Sahiyo

What Sahiyo does

Sahiyo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2015 and headquartered at 45 Prospect Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is a survivor-led advocacy organization working to end female genital cutting (FGM/C) in Asian communities, with particular focus on the Dawoodi Bohra diaspora. The organization operates a portfolio of eight core programs: Voices to End FGM/C (a digital storytelling project producing 80+ survivor videos integrated into professional training), Community Outreach (including Advocacy & Travel Awards and a Survivor and Community Engagement Toolkit), Training and Technical Assistance (including HOPE Massachusetts), an annual Activists Retreat, Research (Critical Intersections), Bhaiyo (a male engagement program), Policy advocacy supporting FGM/C legislation in Connecticut, Maryland, Hawaii, and Washington, and Thaal pe Charcha, a flagship community-dialogue program. Supporting resources include the FGC Survivor Support Line.

Sahiyo's service beneficiaries span FGM/C survivors, affected communities, policymakers, healthcare providers, educators, and service organizations, reached through digital campaigns, virtual workshops, in-person retreats, and coalition partnerships across the United States, India, Pakistan, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Its technology footprint is modest: digital storytelling platforms, secure messaging systems, and virtual support group technologies, with content delivered via the website, social media (Instagram, Twitter/X, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, Bluesky), email newsletter, and earned media placements in 115+ outlets.

Sahiyo generates revenue exclusively through charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and supporters, with monthly giving, silent auctions, and mission merchandise supplementing contributions. In 2025, the organization achieved independent 501(c)(3) status, gained operational autonomy, and migrated off Flipcause to a new donation platform following Flipcause's financial difficulties. Its go-to-market is community-led, relying on survivor voices, direct engagement, and a dense coalition of partner organizations—Equality Now, The US Network to End FGM/C, The Girl Generation, WeSpeakOut, Silence Speaks, Saheli, HOPE MA, and others—rather than commercial sales motions.

Name

Sahiyo

Legal name

Sahiyo

Website

https://sahiyo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sahiyo is a survivor-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advocates to end female genital cutting in Asian communities, particularly the Dawoodi Bohra diaspora, through digital storytelling, policy advocacy, training, and coalition partnerships across the U.S. and abroad.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Advocacy Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD)

Keywords

• Anti-FGM/C advocacy
• Survivor-led advocacy
• Community outreach programs
• Policy advocacy services
• Digital storytelling workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Sahiyo generates revenue through charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and supporters. The organization transitioned from Flipcause to its own donation platform (bit.ly/DonateSahiyo) following Flipcause's financial challenges in late 2025.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sahiyo is a survivor-led nonprofit organization that delivers advocacy, education, and survivor support programs aimed at ending female genital cutting (FGM/C) in Asian and diaspora communities. Its core offerings include digital storytelling projects, community dialogue programs, professional training for healthcare providers, male ally engagement, policy advocacy, and research on the intersections of FGM/C with racism and gender identity. All programs and resources are provided free of charge to beneficiaries and funded through charitable donations and grants.

Product overview

Sahiyo is a non-profit advocacy organization offering a portfolio of survivor-centered programs rather than a unified technology product. The core offerings include Voices to End FGM/C (digital storytelling), Community Outreach with toolkit resources, Training and Technical Assistance for professionals, the annual Activists Retreat, Research with Critical Intersections initiative, Bhaiyo male engagement program, Policy advocacy, and the Thaal pe Charcha community dialogue program. Supporting resources include the FGC Survivor Support Line. The organization does not operate a SaaS platform or sell software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bhaiyo: Male engagement program focusing on involving men as allies in ending FGC.
• Voices to End FGM/C
• Thaal pe Charcha

