South Asian Women's Association

What South Asian Women's Association does

South Asian Women's Association (SAWA) is a 501(c)(3) public charitable nonprofit, originally incorporated on March 2, 1993 as Indian Women's Association and re-activated and registered under its current name in May 2015. Headquartered in the Greater Lansing, Michigan area, SAWA provides advocacy, counseling, and community support to South Asian families in the United States, with a primary focus on domestic violence, relational abuse, immigration-related legal issues for abused spouses, and LGBTQ rights. The organization is staffed by 8 employees and supported by 16 board members and a wider advisory board of attorneys, physicians, psychiatrists, and academics; professional lawyers, social workers, and psychiatrists deliver services on a pro-bono basis.

SAWA's service portfolio centers on a Squarespace-hosted resource hub (sawa-usa.org) that combines an Abuse Awareness Quiz, Legal Rights information, Safety Planning resources, a Survivor Stories platform (e.g., Priya, Alice/Nisha, Aasma), and a curated Community Resource Database that funnels beneficiaries to 30+ partner organizations across shelter, legal, healthcare, childcare, employment, and immigration verticals. The organization also runs the Wheels of Change bicycle bank program, launched in 2023 with a goal of 1,000 bicycles ($100,000) for rural girls' education in Maharashtra and an expanded footprint across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand, delivered via partnerships with Jhep Foundation, SAMYAK (Pune), and CRHP.

The revenue model is a hybrid of low-fee annual memberships ($30 individual, $10 student, $50 family), small-dollar event donations (minimum $10 suggested), and earmarked charitable donations such as the $100-per-bicycle Wheels of Change program. Distribution is community-led, relying on direct outreach, in-person film screenings and cultural events in Michigan, the website, and a referral network of partner NGOs and service providers. Geographic reach spans Michigan (USA) and Maharashtra (India), with no parent company, no funding rounds, and no paid digital infrastructure beyond the website.

Name

South Asian Women's Association

Legal name

South Asian Women's Association

Website

https://sawa-usa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

South Asian Women's Association (SAWA) is a Michigan-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides pro-bono legal, social-work, and psychiatric support to South Asian families facing domestic violence, abuse, immigration issues, and LGBTQ concerns, and runs the Wheels of Change bicycle program for rural Indian girls' education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Social Services — Domestic Violence & Survivor Advocacy

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Diaspora, Family Reunification & Case Management Services (BPADAHAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

MHPSS & Trauma-Informed Support for Displaced Populations (BPADAHAJ)

Keywords

• Domestic violence support
• South Asian advocacy
• Pro bono legal counsel
• Immigrant survivor services
• Community resource database

Headquarters

HQ city

Lansing

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees provide community access, voting rights, and discounted event rates. $30 per individual member, $10 for students, $50 for families.
2. Donations: Charitable donations from individuals and organizations supporting SAWA's mission. 100% of donations for Wheels of Change program go directly to bicycle purchases with no overhead charges.
3. Event Fundraisers: Fundraising events including film screenings, cultural events, and community gatherings. Minimum suggested donation of $10 for events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

South Asian Women's Association (SAWA) is a 501(c)(3) public charitable nonprofit that provides free advocacy, counseling, and legal information services to South Asian individuals and families affected by domestic violence, abuse, and related issues. Its deliverables include an Abuse Awareness Quiz, Legal Rights Information Service (immigration, protective orders, divorce), Safety Planning Resources, a Survivor Stories platform, a curated Community Resource Database, and an annual Membership Program, complemented by the Wheels of Change bicycle banking program in rural India and cultural Events and Fundraisers.

Product overview

South Asian Women's Association (SAWA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a suite of support services for domestic violence survivors and advocacy programs for South Asian families. The core offerings include an Abuse Awareness Quiz for identifying abusive relationships, Legal Rights Information Services covering immigration and protective orders, Safety Planning Resources, a Survivor Stories Platform featuring personal narratives, and a Community Resource Database connecting survivors with shelters and legal counsel. SAWA also operates the Wheels of Change bicycle program for girls' education in rural India, runs a membership program with community access and voting rights, and hosts cultural events and fundraisers. The organization is staffed by professional lawyers, social workers, and psychiatrists who provide pro-bono services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Abuse Awareness Quiz Interactive online self-assessment that asks questions about controlling behaviors, isolation tactics, and other signs of domestic violence to help individuals identify whether they or someone they know may be in an abusive relationship. Targeted at South Asian individuals and families facing or witnessing abuse.
• Legal Rights Information Service Educational resources and guidance covering immigration rights, protective orders, divorce procedures, and visa options (including U-Visa and VAWA self-petition) available to domestic violence survivors in the United States. Targeted at South Asian abuse survivors needing to understand US legal protections.
• Safety Planning Resources Comprehensive safety-planning guidance for abuse survivors, including emergency exit strategies, document preparation, Personal Protection Orders, and building social support networks. Targeted at South Asian individuals currently in or leaving abusive relationships.
• Survivor Stories Platform An online collection of anonymized personal narratives from South Asian domestic violence survivors (including Priya, Alice/Nisha, and Aasma) providing peer support, hope, and recognition of abusive patterns. Targeted at South Asian individuals experiencing or recovering from abuse.
• Community Resource Database A curated online directory of 30+ partner organizations providing shelter, psychological support, immigration and legal counsel, employment resources, healthcare, and childcare assistance to domestic violence survivors. Targeted at South Asian abuse survivors needing referrals to specialized services.
• Annual Membership Program Annual membership program offering community access, voting rights on organizational decisions, monthly meeting invitations, and discounted event rates. Membership tiers: $30 individual, $10 student, $50 family per year. Targeted at community members who want to support and participate in SAWA's mission.
• Wheels of Change Bicycle Banking Program Bicycle banking program that provides bicycles to girl students in rural India (Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand) to improve access to education and reduce school dropout rates, with $100 per bicycle donated and 100% of donations going to bicycle purchases. Targeted at rural Indian schoolgirls facing long commutes or safety barriers to school attendance.
• Events and Fundraisers Cultural and educational events including film screenings (e.g., Writing with Fire, Kattumaram, Earth), annual galas, mental health awareness fundraisers, and community gatherings held to raise awareness and funds for SAWA's mission. Targeted at community members, donors, and South Asian diaspora supporters in the Greater Lansing, Michigan area.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jhep FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO co-founded by Reshma Sambare, who is also the Founding President of South Asian Women's Association. Jhep oversees and implements the Wheels of Change bicycle bank program through partnerships with government high schools and Gram Panchayats in rural Maharashtra, India.
• SAMYAKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO based in Pune, India actively involved in programming, capacity building, research, resource development, and campaigns on violence against women and girls in Maharashtra state. Partners on Wheels of Change program implementation.
• Comprehensive Rural Health Program (CRHP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization working among the rural poor for over 50 years to eliminate injustices through integrated health and development efforts. Provides local presence and knowledge for Wheels of Change program implementation in rural Maharashtra.
• ChangemakersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for 2022 Fundraiser event featuring private screening of Oscar-nominated documentary 'Writing with Fire' by Sushmit Ghosh and Rintu Thomas.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Asian Women's Shelter: San Francisco-based shelter and support center for women and children fleeing domestic violence, with multilingual Asian-language services. Adjacent in serving Asian diaspora survivors but with broader pan-Asian scope rather than South Asian-specific.
• Kiran Inc. New Jersey-based nonprofit serving South Asian and other immigrant domestic violence survivors with counseling, advocacy, and case management. Smaller-scale emerging player with overlapping immigrant South Asian survivor focus.

Direct peers

• Saheli: Massachusetts-based South Asian women's support organization offering domestic violence assistance, peer support groups, and community education. Regional peer with similar culturally-specific service approach.
• Apna Ghar: Chicago-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and support services for South Asian immigrant women and children fleeing domestic violence. Comparable mission and diaspora-focused service model.
• ASHA for Women: Washington DC-area nonprofit empowering South Asian women through domestic violence support, immigration legal aid, and economic empowerment programs. Closely aligns with SAWA's survivor support and immigration legal service mix.
• Sakhi for South Asian Women: NYC-based nonprofit serving South Asian survivors of domestic violence with counseling, legal advocacy, and community organizing. Most direct functional peer to SAWA, operating in a larger metro diaspora market with similar culturally-specific service model.
• Manavi: New Jersey-based organization supporting South Asian women survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Comparable culturally-specific service delivery, regional peer operating in adjacent diaspora geography.

Broad incumbents

• Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence: National resource center addressing gender-based violence in Asian and Pacific Islander communities. Functions as a broader-incumbent umbrella providing research, training, and resources that complement SAWA's direct service work.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: Largest US national hotline providing 24/7 domestic violence support, safety planning, and resources. Broad incumbent at the top of the referral funnel that SAWA's survivor stories and resource database partially point survivors toward.
• Womankind: NYC-based multiservice organization providing domestic violence support, housing, and youth services primarily for Asian survivors. Larger incumbent with broader Asian-diaspora scope and similar service categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-asian-women-s-association

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about South Asian Women's Association