ZAHRA FOUNDATION

What ZAHRA FOUNDATION does

Zahra Foundation is an ACNC-registered nonprofit organization headquartered in Adelaide, South Australia, founded in 2015 by Atena, Arman and Anita Abrahimzadeh following the 2010 murder of their mother Zahra by her estranged husband. The foundation delivers free, trauma-informed economic empowerment services to women and children impacted by domestic and family violence across Australia, with primary operations in South Australia and an expanding footprint into Newcastle, New South Wales through partnerships with Greater Charitable Foundation, Jenny's Place and Deakin University. Headcount is reported at 11-50 employees.

The core product set is a coordinated suite of programs: the flagship 9-week Pathways to Empowerment program (goal-setting, education/training/employment pathways), a specialist Financial Counselling service for domestic-abuse-related debt, the Opportunity Knox small grants program for education/employment barriers, Healthy Futures (7-week goal-setting module), Early Pathways for younger survivors (18-35), Food for Thought cooking workshops, and topical Workshops covering financial literacy, budgeting and resume writing. There is no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is human-led and supported by standard remote-delivery IT tools funded through a post-COVID Ecstra grant.

The business model is nonprofit and multi-stream. Revenue is generated through individual and corporate donations (including recurring events such as Women on the Run and matched-giving campaigns like Beyond Bank's Double Donation Day), grants from government (SA Government/Office for Women) and charitable foundations (Greater Charitable Foundation, BankSA Foundation, Financial Counselling Foundation, FRRR, Zonta International), and fee-for-service Corporate Training on domestic abuse awareness and financial literacy. All beneficiary-facing services are provided free of charge; pricing to funders/partners follows grant and sponsorship arrangements rather than per-seat commercial pricing. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on a referral network of 40+ partner organizations, media coverage, events and digital channels (website, social, email). Demand consistently outstrips supply — the foundation currently serves approximately 1 in 4 applicants, with a 26% surge in demand observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Name

ZAHRA FOUNDATION

Legal name

Zahra Foundation Australia

Website

https://zahrafoundation.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zahra Foundation is an Adelaide-based ACNC-registered nonprofit that provides free, trauma-informed economic empowerment programs, specialist financial counselling, small grants and workshops to women impacted by domestic abuse across Australia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic Violence Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Domestic violence support
• Financial counselling services
• Women's economic empowerment
• Trauma-informed programs
• Nonprofit community services

Headquarters

HQ city

SLOUGH

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual and corporate donations form a primary revenue stream, supplemented by fundraising events such as Women on the Run, Double Donation Day campaigns, and Christmas fundraisers like Gifts for Good. The organization also receives matching donations from community banking partners.
2. Government and Foundation Grants: Grants from government bodies (SA Government, Office for Women), charitable foundations (Greater Charitable Foundation, BankSA Foundation, Financial Counselling Foundation, FRRR, Zonta International), and corporate sponsors fund specific programs and services.
3. Corporate Training: Fee-for-service corporate training programs on topics related to domestic abuse awareness, financial literacy, and workplace safety, generating revenue while advancing organizational mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Zahra Foundation provides free, trauma-informed programs and services to women impacted by domestic and family violence in Australia, focused on economic empowerment and financial independence. Core offerings include the 9-week Pathways to Empowerment program, specialist Financial Counselling for abuse-related debt, educational Workshops covering financial literacy and employment readiness, and the Opportunity Knox small grants program. Additional specialized offerings include the Early Pathways to Empowerment program for young women aged 18-35 and the Food for Thought cooking workshop series.

Product overview

The Zahra Foundation Australia is a nonprofit organization providing a coordinated suite of programs and services focused on economic empowerment for women recovering from domestic violence. The core offerings include the Pathways to Empowerment 9-week program, specialist Financial Counselling services, educational Workshops covering financial literacy and employment skills, and the Opportunity Knox Small Grants program. Additional specialized offerings include Healthy Futures (a 7-week goal-setting program), the Food for Thought cooking workshop series, and the Early Pathways to Empowerment program for young women aged 18-35. Together, these services address the interconnected needs of financial counselling, education, employment preparation, and practical grants support to help women achieve financial independence and break the cycle of domestic abuse.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pathways to Empowerment: A 9-week program for women impacted by domestic abuse to connect with themselves, identify goals, and discover pathways to education, training, and employment
• Financial Counselling
• Opportunity Knox
• Women on the Run
• Women Empowering Women