Products and services

• Voices to End FGM/C A digital storytelling project that empowers survivors and advocates to create short videos (two-to-three minutes) sharing their lived experiences with FGM/C using voice narration, photographs, artwork, and video clips created on smartphones. The collection contains over 80 videos integrated into professional training and technical assistance programs.
• Community Outreach Community engagement initiative that includes the Advocacy & Travel Award sub-program and the Survivor and Community Engagement Toolkit, designed to mobilize affected communities and support survivor-led organizing.
• Training and Technical Assistance Professional training programs for healthcare providers, educators, and service organizations on FGM/C awareness and trauma-informed care, including the HOPE MASSACHUSETTS initiative.
• Activists Retreat Annual virtual retreat bringing together activists and survivors for learning, reflection, and strategic planning to address FGM/C, with capacity-building activities for advocates.
• Research (Critical Intersections) Research initiative examining the intersection of racism within anti-FGM/C movements, producing position papers such as 'Dismantling Racism in Anti-FGM/C Movements' and conducting global convenings.
• Bhaiyo: Male Allies Male engagement program that involves men as allies in conversations about ending FGC through storytelling, advocacy, and community organizing.
• Policy Advocacy Policy advocacy work supporting legislative efforts to end FGM/C, including state-level legislation in Connecticut, Maryland, Hawaii, and Washington through policy briefings, legislative testimony, and coalition engagement.
• Thaal pe Charcha Flagship program bringing Bohra women together in informal settings to discuss female genital cutting over traditional cuisine, fostering community dialogue and awareness.
• FGC Survivor Support Line Support resource providing assistance and resources to FGM/C survivors seeking help, referrals, or trauma-informed guidance.
• Global Ambassador Program Initiative designed to cultivate ambassadors who champion Sahiyo's mission and elevate awareness about FGM/C in local communities worldwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.4 million+ people reached through digital campaigns
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• WeSpeakOutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeSpeakOut is a survivor-led anti-FGM organization that co-hosts the 'Dear Maasi' column with Sahiyo and collaborates on community engagement initiatives. Sahiyo governing board chair Zehra Patwa is also co-founder of WeSpeakOut. The organizations share resources and coordinate advocacy efforts.
• Silence SpeakscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilence Speaks uses storytelling and participatory media to support the telling of unspoken stories. They collaborate with Sahiyo on the Voices to End FGM/C digital storytelling workshop, providing expertise in media production and trauma-informed facilitation.
• Equality NowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquality Now is an international human rights organization that co-hosted the May 2026 Adirondacks retreat on gender and FGM/C with Sahiyo and The US Network to End FGM/C. They collaborate on policy advocacy and joint statements.
• The US Network to End FGM/CcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe US Network to End FGM/C is a coalition that co-hosted the May 2026 Adirondacks retreat with Sahiyo and Equality Now. Sahiyo staff members participate in Network activities and leadership.
• The Girl GenerationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Girl Generation supports Africa-led movements to end FGM/C and co-hosted the concurrent session at Women Deliver 2026 with Sahiyo and the Global Platform for Action. They jointly published the 'Dismantling Racism in Anti-FGM/C Movements' position paper.
• Healing Equity UnitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealing Equity United partnered with Sahiyo and The Girl Generation to publish the position paper 'Dismantling Racism in Anti-FGM/C Movements: Path to Decolonial, Survivor-Led Advocacy.'
• Global Platform for Action to End FGM/CcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Global Platform for Action to End FGM/C organized the 2026 Women Deliver pre-conference and co-hosted the concurrent session with Sahiyo. The Platform brings together multiple organizations working to end FGM/C globally.
• HOPE MA (Holistic Organized Partnerships to End FGM/C in MA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHOPE MA is a Massachusetts-based coalition launched in February 2026 to prevent FGM/C and support survivors. Sahiyo collaborates with HOPE MA on the digital storytelling workshop and training programs in the Massachusetts region.
• SahelicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSaheli is a nonprofit in Woburn, MA specializing in domestic and sexual violence prevention. They co-organized the 2026 digital storytelling workshop with Sahiyo and specialize in culturally-sensitive, trauma-informed support for South Asian, Middle Eastern, and North African survivors.
• Asian Women's SheltercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsian Women's Shelter collaborated with Sahiyo and Silence Speaks on a three-year project resulting in a case study on supporting FGM/C survivors through storytelling and collaboration, focused on culturally grounded, trauma-informed methods.
• Connecticut Coalition to End FGM/CcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Connecticut Coalition to End FGM/C is a state-level coalition that Sahiyo supports through policy advocacy, legislative testimony, and survivor engagement. Sahiyo Executive Director Mariya Taher testified before the Connecticut legislature in support of SB 259.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Equality Now: International human rights organization that actively partners with Sahiyo on FGM/C policy advocacy and co-hosted the May 2026 Adirondacks retreat. Both organizations work on gender-based legal reform and survivor-centered advocacy.
• 28 Too Many: Anti-FGM/C research and advocacy organization focused on ending the practice in Africa. Comparable as a data-driven, survivor-aligned NGO working to end FGM/C through research, policy advocacy, and community engagement.
• Orchid Project: U.K.-based charity funding and accelerating the global movement to end FGM/C. Comparable as a grantmaking and advocacy organization working alongside grassroots anti-FGM/C movements worldwide.
• The Girl Generation: Global movement supporting Africa-led efforts to end FGM/C that co-hosted sessions with Sahiyo at Women Deliver 2026 and co-published position papers. Comparable as a survivor- and community-led anti-FGM/C advocacy organization.
• Asian Women's Shelter: San Francisco-based organization that collaborated with Sahiyo on a three-year storytelling-and-support project for FGM/C survivors. Comparable as a culturally grounded service and advocacy organization serving Asian women facing gender-based violence.
• The US Network to End FGM/C: U.S. coalition coordinating anti-FGM/C efforts that actively partners with Sahiyo on retreats and advocacy. Both organizations focus on U.S. policy reform, survivor support, and cross-organizational coordination.
• Tostan: International NGO that runs community-led empowerment programs to end FGM/C and child marriage in West Africa. Highly comparable as a community-based, rights-based anti-FGM/C organization with a documented record of large-scale program impact.
• Global Platform for Action to End FGM/C: International coalition coordinating global FGM/C elimination efforts that co-hosted the 2026 Women Deliver pre-conference with Sahiyo. Operates as a peer convening organization in the same anti-FGM/C ecosystem.
• WeSpeakOut: Survivor-led anti-FGM organization co-founded by Sahiyo's Board Chair Zehra Patwa; co-hosts the 'Dear Maasi' column with Sahiyo. The organizations share leadership and coordinate advocacy targeting the Dawoodi Bohra community.

Regional players

• Saheli: Massachusetts-based nonprofit specializing in domestic and sexual violence prevention in South Asian, Middle Eastern, and North African communities that co-organized Sahiyo's 2026 digital storytelling workshop. Comparable culturally- and trauma-informed survivor support services for South Asian diaspora communities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/sahiyovoices
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SahiyoVoices
• Facebookfacebook.com/SahiyoVoices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sahiyo
• Instagraminstagram.com/sahiyovoices
• TikToktiktok.com/@sahiyovoices?lang=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Sahiyo