Women for Afghan Women

What Women for Afghan Women does

Women for Afghan Women (WAW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in April 2001 that serves Afghan women, girls, and families through a dual-country operating model spanning the United States and Afghanistan. In the US, WAW operates two community centers — the New York Community Center (NYCC) in Fresh Meadows, Queens and the Virginia Community Center (VACC) in Alexandria, established in 2022 — providing free legal aid, immigration services, case management, mental health counseling, adult empowerment classes, youth leadership programs, and refugee resettlement support to Afghan, South Asian, and Muslim immigrant women and families. In Afghanistan, the organization registered as a nonprofit in 2006 and operates across 22 provinces with 235 staff delivering humanitarian assistance, women's protection programs, GBV response, children's support centers, and mental health and psychosocial support under partnerships with UNHCR and UNOCHA.

WAW's core technology stack is modest and sector-standard: KOBO-based tools for case management and data tracking, plus UNHCR partnership systems for protection monitoring. The organization does not develop proprietary technology products and has no disclosed AI capabilities. Its service delivery is fundamentally human-intensive, relying on multilingual staff (English, Farsi/Dari, Pashto, Urdu, Hindi, Spanish) with shared lived experience of the communities served.

The revenue model is non-commercial and donation-funded, comprising individual charitable contributions (accepted via credit card, check, and cryptocurrency), corporate matching and workplace giving programs, and institutional grants primarily from UNHCR and UNOCHA. The organization has expanded its donor acquisition infrastructure through partnerships with Endaoment and The Giving Block for crypto donations, and Double the Donation for employer matching. All services to beneficiaries are provided free of charge. WAW is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors chaired by retired diplomat Annie Pforzheimer, and is led by Executive Director Dr. Susan Aryan Antolin (appointed September 2024), US Country Director Naheed Samadi Bahram, and Afghanistan Country Director Fareed-ud-Din Noori. The organization holds a Charity Navigator Four Star Rating and Candid Platinum Transparency Seal.

Name

Women for Afghan Women

Legal name

Women for Afghan Women

Website

https://womenforafghanwomen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Women for Afghan Women is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating since 2001 that delivers free legal aid, case management, mental health support, education, refugee resettlement, and humanitarian assistance to Afghan women, girls, and families through community centers in New York and Virginia and programs across 22 provinces in Afghanistan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian and Social Services for Afghan Women and Girls

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment (BPAGABAF)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Refugee resettlement support
• Immigration legal services
• Gender-based violence response
• Community-based social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Flushing

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Charitable Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission to empower Afghan women and girls. Accepts credit cards, checks, and cryptocurrency.
2. Cryptocurrency Donations: Accepts Bitcoin, Ethereum, and over 70 leading cryptocurrencies through Endaoment and The Giving Block platforms, which convert crypto to cash.
3. Corporate Matching & Employer Donations: Workplace giving programs where employers match employee donations to the organization.
4. Grants and Partnerships: Funding from institutional partners including UNHCR, UNOCHA for humanitarian programs in Afghanistan. The organization publishes annual reports and 990s for transparency.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Women for Afghan Women (WAW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free, culturally and linguistically tailored social services to Afghan women, girls, and families in the United States (through community centers in Queens and Alexandria, VA) and in Afghanistan (through Children's Support Centers, women's protection programs, and humanitarian assistance across 22 provinces). Its core offerings include legal/immigration aid, case management, mental health and psychosocial support, GBV prevention and response, education and youth programming, refugee resettlement support, and humanitarian aid distribution. All services are provided at no cost to beneficiaries and are funded by donations, grants, and institutional partnerships.