Products and services

• Pathways to Empowerment A 9-week program for women impacted by domestic abuse that allows participants to connect with themselves, identify goals, and discover pathways to education, training, and employment within a supportive, non-judgemental community.
• Financial Counselling A free, specialist financial counselling service for women impacted by domestic abuse-related debt and financial hardship, provided by trauma and violence-informed Financial Counsellors who empower clients with skills, knowledge, and choices.
• Healthy Futures A 7-week program focusing on goal setting, work ready skills, and personal attributes where participants develop a pathways plan for future education, employment, or training.
• Opportunity Knox Small Grants A small grants program providing additional support to women participating in Financial Counselling who are experiencing financial hardship or facing barriers associated with costs of gaining and sustaining education or employment.
• Workshops Educational workshops that build skills and provide information to support women in their journey to economic independence, covering financial literacy, budgeting, resume writing, and tools for entering and maintaining education, employment, and training.
• Food for Thought Hands-on cooking classes provided in partnership with Zonta Club of Adelaide Flinders to teach women easy and nutritious meals that fit within a budget, supported by a grant from Zonta International.
• Early Pathways to Empowerment A 9-week course designed for 18-35 year old women who have experienced domestic and family violence, supported by BankSA Foundation funding for earlier intervention.

Quantifiable outcome

• On average it takes seven attempts for women to leave an abusive relationship
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jenny's Place Domestic Violence & Homelessness SupportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in delivering Pathways to Empowerment program to women in the Hunter Region (Newcastle area) who have escaped abusive relationships.
• Deakin UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the three-year program expansion to Newcastle, bringing research and educational expertise to program delivery.
• Credit Union SAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor of Women on the Run fundraising events. Recurring annual sponsor providing significant event support.
• Zonta Club of Adelaide FlinderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership delivering Food for Thought cooking classes, providing hands-on cooking skills and nutritious meals for women within budget. Supported by Zonta International centenary grant.
• FoodbankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Women on the Run events, collecting food donations carried by participants to support women and families affected by domestic violence.
• VulyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated trampoline voucher for Christmas fundraiser auction, supporting mental health and providing prize for fundraising campaign.
• Myer AdelaideminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRan Local Giving Month POS Round Up campaign in February, with Myer Community Fund donating 100% of funds raised to Zahra Foundation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Lifeline Australia: Australia-wide crisis support and suicide prevention charity providing telephone counselling and DV-related support. Comparable as a major federally funded non-profit addressing family violence, though with a broader crisis intervention scope rather than the specialist economic empowerment niche Zahra occupies.
• Relationships Australia: Federated network of community-based relationship support services across Australia, including family and domestic violence counselling and mediation. Comparable as a national non-profit delivering DV-related programs and competing for similar grant streams, but with a broader relationship-counselling mandate.
• 1800RESPECT: National 24/7 sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling and support service funded by the Australian Department of Social Services. Comparable as a national DV service provider operating on government and philanthropic funding, though significantly larger in scale and with a helpline rather than program-based economic empowerment focus.

Regional players

• WIRE (Women's Information and Referral Exchange): Victoria-based non-profit providing free information, support and referral services for women, including on family violence. Comparable as a women's services non-profit in a single Australian state, operating on government and philanthropic funding.
• DVConnect: Queensland's statewide domestic and family violence telephone helpline and support service. Comparable as a regional DV non-profit operating on government funding with a service-delivery focus, though geographically concentrated in QLD.
• No to Violence: Australia-wide peak body for men's behaviour change programs and integrated responses to family violence. Comparable as a federally-funded DV non-profit with advocacy and program delivery, though focused on perpetrator intervention rather than survivor empowerment.
• Domestic Violence NSW: NSW peak body for domestic and family violence services, providing sector advocacy, training and resource development. Comparable as a non-profit DV services organization competing for similar government funding, with regional (NSW) rather than SA focus.

Direct peers

• Women's Domestic Violence Crisis Service (SA): South Australian non-profit providing crisis intervention, court support and case management for women and children experiencing domestic violence. Direct peer as a front-line SA-based DV support service competing for the same state funding pools, referrals, and government contracts.
• Full Stop Australia: National sexual, domestic and family violence support and trauma counselling non-profit providing counselling, education and advocacy. Direct peer as a DV services charity using specialist trauma-informed practitioners and competing for similar federal grant pools.

Emerging players

• Multicultural Centre for Women's Health: National non-profit providing advocacy, research and service delivery for migrant and refugee women's health, including family violence support. Comparable as a women's empowerment non-profit with federal funding, though more narrowly focused on multicultural communities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zahra-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ZAHRA FOUNDATION