustained financial pressure from a Pennsylvania state budget impasse that has left rape crisis center funding flat for six years, resulting in 22 staff layoffs and an active public-facing 'Bridging the Gap' / 'Campaign to Save WOAR' fundraising effort. Operational leadership has been unstable since the 2015 retirement of long-tenured Executive Director Carol Johnson, with interim leadership, an Executive Consultant engagement (Dr. Indira Henard, effective July 2024), and an Acting Executive Director (LaQuisha S Anthony, March 2026). Despite funding stress, the organization has continued program expansion into new community segments (ACANA membership, Shared Safety Coordinating Council co-chair, 2022) and new service lines (Survivor Advocate Initiative, 2021; Safe Bars Philly; Restorative Justice Program).

Name

WOAR

Legal name

WOAR - Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence

Website

https://woar.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WOAR - Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 operating Philadelphia's only rape crisis center, delivering free 24/7 crisis hotline, counseling, court and forensic advocacy, and prevention education to sexual violence survivors across all genders and communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sexual Violence Crisis Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral Health Crisis Services Management (988/Hotlines/Mobile Crisis Coordination) (HLAEAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)

Keywords

• Sexual violence support
• Crisis counseling services
• Trauma therapy
• Rape crisis center
• Victim advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: WOAR receives funding from various federal, state and local government agencies including Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, Philadelphia Department of Health, Philadelphia Department of Human Services, and Philadelphia District Attorney's Office.
2. Foundation and Corporate Grants: WOAR receives funding from foundations including Bar Foundation and Connelly Foundation. Verizon has provided grants for specific programs.
3. Individual Donations: Donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission to eliminate sexual violence.
4. United Way Contributions: Contributions made through United Way workplace giving programs.
5. Fundraising Events: Agency fundraisers including events like the Bridge of Courage Reception, Teal Reception, and other community fundraising activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

WOAR is Philadelphia's only rape crisis center and the oldest and largest in Pennsylvania, providing a comprehensive continuum of free, confidential services to survivors of sexual violence. The core offering centers on a 24/7 crisis hotline supplemented by individual and group therapy, court and forensic exam accompaniment, prevention education workshops, and specialized programs for LGBTQIA+, Latino, youth, and trafficking survivor communities. All services are provided at no cost to survivors regardless of when the violence occurred.

Product overview

WOAR – Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence is a nonprofit rape crisis center offering a comprehensive continuum of survivor-centered services. The organization operates as a single integrated service model centered on its 24/7 Crisis Hotline, supplemented by direct clinical services (individual therapy, group therapy for children and adults), advocacy programs (court accompaniment, forensic exam accompaniment), and prevention education. Key specialized programs include the Human Trafficking Program, Healthy Masculinity Initiative, Teen WOARRIOR youth leadership council, Survivor Advocate Initiative, Safe Bars Philly, Restorative Justice Program, and language-specific services for Spanish-speaking and LGBTQIA+ communities. All direct services are provided free of charge. The organization serves as Philadelphia's only rape crisis center and the oldest and largest in Pennsylvania.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 24/7 Crisis Hotline