Product overview

Women for Afghan Women operates a network of community centers providing social services to Afghan women, girls, and families in both Afghanistan and the United States. In the U.S., the organization runs two community centers (NYCC in Queens, NY and VACC in Alexandria, VA) offering legal services, mental health programming, case management, youth leadership, and adult empowerment classes. In Afghanistan, WAW operates Children's Support Centers, humanitarian assistance programs, and women's protection services across 22 provinces. The organization also provides refugee response services, accepting cryptocurrency donations through Endaoment and The Giving Block platforms, and processes general donations via Qgiv.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NYCC: New York Community Center - WAW's community center in Fresh Meadows, Queens providing comprehensive services to Afghan, South Asian, and Muslim immigrant communities in New York.
• VACC

Products and services

• New York Community Center (NYCC) Community center in Fresh Meadows, Queens providing comprehensive and culturally attuned services — including pro bono legal and immigration assistance, citizenship and ESOL classes, mental health counseling, refugee resettlement support, case management, and domestic violence advocacy — to Afghan, South Asian, and Muslim immigrant women, children, and families, delivered in English, Farsi/Dari, Pashto, Urdu, Hindi, and Spanish.
• Virginia Community Center (VACC) Community center in Alexandria, Virginia serving the DC/Maryland/Virginia area with culturally specific services for Afghan and Muslim immigrant community members, including legal assistance, case management, youth leadership programs, refugee resettlement support, and mental health programming available in English, Dari, Pashto, and Urdu.
• Children's Support Centers (CSC) Secure havens in Afghanistan for children ages 5 to 18 living in prison alongside their incarcerated parents, providing shelter, food, clothing, education, medical care, and psychosocial support; currently operating two centers caring for 140-250 children.
• Legal Services Program In-house legal department providing free assistance with citizenship applications, asylum petitions, family-based immigration, adjustment of status, green card renewal, employment authorization, and other immigration services at both NYCC and VACC; specializations include asylum law, removal defense, and humanitarian relief.
• Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Culturally sensitive mental health programming helping Afghan newcomers and Afghanistan-based populations process trauma, develop coping skills, and address PTSD, survivors' guilt, and depression through individual, couples, and family counseling.
• Humanitarian Assistance Project (HAP) Emergency aid program in partnership with UNHCR distributing food and non-food aid packages to internally displaced persons, impoverished families, women-led households, and natural-disaster-affected populations across 16 Afghan provinces.
• Women's Protection Program Gender-based violence prevention and response program operating Women's Community Centers across South, Central Highlands, Southeast, East, North, and Northeast regions of Afghanistan, providing livelihoods support, recreational activities, psychosocial services, and GBV case management.
• Youth Leadership Program Program fostering personal growth, community engagement, and self-empowerment for immigrant youth from Afghan diaspora and Muslim communities through interactive workshops on mental health, advocacy, legal rights, hate crime prevention, and self-advocacy.
• Adult Empowerment Classes Classes helping immigrant women and Afghan newcomers adapt to life in the United States, including English language instruction, citizenship test preparation, driving test preparation, and other life-skills training.
• Women's Circles Monthly support groups offering safe and confidential spaces for clients to learn about and discuss domestic violence, women's rights, and other relevant life issues.
• Case Management Services Social services coordination assisting community members with employment, affordable housing, school enrollment, GED programs, domestic violence counseling and referrals, and other needs.
• Know Your Rights Programming Information sessions and workshops raising awareness about immigrant rights and assisting community members in understanding and responding to immigration challenges.
• Seniors Program Program for older Afghan community women offering activities including field trips, classes, and special events to reduce isolation and build social fulfillment.
• Financial Literacy Workshops Workshops providing financial literacy education to immigrant women and Afghan newcomers on money management, job preparation, and connecting with employment opportunities.
• Refugee Response Services Immediate resettlement support for newly arrived Afghan refugees including temporary housing, transportation, household provisions, and personal items through partnerships with private companies, non-profit resettlement agencies, and US government agencies; comprises approximately 38% of overall US services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.5M+ people reached in 2024 with humanitarian assistance
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ACBAR (Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief and Development)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022WAW became a member of ACBAR in September 2022. ACBAR serves as a vital platform for national and international NGOs operating in Afghanistan, focusing on coordination, information sharing, advocacy, and capacity development. WAW's Afghanistan Country Director was elected to the Steering Committee in 2025.
• UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UNHCR for humanitarian assistance, protection programs, and logistics support in Afghanistan. WAW distributes food and non-food aid packages, provides mental health and psychosocial support, operates Women's Protection Programs and Children's Protection Services, and offers Logistics and Technical Support including warehouse management, fleet management, and fuel management for UNHCR operations.
• UNOCHA (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership under AHF (Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund) for Women's Protection in Drought-Affected Areas. Program prevents, mitigates, and responds to gender-based violence in nine districts in the Northern Region, delivering relief packages, psychosocial support, GBV case management, and dignity kits.
• AseelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in aid distribution operations in Afghanistan, featured in AFP News Agency coverage of humanitarian aid efforts and impact of ban on women working in NGOs.
• EndaomentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCryptocurrency donation platform that allows donors to make charitable gifts in cryptocurrency. Endaoment automatically converts crypto donations to cash before transfer to WAW. Supports ETH and ERC-20 compatible tokens.
• The Giving BlockminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCryptocurrency donation platform accepting Bitcoin, Ethereum, and over 70 leading cryptocurrencies. Donations are tax-deductible and allow donors to avoid capital gains taxes.
• Local Resettlement AgenciescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnerships with private companies, non-profit resettlement agencies, and US government agencies to provide temporary housing, transportation, household provisions and personal items for refugee response services.
• US-Afghan Women's CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCouncil focused on supporting Afghan women through diplomatic and advocacy efforts. Board member Leslie Genier Cunningham is a member, and WAW has organized fundraising events in partnership with the Council.
• The Afghan American FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for community discussions on Afghan re-parole and human rights issues. Jointly hosted online and in-person discussion with UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennet on human rights in Afghanistan at WAW's Virginia Community Center.
• Schools and Educational InstitutionsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnerships with local schools to help Afghan newcomers, particularly children, adjust to their new lives through educational support and integration assistance.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Church World Service: Church World Service operates refugee resettlement programs across multiple US states and is one of nine national agencies contracted by the US State Department for refugee admissions. It directly competes with WAW's network of US resettlement agency partners for Afghan newcomer cases.

