Chains Interrupted

What Chains Interrupted does

Chains Interrupted is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (with a secondary mailing address in Waukee, Iowa), focused on ending human trafficking and exploitation of youth through a three-pillar framework of awareness, prevention, and advocacy. Founded as a small committee of concerned individuals, it operates with a staff of 5 (2 full-time, 3 part-time) supplemented by a vetted volunteer network known as Chain Breakers and broader community coalitions. The organization serves trafficking survivors and their families through case coordination, resource referrals, and advocacy, and serves institutions and community members through training and educational programming. In 2025, the organization publicly reported helping 81 survivors and families.

The organization's core offerings are service-delivery intensive rather than technology-delivered. It maintains 18+ educational programs covering schools, hotels and motels, healthcare, law enforcement, corrections, the judiciary, real estate, financial services, faith communities, and businesses. The BRYX (Building Resilience in Youth against eXploitation) program is a specialized offering that equips youth-serving organizations with screening tools and trauma-informed response training. The UnChainEd Coalition convenes quarterly for cross-sector coordination, and annual events include the Freedom Gala, Bike Ride, Freedom Ride, and Red Sand Project / Family Safety Fair. No technology platform, API, SDK, or AI capability is part of the offering; service reach is delivered through staff, volunteers, partner referrals, and educational content.

Revenue is generated primarily through private donations (the dominant stream), supplemented by special-event sponsorships and ticket revenue, branded merchandise sales (water bottles at $10, tote bags at $17) through a Wix-based online storefront and consignment partners (Stuff Etc., Elegant Repeats in Cedar Rapids, and ReVibes in Ely), and planned-giving instruments including stock donations and Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs. Pricing is publicly disclosed only for merchandise; all other engagement is donation-based. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging Chain Breaker volunteers, school and business training deployments, speaking engagements, and partnerships with state-level bodies such as the Iowa Office to Combat Human Trafficking and the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking.

Name

Chains Interrupted

Legal name

Chains Interrupted

Website

https://chainsinterrupted.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Chains Interrupted is a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit combating human trafficking through awareness, prevention, and advocacy. It serves survivors, families, and institutions via 18+ educational programs, the BRYX youth program, and a statewide referral network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Trafficking Prevention Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)

Keywords

• Human trafficking prevention
• Anti-trafficking education
• Survivor support services
• Youth exploitation prevention
• Community awareness training

Headquarters

HQ city

Cedar Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Private Donations: Primary funding source from individual private donors. Accepts monetary donations via online portal, mail, phone, and employer matching programs.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including water bottles ($10) and tote bags ($17) to raise funds and promote awareness.
3. Consignment Sales: Partnership with Stuff Etc., Elegant Repeats (Cedar Rapids), and ReVibes (Ely) to sell donated items with proceeds going to Chains Interrupted.
4. Estate Planning/Stock Donations: Accepts stock donations, Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs, and planned giving options for donors over 70½.
5. Special Events: Annual events like Freedom Gala generate sponsorship and ticket revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Chains Interrupted is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that combats human trafficking and exploitation through awareness, prevention, and advocacy. It delivers 18+ sector-specific educational programs to schools, hotels, healthcare, law enforcement, faith communities, and businesses, while providing direct survivor support services including resource referrals, shelter connections, advocacy, and family assistance. The organization also runs the BRYX youth exploitation program, the Chain Breaker volunteer program, the UnChainEd Coalition, and sells branded merchandise to support fundraising.