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of survivors helped annually through hotline and in-person services
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Philadelphia Sexual Assault Response Center (PSARC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWOAR provides crisis advocates who offer in-person support during forensic rape exams at PSARC. PSARC is a specialized center where multiple agencies coordinate response to sexual assault. WOAR coordinates Uber transportation for survivors to/from PSARC.
• Drexel University School of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDrexel secured funding for and established the Philadelphia Sexual Assault Response Center (PSARC), which began operations in May 2011. WOAR serves as the rape crisis center partner in this collaborative response system.
• Philadelphia Police Department Special Victims UnitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWOAR works with SVU on case coordination, court accompaniment, and advocacy. WOAR helped establish the Sex Crimes Unit (which evolved into SVU) and continues to provide training and advocacy services.
• Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWOAR is the largest member of PCAR (now Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect). PCAR is WOAR's primary regulator and largest funding partner. WOAR participated in PCAR's founding in 1975.
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWOAR advocated for and helped establish sexual assault services for children at CHOP in 1982. WOAR trained nursing staff, pediatricians, and social workers in child sexual abuse services.
• Women's WayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWOAR helped found Women's Way in 1976. Participated in Women's Way inaugural Action Partners initiative in 2012.
• Philadelphia District Attorney's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWOAR helped establish the Rape Prosecution Unit in the DA's Office in 1978. WOAR court advocates work with prosecutors on cases and advocated for expert witness legislation.
• Philadelphia Department of Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWOAR works with DHS on child sexual abuse cases. Survivors are linked to DHS when cases involve children.
• Philadelphia Children's AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWOAR is a member of the Philadelphia Children's Alliance coalition working on child sexual abuse cases at the Philadelphia Safety Collaborative.
• University of PennsylvaniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWOAR partnered with UPenn's Center for Treatment of Anxiety Disorders on research and treatment programs. UPenn hosts Vagina Monologues performances donating proceeds to WOAR.
• La Salle UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWOAR collaborates with La Salle University on campus safety initiatives, conducting working sessions to strengthen coordinated response to sexual violence.
• African Cultural Alliance of North America (ACANA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWOAR became a member of ACANA in 2022 to expand outreach and services to African and Caribbean immigrant communities.
• Safe Courts 4 Kids CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWOAR court advocates are founding members of this coalition working on closed-circuit television systems for child witnesses testifying in sexual abuse cases.
• Women's Law ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWOAR partnered with Women's Law Project along with Penn Women's Center and National Organization of Women to address police mishandling of sexual assault complaints.
• Cozen O'ConnorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCozen O'Connor generously sponsors and hosts the Teal Reception celebrating 25 Years of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Event scheduled for April 30, 2026.
• Civic Theater Project / Art Philly 2026minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWOAR participated in What Now 2026! presented by Art Philly 2026, sharing resources with community and receiving donation QR code placement in programs.
• Shared Safety Coordinating CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWOAR elected co-chair of the Shared Safety Coordinating Council along with African Families Health Organization (AFHO) in 2022.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cleveland Rape Crisis Center: Direct peer: a major-city rape crisis center providing 24/7 crisis intervention, therapy, advocacy, and community prevention across Northeast Ohio. Similar budget, headcount, and service mix to WOAR.
• SAFE Alliance (Austin): Direct peer: Austin-area nonprofit providing sexual violence crisis intervention and counseling alongside broader family safety services—similar integrated crisis + advocacy continuum.
• San Francisco Women Against Rape: Direct peer: San Francisco volunteer- and staff-based rape crisis center offering hotline, counseling, advocacy, and community education with a comparable grassroots nonprofit operating model.
• Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC): Direct peer: longstanding urban rape crisis center offering 24/7 hotline, counseling, medical and court advocacy, and prevention education in the Greater Boston area—similar service continuum, scale, and community-embedded model as WOAR.
• DC Rape Crisis Center: Direct peer: a city-based nonprofit rape crisis center providing 24/7 hotline, therapy, advocacy, and prevention services in Washington, D.C. Closest functional analog to WOAR; former ED Indira Henard led DCRCC for 16 years, indicating direct operational comparability.
• Sexual Assault Center of Nashville: Direct peer: nonprofit serving Middle Tennessee with 24/7 crisis line, trauma therapy, advocacy, and prevention education. Comparable scope and city-anchored delivery model.

Others

• Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect (formerly PCAR): Others: state-level coalition that is WOAR's largest funder and primary regulator. Functions as funder/coalition rather than direct service provider, but materially shapes WOAR's funding and program design.

Broad incumbents

• National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC): Broad incumbent: national resource hub providing training, technical assistance, and public awareness on sexual violence. Operates in adjacent capacity-building space rather than direct crisis services.
• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): Broad incumbent: national umbrella organization that operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline and affiliated online crisis services. Not a direct local services peer, but the dominant national brand and infrastructure provider in the same category.
• Joyful Heart Foundation: Broad incumbent: national nonprofit focused on healing, advocacy, and policy reform for sexual assault survivors. Less service-delivery overlap but operates in the same mission category and donor market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/woarphila
• Xx.com/WOARphila
• Facebookfacebook.com/woarphila
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/woar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 WOAR