Magdalene House of Austin

What Magdalene House of Austin does

Magdalene House of Austin is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2016 in Austin, Texas. It operates a two-year survivor-led therapeutic residential community program for adult women who have survived sex trafficking, providing rent-free housing at The Lily Home facility, trauma-informed counseling, clinical care, education pathways (GED, college, vocational training), professional development, financial literacy training, and substance abuse recovery support within a peer-based communal living model. The signature empowerment curriculum, The She Series, is structured around six pillars: SheUnderstands (trauma-informed learning), SheMoves (wellness through movement), SheWorks I and II (workforce preparation and career growth), SheRises (financial empowerment), and SheLives (independent living preparation).

The organization is modeled after the Thistle Farms and Magdalene Nashville therapeutic community founded by Rev. Becca Stevens in 1997, and operates as part of the Love Heals movement that has been replicated in more than 30 cities nationwide. Magdalene House reports an 84% clean-and-sober graduation rate and holds a GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency. The organization has no proprietary technology systems; its differentiation rests on the structured peer-community therapeutic approach, the integrated six-pillar curriculum, and the institutional lineage of the Love Heals model.

Magdalene House does not charge participants for its services. The business model is funded through four streams: tax-deductible individual donations, merchandise sales via Bonfire (including "Hope is a Revolution" branded apparel), event fundraising such as the annual Love & Light Gala at Hotel Van Zandt, and in-kind donations through an Amazon Wish List. Referral pipelines come from social services, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and partner organizations including Unbound Now, Hope Medical Clinic, CAST Research Lab, Dwyer Workforce Development, and Ascension.

Name

Magdalene House of Austin

Legal name

Magdalene House of Austin

Website

https://magdaleneaustin.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Magdalene House of Austin is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a two-year survivor-led therapeutic residential program for adult women survivors of sex trafficking in Central Texas. Founded in 2016, it provides rent-free housing, trauma-informed therapy, and The She Series empowerment curriculum, funded through donations, merchandise, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Trafficking Recovery Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

Keywords

• Human trafficking recovery
• Survivor-led community
• Therapeutic residential care
• Trauma-informed support
• Women's empowerment

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

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: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the mission. Organization is a 501(c)(3) public charity.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including 'Hope is a Revolution' t-shirts and other apparel. 100% of proceeds directly support survivors with rent-free housing, trauma-informed therapy, financial literacy training, and long-term support.
3. Event Fundraising: Annual Love & Light Gala and other fundraising events including raffles and community gatherings that generate direct support for programs.
4. In-Kind Donations: Amazon Wish List and gift card donations for clothing, hygiene products, home items, and household goods to support trafficking survivors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Magdalene House of Austin operates a two-year, survivor-led therapeutic residential program for adult women survivors of sex trafficking, providing rent-free housing, trauma-informed counseling, clinical care, education, financial literacy, workforce preparation, and independent living skills within a peer community setting. The She Series signature empowerment curriculum (six pillars: SheUnderstands, SheMoves, SheWorks I & II, SheRises, SheLives) is woven throughout the program to support participants from trauma understanding through independent living. Supplementary merchandise (t-shirts) is sold with 100% of proceeds directed to the program.

Product overview

Magdalene House of Austin operates a single unified offering: a two-year survivor-led therapeutic residential community program for adult women who have survived sex trafficking. The core program provides rent-free housing, trauma-informed therapy, and long-term support. The She Series is the signature empowerment curriculum woven throughout the program, covering six pillars from trauma understanding to independent living. Merchandise (t-shirts) is a supplementary offering where 100% of proceeds support the core program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The She Series: Magdalene House's signature empowerment curriculum built around six pillars focused on healthy relationships, wellness, employment, financial literacy, and independent living. Includes SheUnderstands, SheMoves, SheWorks I & II, SheRises, and SheLives programs.