Product overview

Chains Interrupted is a nonprofit organization that operates primarily through educational programs and awareness initiatives rather than a software product. Their core offerings include 18+ educational programs on human trafficking awareness and prevention, the BRYX program for youth exploitation, and merchandise items (Water Bottle, Tote Bag) sold to support their mission. The organization focuses on prevention through training schools, hotels, medical facilities, law enforcement, and community organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BRYX (Building Resilience in Youth against eXploitation): Program that equips organizations working with youth to identify and assist those who have experienced deep and complex trauma from human trafficking.
• UnChainEd Coalition
• Handbags of Hope

Quantifiable outcome

• Helped 81 survivors and families in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• KCRGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia sponsor for Freedom Gala event. Provides promotional coverage and support for anti-human trafficking initiatives.
• Heartland InvestmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Freedom Gala event, supporting the organization's fundraising efforts.
• Landscape by DesignminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for Freedom Gala, contributing to organizational funding.
• Mercy Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Medical Project - educating medical personnel on human trafficking indicators and trauma-informed care. Joint program development for healthcare sector training.
• Friends of the FamilycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency shelter provider referenced as key resource partner for victims. Located in Waverly, Iowa, providing safe shelter and confidential services.
• WaypointcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing services partner for adults and families experiencing homelessness, connecting clients to appropriate housing interventions.
• Foundation 2coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth shelter partner for ages 11-17 in Cedar Rapids, providing emergency shelter for youth in crisis.
• Riverview CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy and therapy services for survivors of sexual assault and human trafficking in Cedar Rapids.
• Iowa Legal AidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal assistance provider for survivors needing legal support to escape trafficking situations.
• Iowa Office to Combat Human TraffickingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partner operating the tipline 855-614-4692 for reporting tips and requesting help.
• National Trafficking Sheltered AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network of service providers for survivors, offering referral services for restoration homes and programs nationwide.
• Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking (IBAT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIowa Secretary of State program. Chains Interrupted creating IBAT videos and promoting membership among Iowa businesses.
• Iowa Network Against Human TraffickingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide coalition partner for coordinating anti-trafficking efforts.
• UnChainEd CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity coalition organized by Chains Interrupted that meets quarterly for networking, education, updates, and action opportunities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Shared Hope International: Shared Hope International combats sex trafficking through prevention, survivor services, and policy advocacy. Directly comparable in mission and three-pronged framework (prevention, protection, prosecution/advocacy), with stronger policy focus.
• Free the Slaves: Free the Slaves is an anti-trafficking organization focused on prevention, survivor advocacy, and community mobilization. Comparable in anti-trafficking mission and community-led model, though focuses more on international labor trafficking.
• ECPAT-USA: ECPAT-USA is a leading policy and advocacy organization combating commercial sexual exploitation of children. Comparable anti-trafficking mission and youth exploitation focus, but with stronger federal policy and research orientation.
• Thorn: Thorn builds technology and runs programs to combat child sexual exploitation and trafficking, with strong focus on awareness and prevention. Directly comparable in mission on youth exploitation and prevention education, but operates nationally with technology-driven model.
• A21: A21 is a global anti-human trafficking nonprofit focused on awareness, prevention, protection, and prosecution. Directly comparable mission and three-pronged (awareness/prevention/advocacy) approach to Chains Interrupted, but operating at significantly larger national and international scale.
• Polaris: Polaris operates the National Human Trafficking Hotline and runs anti-trafficking programs in awareness, prevention, and survivor services. Directly comparable in mission, though operates at a national scale with significantly more resources than Chains Interrupted.
• National Trafficking Sheltered Alliance: NTSA is a national alliance of shelters and programs serving trafficking survivors. Already listed as a partner of Chains Interrupted for referrals — operates in the survivor housing/shelter space comparable to Chains Interrupted's resource network.

Emerging players

• GEMS (Girls Educational & Mentoring Services): GEMS provides direct services, education, and advocacy for young women survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking. Comparable survivor support and youth focus, but based in New York with a more specialized urban survivor-services model.

Broad incumbents

• International Justice Mission: IJM is a large global anti-trafficking and human rights organization working on rescue, restoration, and advocacy. Comparable anti-trafficking mission but operates internationally with a much larger program footprint and budget than Chains Interrupted.

Regional players

• Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking: A statewide Iowa-based coalition coordinating anti-trafficking efforts and listed as a partner. Directly comparable mission in the same Iowa geography, functioning as a coalition rather than direct service provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@chainsinterrupted7096
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChainsInterrupted
• Instagraminstagram.com/chainsinterrupted
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chains-interrupted

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Chains Interrupted