Shield North Carolina
Shield North Carolina is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Apex, NC that combats human trafficking through survivor empowerment, community awareness training, and legislative advocacy, serving the public, businesses, law enforcement, faith communities, students, and youth-serving organizations across North Carolina.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersApex, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Shield North Carolina does
Shield North Carolina is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2017 and headquartered in Apex, North Carolina. Operating with a small team of 1-10 employees, the organization pursues a three-pillar mission to combat human trafficking through Empowerment, Prevention, and Advocacy. Its service model targets a broad community stakeholder base, including the general public, businesses, lodging and hospitality operators, law enforcement agencies, faith communities, students, and youth-serving organizations across North Carolina.
The organization's service offerings are non-technological and consist of human trafficking awareness training, survivor support programming, awareness campaigns, and direct legislative advocacy. Under its Empower pillar, Shield NC supports survivors, including through cross-border partnership with Esther International for survivor restoration. Under its Prevent pillar, the organization delivers awareness training to lodging employees, businesses, and youth groups, reaching approximately 1,025 people in 2023 versus approximately 800 in 2022. Under its Advocate pillar, the organization pursues legislative reform, most notably contributing to the passage of North Carolina HB 971 in December 2024, which mandates human trafficking awareness training for lodging employees effective July 2025. The organization is the chair of the NC Demand Reduction Task Force and operates under a Survivor Guidance & Facilitation Agreement with the Apex Police Department.
The revenue model is that of a small donor-funded nonprofit: Shield NC raises funds through one-time gifts, recurring monthly donations (with tiered giving reaching up to $10,300), corporate sponsorships, special events, and grassroots fundraising campaigns. There is no disclosed fee-for-service, software, or commercial product revenue stream. The HB 971 mandate is positioned to create a structural pull for the organization's training programs, though no commercial monetization mechanism has been disclosed in the input data.
Shield North Carolina firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shield North Carolina
- Legal name
- Shield North Carolina
- Website
- https://shieldnc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Shield North Carolina is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Apex, NC that combats human trafficking through survivor empowerment, community awareness training, and legislative advocacy, serving the public, businesses, law enforcement, faith communities, students, and youth-serving organizations across North Carolina.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Shield North Carolina industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Human Trafficking Prevention Services
- NAICS
- Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response (BPAGAAAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Child Rights & Protection (BPADAGAG), Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Legal Aid) (BPADADAH)
Keywords
Where Shield North Carolina is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Apex
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Shield North Carolina business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- One-time Donations: Individual donors can make one-time donations ranging from $10 to $5,150, with various preset amount options. These donations support the organization's mission to combat human trafficking in North Carolina.
- Monthly Recurring Donations: Monthly donation program allowing donors to contribute $10 or more per month, enabling the organization to plan ahead for bigger impact. Donors can opt to cover the 3% processing fee.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships ranging from $500 to $10,300, positioned as fuel for the mission while positioning organizations as champions for prevention and community impact. Multiple sponsorship levels exist including Champion, Defender, Prevention, Advocate, and Empowerment.
- Event Fundraising: Revenue generated through events such as the annual gala, online auction, Bingo Benefit, and golf tournament. 2025 event sponsors include Azura, PDI Drywall, Dragonfly Wellness, Care Plastic Surgery, Tortora Family Law, NC Waterheaters, Raleigh Brewing, Southern Glazer's, Foundations 4 Change, Chapel Hill Wellness Collective, Gala Investments, Positively Apex, Locklear Roofing, Stevenson Conner Global Strategies, and Golf Hour.
- Fundraiser Hosting: Opportunity for supporters to host their own fundraisers, with the organization providing ideas and support to help expand reach.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly donation starting at $10/month |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | One-time donation ranging $10-$5,150 |
| Other | Annual | Corporate sponsorship ranging $500-$10,300 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels10 records
Shield North Carolina product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shield North Carolina is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers human trafficking prevention services across North Carolina through a three-pronged model: EMPOWER (community education and training), PREVENT (collaborative demand reduction and outreach), and ADVOCATE (policy and legislative change). The organization runs public Human Trafficking 101 sessions, customized corporate and group trainings, monthly community outreach events, and the statewide NC Demand Reduction Task Force and Service Groups & Faith Alliance (SGFA).
Product overview
Shield North Carolina is a nonprofit organization offering a suite of educational and advocacy services to combat human trafficking in North Carolina. The core offerings include Human Trafficking 101 public training sessions and customized Corporate/Group Training programs; the NC Demand Reduction Task Force addressing buyer-side prevention; and the Service Groups and Faith Alliance (SGFA) quarterly collaborative meetings. Additional services include Community Outreach Events, Advocacy and Policy Initiatives, a Donation Portal for contributions, and a Corporate Sponsorship Program. These programs work together through empowerment (education), prevention (demand reduction and community outreach), and advocacy (policy change) pillars.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Human Trafficking 101 Training Monthly educational sessions (in-person and via Zoom) designed to teach community members what human trafficking is, how it happens, how to recognize warning signs in everyday life, and how to respond appropriately. Targeted at the general public.