Products and services

• Two-Year Therapeutic Residential Program Long-term residential program providing rent-free onsite lodging, healthcare access, trauma-informed counseling, education (GED, college, vocational training), workforce preparation, financial literacy, and professional development for adult women survivors of sex trafficking within a peer-based therapeutic community environment. Participation is free and structured to support participants toward financial self-sufficiency and independence.
• The She Series Empowerment Curriculum Magdalene House's signature survivor-informed empowerment curriculum built around six pillars focused on healthy relationships, wellness, employment, financial literacy, and independent living: SheUnderstands (trauma-informed learning), SheMoves (wellness through movement), SheWorks I & II (workforce preparation and career growth), SheRises (financial empowerment), and SheLives (independent living preparation). Delivered to participants enrolled in the residential program.
• Magdalene House Merchandise Limited-edition branded merchandise sold to supporters, including 'Hope is a Revolution', 'Every Woman Matters', and 'Heal Empower Thrive' t-shirts, fulfilled through the Bonfire online storefront. 100% of proceeds directly support program participants through rent-free housing, trauma-informed therapy, financial literacy training, and long-term support services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 84% of women who enter the Magdalene House program graduate clean and sober
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Thistle Farms / Love Heals MovementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMagdalene House Austin is built upon the successful Thistle Farms model that originated in Nashville 27 years ago. Thistle Farms is the largest survivor-run social enterprise in the country. Magdalene House Austin benefits from two decades of experience and support from a network of sister organizations across the country, all united in the belief that love has the power to change the world.
• Risewell HomesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomebuilding partner supporting the organization's residential facilities.
• FEMOTOminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCustom motorcycle builder that raffled a handcrafted 1970 CL350 motorcycle ('La Femoto Fatale') to benefit Magdalene House Austin, raising funds for women who have survived trafficking.
• AscensionminorOthersHealthcare services partner supporting survivor wellness.
• CAST (Counselors Against Sex Trafficking Research Lab)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDrs. Interiano-Shiverdecker and Romero developed the CAST Research Lab to promote research and training that improves the identification and treatment of sex trafficking, advocating for the elimination of sex trafficking. Their efforts have led to numerous research projects, publications, and presentations.
• Hope Medical ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHope Medical Clinic offers free primary healthcare to resettled refugees, immigrants, and other underserved people. Compassionate, high-quality care is provided at no cost to anyone uninsured in the Austin area.
• Dwyer Workforce DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDwyer Workforce Development provides comprehensive support to individuals with barriers to employment, while simultaneously alleviating a severe healthcare workforce shortage and improving the lives of seniors.
• Unbound NowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnbound Now is a national nonprofit dedicated to ending human trafficking by identifying victims, supporting survivors, seeking justice, and driving systemic change. Works to support survivors and equip systems to better identify and respond to trafficking.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Dress for Success: Global nonprofit supporting women's economic empowerment and workforce re-entry. Comparable in the workforce preparation, financial literacy, and independence-support pillars (SheWorks, SheRises, SheLives) of the She Series curriculum, though broader in mission.
• Shared Hope International: National organization focused on preventing and addressing sex trafficking through policy, advocacy, and survivor services. Comparable in beneficiary population but operates as an advocacy/policy-led incumbent rather than a residential operator.
• Polaris Project (now Polyvictimization / anti-trafficking programs): National anti-trafficking organization operating the US National Human Trafficking Hotline and broad survivor support services. A broad incumbent with overlapping survivor-services focus but national scope and broader programming.
• Coalition Against Trafficking in Women: International policy and survivor-services organization focused on ending sex trafficking and exploitation. Operates in an adjacent but more policy-oriented capacity versus Magdalene Austin's direct residential therapeutic delivery.

Emerging players

• FAIR Girls: Nonprofit providing survivor support and prevention services for girls and young women survivors of trafficking in the US. Comparable in survivor-services focus, though serves a younger demographic than Magdalene Austin.
• Unbound Now: National anti-trafficking nonprofit that identifies victims, supports survivors, and drives systemic change. Listed as an active partner of Magdalene Austin and is highly comparable in mission and survivor-services focus.

Regional players

• Genesis Women's Shelter & Support: Dallas-based nonprofit providing shelter and support services to women survivors of domestic violence and trafficking. Comparable in residential therapeutic services for female abuse survivors; regional peer operating in Texas.
• SAFE Alliance: Austin-area nonprofit providing safety, housing, and support services for survivors of child abuse, domestic violence, and trafficking. Direct regional peer in the same Austin geography, with overlapping mission and survivor-support services.

Direct peers

• Thistle Farms: Thistle Farms (Nashville) is the originator of the Magdalene residential model and the largest survivor-run social enterprise in the US. It is the closest peer because Magdalene Austin explicitly replicates its therapeutic community and survivor-employment model.
• Magdalene Nashville: Magdalene Nashville is the original residential program under the Thistle Farms umbrella that Magdalene Austin was modeled after. It serves the same beneficiary population (adult women survivors of trafficking and exploitation) with the same two-year residential model.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/magdalene-house-of-austin

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Magdalene House of Austin