Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota

What Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota does

Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 2009 and headquartered in Jordan, Minnesota, with a mailing presence in Minnetonka. The organization is dedicated to strengthening the Minnesota child welfare system through advocacy, research, and coalition work aimed at protecting children from abuse and neglect. It produces annual Minnesota Child Fatalities from Maltreatment reports analyzing caregiver-caused child deaths, with documented fatality data covering 2014–2022, 2022–2023, and 2023–2024, and engages Minnesota legislators directly through coalition building and policy recommendations. Its core offerings include advocacy programs, periodic research publications, a weekly policy podcast distributed across major podcast platforms, video resources including webinars and survivor testimonies, and an annual Legislative Breakfast and Fundraiser held at venues such as the Minneapolis Club.

The organization is volunteer-powered with a small staff of 5 employees, supplemented by a distributed volunteer network that supports outreach, research, and event execution. Leadership includes Board President Dr. Lisa Hollensteiner, outgoing Executive Director Melissa DeBilzan (honored with the 2026 Child Safety MVP Award), and Executive Director Emeritus Rich Gehrman, who has authored multiple fatality reports. There is no proprietary technology platform; the digital stack consists of a WordPress website, email newsletters (weekly 2-minute reads), active social media profiles on Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and podcast distribution through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Breaker, Pocket Casts, and RadioPublic.

Revenue is generated entirely through donations and event-based fundraising, including tax-deductible contributions to an Operations Fund (supporting outreach, staffing, research, and resources), non-tax-deductible contributions to an Advocates Fund (supporting child welfare legislation work), individual event tickets priced at $25, table and event sponsorships for the annual Legislative Breakfast and Fundraiser, and contributions of stock or mutual funds. Operating geographies are restricted to Minnesota, with no global footprint claim and no stated plans for geographic expansion.

Name

Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota

Legal name

Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota

Website

https://safepassageforchildren.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota is a volunteer-powered 501c3 nonprofit that advocates for child welfare system reform in Minnesota through legislative engagement, annual child fatality research reports, podcasts, video content, and fundraising events serving abused and neglected children and families statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare Advocacy

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Legal Aid) (BPADADAH)

Keywords

• Child welfare advocacy
• Foster care reform
• Child protection policy
• Nonprofit advocacy
• Child abuse prevention

Headquarters

HQ city

Jordan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations - Operations Fund: Tax-deductible donations to the Operations Fund support general fund for outreach, staffing, research, and resources.
2. Donations - Advocates Fund: Non-tax-deductible donations supporting Safe Passage's work on child welfare legislation in Minnesota.
3. Event Tickets and Sponsorships: Individual tickets at $25, table sponsorships, and event sponsorships for the annual Legislative Breakfast and Fundraiser.
4. Stock and Mutual Fund Donations: Contributions of stock or mutual funds; donors may avoid capital gains and the organization receives shares tax-free.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota is a 501c3 nonprofit advocacy organization that strengthens the Minnesota child welfare system through legislative advocacy, coalition building with state policymakers, and the production of annual research reports on child fatalities from maltreatment. The organization supplements its advocacy work with educational content resources including a weekly policy podcast, video materials, and fundraising events such as the annual Legislative Breakfast.

Product overview

Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota is a 501c3 nonprofit organization offering advocacy programs, research publications, and educational content resources rather than a commercial product platform. The organization provides Minnesota Child Fatalities from Maltreatment reports, podcast series, video resources, and organizes legislative events to advance child welfare policy reform. The offerings function as informational and advocacy tools rather than a unified software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advocacy Programs Nonprofit advocacy initiatives focused on strengthening the Minnesota child welfare system through policy reform and legislative engagement, serving Minnesota legislators, policymakers, foster parents, and the broader community concerned with child welfare.
• Minnesota Child Fatalities from Maltreatment Reports Annual and periodic research reports analyzing child fatalities from maltreatment in Minnesota, providing data-driven recommendations for child welfare system improvement; intended for legislators, policymakers, advocates, and the general public.
• Podcast Series Weekly policy podcast providing commentary on Minnesota and national child welfare legislation, policies, and practices affecting abused and neglected children; distributed via Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, and Spotify.
• Video Resources Educational videos including webinars, survivor testimonies, interviews with experts, and documentary-style content about child protection issues, aimed at the general public, advocates, and policymakers.
• Legislative Breakfast and Fundraiser Annual in-person event bringing together advocates, legislators, and community members to support child welfare initiatives; includes individual tickets, table sponsorships, and event sponsorships.

Quantifiable outcome

• 88 children were killed in Minnesota by their caregivers between October 2014 and May 2022, averaging two children per month

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• FosterClub: National nonprofit led by foster care alumni that advocates for current and former foster youth and supports foster families with training and resources. Comparable to Safe Passage because both work to strengthen the foster care system and amplify voices within it, though FosterClub is youth-led and operates nationally with a peer-support model.
• Childhelp: National nonprofit operating the National Child Abuse Hotline (referenced in Safe Passage's own data as having received over 2 million calls since 1982) and focused on child abuse prevention, treatment, and advocacy. Comparable because both organizations center their mission on child abuse intervention and prevention, though Childhelp operates nationally with a broader hotline and treatment footprint.
• National Children's Alliance: National accrediting body and advocacy organization for Children's Advocacy Centers that serve child abuse victims. Comparable because both center their mission on improving the child protection system's response to abuse, with overlapping state-level chapter and advocacy activity in Minnesota.
• Voices for Children (CASA of Minnesota): Minnesota CASA program recruiting and training volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in the state's court system. Comparable because both operate in the same Minnesota child welfare ecosystem with overlapping donor and volunteer constituencies, though Voices for Children delivers direct court advocacy services rather than policy reform.
• Prevent Child Abuse America: National nonprofit dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect through advocacy, research, and a state chapter network. Directly comparable to Safe Passage because both focus on child abuse prevention and system reform, though Prevent Child Abuse America operates nationally and supports state PCA chapters that overlap Safe Passage's Minnesota remit.
• National CASA / GAL Association for Children: National nonprofit supporting Court Appointed Special Advocates who represent abused and neglected children in court, with state-level programs including in Minnesota. Comparable because both advocate for better outcomes for abused and neglected children in the child welfare and foster care systems, though CASA focuses on direct volunteer advocacy in courts.

Regional players

• CornerHouse: Minnesota-based child advocacy center providing forensic interviews and services for child abuse victims in the same state Safe Passage serves. Comparable as a Minnesota-headquartered nonprofit working on the same child protection mission, offering direct victim services rather than Safe Passage's advocacy and research focus.

Broad incumbents

• Child Welfare League of America: National membership organization representing child welfare agencies and professionals, focused on policy advocacy and best practices for children in foster care and child protection systems. Comparable as both organizations pursue systemic child welfare reform through research and advocacy, though CWLA operates as a national umbrella across many states.
• Children's Defense Fund: National child advocacy organization that lobbies for policies affecting children, including child welfare and foster care reform. Comparable to Safe Passage as both engage in legislative advocacy and research-driven policy work for children, though the Children's Defense Fund operates nationally across a much broader policy portfolio.
• Casey Family Programs: Major foundation focused on reducing the need for foster care and improving outcomes for children in the child welfare system through direct services, research, and policy advocacy. Comparable because Safe Passage's foster care and child protection reform mission overlaps Casey's systems-change approach, though Casey operates nationally with significantly larger resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/safepassagemn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgiJZ_7be24tGOTCz-m9kZQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/safepassagemn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/safe-passage-for-children-of-minnesota
• Instagraminstagram.com/safepassage4childrenmn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota