Sex Workers Outreach Project USA

What Sex Workers Outreach Project USA does

Sex Workers Outreach Project USA (SWOP USA) is a national grassroots social justice network advocating for the rights of sex workers, founded in 2003 in the San Francisco Bay Area and currently headquartered at 382 N Lemon Ave #1060, Walnut, CA 91789 (EIN 26-2264638). The organization is Black- and trans-led with an entirely sex-worker leadership model, and operates 11+ local projects across at least seven states (CA, HI, PA, MN, MI, FL, TX). It was co-founded by Stacey Swimme, Robyn Few, and Shannon Williams, and in 2004 co-established December 17th as the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers with Dr. Annie Sprinkle — an annual observance that has become a global advocacy anchor.

SWOP USA's core products are community programs and advocacy infrastructure rather than technology products. These include a public blog, an active Instagram presence, monthly community meetings held over Zoom, an email newsletter, an online resource directory for sex workers, and an e-commerce merchandise store selling t-shirts, tank tops, hoodies, and stickers. Service delivery is executed through partnerships with adjacent organizations, including Denton Basic Services Center, Denton County Health Department, Houston Housing Project, Austin Unhoused Project, and The December 17th Project. The organization runs on a small team of approximately 10 employees.

The revenue model is a nonprofit donor-and-merchandise hybrid. Recurring revenue comes from individual donations processed through Patreon and Donorbox, and one-time revenue comes from direct merchandise sales via the e-commerce store. There is no disclosed pricing model beyond per-item merchandise pricing (e.g., stickers from $5), no enterprise contracts, and no fee-for-service revenue. The organization does not publish an operating budget, audited financials, or grant disclosures in the materials provided.

Name

Sex Workers Outreach Project USA

Legal name

Sex Workers Outreach Project USA

Website

https://swopusa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sex Workers Outreach Project USA (SWOP USA) is a Black- and trans-led, sex-worker-led national grassroots nonprofit founded in 2003 that advocates for sex worker rights through 11+ local chapters, donor-funded programs, and service partnerships across at least seven U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Justice Advocacy Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Sexual & Reproductive Health & Family Planning (SRH/FP) Programs (BPADAIAD)

Keywords

• Sex worker advocacy
• Community outreach services
• Social justice organizing
• Nonprofit peer support
• Human rights programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Walnut

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from supporters, offered as one-time, weekly, or monthly contributions. The organization promotes monthly giving for sustained support of community projects.
2. Merchandise Sales: E-commerce sales of branded merchandise including t-shirts, tanks, hoodies, and stickers. Products are print-on-demand, sold directly through the organization's online store.
3. Program Donations: Designated donations to specific local projects at $10/month to help fund community initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SWOP USA is a national grassroots social justice network that supports the sex worker community through local volunteer chapters and sponsored projects across the U.S. It provides community organizing, peer support, safety resources, advocacy for decriminalization, and intersectional activism, supplemented by branded merchandise sales to fund operations.

Product overview

SWOP USA is a national grassroots social justice network, not a technology product company. Its offerings consist of advocacy programs, community organizing through local chapter projects (sponsees), and merchandise sales through its online store. The organization operates local sex worker-led chapters and projects including SWOP Hawaii, Serenity House PA, Glitterbomb, Denton Basic Service Center, SWOP Minneapolis, Grand Rapids Project, Orlando Project, Los Angeles Project, Houston Project, and Austin Project. It also runs the D17 Project (December 17th - International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers) and maintains a resource directory for sex workers. Merchandise includes 20th Anniversary commemorative items (t-shirts, tanks, hoodies, and stickers).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SWOP USA 20th Anniversary Tee Unisex performance crew neck t-shirt made from premium moisture-wicking polyester fabric with odor resistance, stain release, and UPF44+ protection, priced at $25.00, sold to supporters and allies.
• SWOP USA 20th Anniversary Tank Classic staple tank top made from 100% combed and ringspun cotton, priced at $20.00, sold to supporters and allies.
• SWOP USA 20th Anniversary Die-Cut Stickers Durable die-cut stickers printed on high opacity adhesive vinyl with bubble-free application, available in multiple sizes starting from $10.00, sold to supporters and allies.
• SWOP USA 20th Anniversary Hoodie Classic streetwear hoodie with 100% cotton face, front pouch pocket, and 3-panel hood, made from 65% ring-spun cotton and 35% polyester, priced at $40.00, sold to supporters and allies.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and historical.

• Denton Basic Services CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Friends of SWOP collaborative organization providing basic services. Denton Basic Services Center works with SWOP USA's network to support local communities.
• Denton County Health DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Health department partnership providing public health resources and support to the sex worker community in Denton County.
• Houston Housing ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Housing advocacy organization collaborating with SWOP USA to address housing needs and support unstable housing situations faced by sex workers.
• Austin Unhoused ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Organization addressing homelessness working with SWOP USA to provide support and resources to unhoused community members.
• The December 17th ProjectflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Collaborative global resource maintaining memorialized sex workers, podcast storytelling, and blog updates about murdered sex workers. Continues the mission started by SWOP-USA to honor victims of the Green River Killer and designate December 17th as International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.
• Dr. Annie SprinklehistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with SWOP co-founders in 2004 to establish December 17th as International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• HIPS: HIPS is a DC-based nonprofit providing harm reduction, advocacy, and direct services to sex workers and people who use drugs. It is a direct peer through its direct-service and advocacy model for the sex worker community.
• SWOP NYC: SWOP NYC is the New York City chapter of the Sex Workers Outreach Project network, providing direct peer-to-peer services and advocacy for sex workers in NYC. It is a direct chapter peer operating under the same national SWOP movement.
• Red Umbrella Fund: Red Umbrella Fund is a global sex worker-led fund that supports organizations advocating for sex workers' rights. It is a direct peer through its sex worker-led grantmaking and network support role.
• Sex Workers Project at Urban Justice Center: Sex Workers Project provides legal services, advocacy, and community organizing for sex workers in New York and nationally. It is a direct peer through shared sex worker advocacy and direct service delivery.
• Best Practices Policy Project: Best Practices Policy Project is a national organization that advocates for the rights of sex workers through policy research and community organizing. It is a direct peer through national sex worker rights advocacy.
• SWOP Los Angeles: SWOP LA is the Los Angeles chapter of the national SWOP network, providing direct services and advocacy. It is a direct chapter peer operating under the same SWOP movement in a major US metro.
• St. James Infirmary: St. James Infirmary is a San Francisco-based peer-led occupational health and safety clinic serving sex workers. It is a direct peer through its grassroots, sex-worker-led service model and harm reduction approach.
• Desiree Alliance: Desiree Alliance is a national sex worker-led network advocating for human rights and decriminalization. It is a direct peer through its national organizing and policy advocacy for sex workers.
• COYOTE RI: Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics (COYOTE) Rhode Island is a sex worker rights organization providing advocacy and direct support. It is a direct peer through its grassroots organizing and decriminalization advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• Caracole: Caracole is a Cincinnati-based HIV/AIDS service organization providing housing, case management, and prevention services. It is a broad incumbent comparable through its overlapping service population but with a narrower focus on HIV/AIDS rather than full sex worker advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/squarespace
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sex-workers-outreach-project-usa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Sex Workers Outreach Project USA