Direct peers

• Aschiana Foundation: Aschiana Foundation provides education, livelihood, and child protection services for working and street children in Afghanistan, including vocational training centers. It is a direct peer in Afghanistan-based child-focused programming and shares a board member connection with WAW.
• Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC): ECDC is a refugee resettlement agency operating across multiple US states and is the prior employer of WAW's new VACC Program Director. It competes directly for the same federal refugee contracts and serves comparable newcomer populations, including significant Afghan arrivals in the DMV region.
• HIAS: HIAS is one of the largest refugee resettlement agencies in the US with deep historical ties to the Afghan refugee population, providing legal aid, resettlement, and integration services comparable to WAW's NYCC and VACC offerings. It directly competes for the same donor pool and federal refugee contracts.
• Sakhi for South Asian Women: Sakhi is a NYC-based nonprofit serving South Asian women survivors of domestic violence with culturally specific services, mirroring WAW's NYCC model in Fresh Meadows. It is a direct peer in language-accessible case management, DV support, and community education for South Asian diaspora populations.
• Refugee Council USA: Refugee Council USA is a coalition of NGOs advocating for Afghan and other refugee resettlement, rights, and asylum pathways. It is a direct policy and advocacy peer to WAW's rights and resettlement programming, particularly on Afghan parole and humanitarian protection.
• Women for Women International: Women for Women International serves women survivors of war and conflict through vocational training, social empowerment, and economic programs in countries including Afghanistan. It is a direct peer in gender-focused international development targeting Afghan and other conflict-affected women.

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Corps: Mercy Corps is a major global humanitarian organization with significant Afghanistan programming and US-based refugee support initiatives. It is a broad incumbent operating at much larger scale but with overlapping capabilities in humanitarian assistance, women's protection, and economic empowerment.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): IRC is a major global humanitarian organization delivering refugee resettlement, protection, and women's empowerment programming in both the US and conflict-affected countries. It overlaps with WAW's UNHCR-partnered humanitarian work in Afghanistan and resettlement services in US cities including New York.
• BRAC: BRAC is one of the largest development NGOs globally, with longstanding programs in Afghanistan targeting women's empowerment, education, and microfinance. It is a broad incumbent operating at much greater scale across women's development programs in Afghanistan.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wawhumanrights
• Facebookfacebook.com/womenforafghanwomen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/women-for-afghan-women
• Instagraminstagram.com/womenforafghanwomen

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Women for Afghan Women