Alternatives For Girls

What Alternatives For Girls does

Alternatives For Girls is a Detroit-based nonprofit organization founded in 1987 that provides a comprehensive continuum of social services for girls and young women experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, and human trafficking in Southeast Michigan. Its service portfolio spans an emergency Shelter Program with early childcare education for resident mothers and toddlers, a Crisis Resource Center for immediate intervention, a Domestic Violence program offering court accompaniment and PPO assistance, a Human Trafficking support program, a Housing Stability program for transition to permanent housing, and a Workforce Development program that includes the Sew Great Detroit social enterprise (industrial sewing/knitting training with products sold on Etsy). In 2025, the organization reported 107 girls and young women (plus 29 children) receiving shelter nights, a 75% job placement rate among workforce participants, and 72% of resident infants/toddlers receiving early intervention services.

The business model is nonprofit grant- and donation-funded, not transactional. Primary revenue derives from federal government grants administered through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, including multiple Family and Youth Services Bureau grants (90YO2582, 90CY7572, 90CX7535, 90YZ0083, 90AP2701) and Family Violence Prevention and Services Act Program grants (2101MIFVC6, 2201MIFTC6, 2201MIFSC6). Supplementary funding flows through City of Detroit Housing and Revitalization Department contracts and private donations processed via QGiv. Services are provided at no cost to beneficiaries; there is no pricing model or revenue per user. Distribution is direct service delivery from the 903 W. Grand Blvd facility and community outreach events. Headcount sits in the 51-100 range.

Technology infrastructure is minimal and non-differentiated: the website uses third-party LiveChat and ChatBot.com for visitor support, and a Candid/GuideStar transparency seal is displayed. There is no proprietary technology platform, no AI/ML capability beyond a third-party chatbot, and no software product. The 2025 operating posture includes facility infrastructure upgrades (Electronic Door Operator, Emergency Notification system, cloud-based phone system) and a new elementary-age summer camp (Rise N' Shine), alongside partnerships with Corewell Health (maternal/infant health) and Grow Detroit's Young Talent (workforce pipeline), indicating incremental program and capacity expansion rather than a strategic technology pivot.

Name

Alternatives For Girls

Legal name

Alternatives For Girls

Website

https://alternativesforgirls.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Alternatives For Girls is a Detroit nonprofit founded in 1987 that provides shelter, crisis intervention, domestic violence and human trafficking services, housing stability, and workforce development for homeless and high-risk girls and young women in Southeast Michigan, funded primarily by federal HHS grants and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services - Homeless and At-Risk Youth

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221), Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Community Housing Services (624229)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Transition Programs (Reentry, Workforce Readiness & Life Skills for At-Risk Youth) (EDAJAEAF), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), Homeless, Foster Care & Highly Mobile Youth Education Services (EDAJAEAG)

Keywords

• Youth homelessness services
• Domestic violence support
• Human trafficking recovery
• Workforce development training
• Crisis shelter services

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Federal Government Grants: Primary funding from federal grants through the Family and Youth Services Bureau within the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Grants include 90YO2582, 90CY7572, 90CX7535, 90YZ0083, and 90AP2701 from Family and Youth Services Bureau, and grants 2101MIFVC6, 2201MIFTC6, and 2201MIFSC6 from Family Violence Prevention and Services Act Program.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Alternatives For Girls operates a portfolio of direct-service programs for girls and young women experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, and human trafficking in Detroit, including emergency shelter with integrated early childcare education, a crisis resource center, housing stability assistance, domestic violence and personal protection order support, human trafficking recovery services, a workforce development program with job placement, and the Sew Great Detroit social enterprise that sells sewn products to fund workforce training.

Product overview

Alternatives For Girls is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of social services for young women experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, and human trafficking. The organization provides emergency shelter with early childcare education, crisis resource center services, housing stability programs, and workforce development including the social enterprise Sew Great Detroit. Youth programs include academic support and prevention services, while community events like the Rise N' Shine Summer Camp and Career Connections Job Fair extend their reach. The organization operates as a multi-service nonprofit rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sew Great Detroit: AFG's social enterprise which trains women in industrial sewing and knitting while developing other employment skills and opportunities for personal growth in a respectful team environment. Products available on Etsy.

Products and services

• Emergency Shelter Program Emergency shelter services providing safe housing for girls and young women along with their children, with integrated early childcare education support for resident infants and toddlers.
• Crisis Resource Center Crisis intervention services for at-risk and high-risk youth and young women, providing immediate safety planning, resource connection, and stabilization support.
• Housing Stability Program Post-shelter housing stability support assisting young women in maintaining safe, permanent housing and progressing toward long-term independence.
• Domestic Violence Services Domestic violence support services for survivors, including safety planning and assistance with personal protection orders.
• Human Trafficking Recovery Program Recovery and support services for survivors of human trafficking, providing trauma-informed care, safety planning, and a pathway to long-term stability.
• Workforce Development Program Workforce training and job placement program for young women, with a documented job placement rate of 75% among program participants.
• Sew Great Detroit Social Enterprise Wholly-owned social enterprise of Alternatives For Girls that provides paid hands-on industrial sewing and knitting training to workforce participants while generating revenue through sales of sewn products on Etsy and through wholesale channels.
• Youth Programs Broader youth programming for at-risk girls and young women in the Detroit area, providing developmental support, mentorship, and prevention-focused services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% of workforce development participants placed in jobs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Corewell HealthsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorewell Health partners with Alternatives For Girls to provide maternal and infant health education at the Tiny Kicks & Big Dreams community baby shower event. Education covers prenatal care, postpartum wellness, and infant safety.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Regional players

• HAVEN of Oakland County: Southeast Michigan nonprofit offering shelter, counseling, and advocacy for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors. Comparable in DV service line and Michigan geographic footprint, though operating in a neighboring county.
• Starfish Family Services: Detroit-area nonprofit providing counseling, youth development, and family support services. Comparable in Detroit geographic focus and youth/family service orientation, though with less emphasis on shelter and trafficking.

Broad incumbents

• National Network for Youth: National advocacy and capacity-building organization for youth-serving agencies, including those addressing youth homelessness and trafficking. Comparable in target population and federal funding environment, though operating at a national advocacy level rather than direct service.
• Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan: Regional faith-based social services nonprofit serving families, individuals, and at-risk populations across Southeast Michigan, including housing and DV services. Comparable geographic focus and broad social services portfolio, though broader in scope than AFG.

Direct peers

• Safe Horizon: Large NYC-based nonprofit providing domestic violence, human trafficking, and shelter services. Comparable in DV and trafficking service lines and federal grant reliance, though operating at broader scale and different geography.
• Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries: Detroit-based nonprofit offering emergency shelter, transitional housing, and workforce development. Comparable in shelter-based service model and Detroit geographic focus.
• YWCA of Metropolitan Detroit: Detroit-based nonprofit serving women and families through housing, DV support, and workforce programs. Directly comparable in geography, target population, and service mix, including shelter and domestic violence services.
• Covenant House Michigan: Provides shelter and supportive services for youth experiencing homelessness and trafficking in Detroit. Comparable in target population, emergency housing model, and federal grant funding streams.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/alternativesforgirls
• Facebookfacebook.com/AlternativesForGirls
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alternatives-for-girls
• Instagraminstagram.com/alternativesforgirls

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Alternatives For Girls