- Corporate and Group Training Customized human trafficking training tailored for businesses, organizations, and community groups, offered in-person, virtual, or hybrid formats. Targeted at corporate and organizational buyers needing workforce awareness training.
- NC Demand Reduction Task Force Statewide initiative co-founded by Shield NC to address those fueling human trafficking by reducing demand for commercial sex and forced labor services. The task force has trained over 50 Chiefs of Police and 90+ officers on arrest strategies. Targeted at law enforcement and policy stakeholders.
- Service Groups and Faith Alliance (SGFA) Quarterly collaborative meetings that bring together law enforcement, government representatives, service providers, and faith leaders to address issues affecting vulnerable populations and create innovative solutions to combat human trafficking.
- Community Outreach Events Monthly community events sharing information on internet safety, grooming tactics, risky job offers, and other trafficking prevention and awareness topics, conducted at various locations in the Apex, NC area.
- Advocacy and Policy Initiatives Influencing legislation and policy at local, state, and federal levels to combat human trafficking through smart, effective policies and survivor resources, including advocacy that resulted in HB 971 making solicitation of prostitution a felony in North Carolina.
Quantifiable outcome
- Trained over 1,025 people in 2023 and over 800 in 2022
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Shield North Carolina
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Shield North Carolina technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Shield North Carolina partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NC Department of JusticecoreCollaborated with NC Department of Justice during pandemic to develop resource guides for service providers, parents, and students.
- Apex Police DepartmentcoreLong-standing partnership with Apex PD including co-founding the Service Groups & Faith Alliance. Officers participate in community outreach and training programs. APD provides Crisis Counselor and Community Outreach Officers for collaboration.
- WRAL/Capital BroadcastingminorPartnership for online campaigns targeting individuals searching for explicit images of minors, sending over 100,000 warnings. Also collaborated on resource documents and webinars during the pandemic.
- Wake County Foster Care SystemcoreCollaboration to proclaim May as Foster Care Awareness Month in the Town of Apex. Work together on initiatives addressing foster children vulnerability to trafficking.
- NC Coalition Against Human TraffickingcoreShield NC leadership serves as chair of this coalition. The coalition launched the first Survivors Network in North Carolina.
- Western Wake Crisis MinistrycorePartner organization providing food, coaching, and financial support to western Wake County. Collaborates on food distribution and crisis support initiatives.
- Project Fight (Salvation Army)coreProvides hands-on services to human trafficking victims across the state. Leads local Rapid Response Team for trafficking victims.
- Esther InternationalminorShield NC partnered with Esther International as they work to open a restoration home for human trafficking survivors in Apex.
- Healing TransitionsminorPartner for substance use disorder education. Healing Transitions offers innovative peer-based recovery services to homeless, uninsured individuals.
- NC Human Trafficking CommissioncoreShield NC works with this state commission for policy advocacy and legislative initiatives. Nicole Bernard serves as chair.
- Prevent Child Abuse NCminorPartner organization for child abuse prevention education, sharing goals around community involvement to protect the vulnerable.
- NC Demand Reduction Task ForcecoreCo-founded by Shield NC, this is the first statewide task force focused on reducing demand for the services of exploited persons in North Carolina.
- Designed For JoyminorFaith-based nonprofit providing vocational training and living wages for vulnerable women in the Raleigh area, including survivors of trafficking.
- KidsPeace / The Hope CenterminorBehavioral health organization partnered with for The Hope Center providing Behavioral Health Urgent Care and Facility Based Crisis services.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Shield North Carolina competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- A21: Global anti-trafficking nonprofit delivering awareness training, prevention programs, and survivor support. Directly comparable to Shield NC's training-led awareness model and community outreach methodology, with a similar empowerment-prevention-advocacy structure.
- The Exodus Road: Anti-trafficking organization combining prevention training, survivor aftercare, and law enforcement collaboration. Directly comparable to Shield NC's community training and stakeholder coordination approach.
- Shared Hope International: National anti-trafficking nonprofit focused on demand reduction, policy advocacy, and survivor protection legislation. Closely comparable to Shield NC's three-pronged model of empowerment, prevention, and advocacy, and a leader in the same state-level policy playbook Shield NC has executed.
- Truckers Against Trafficking: Nonprofit delivering anti-trafficking awareness and training to a specific industry workforce. Comparable to Shield NC's industry-targeted training approach and law enforcement partnerships, though focused on the trucking and travel industries rather than lodging and community.
- NC Coalition Against Human Trafficking: Statewide anti-trafficking coalition of which Shield NC's founder is chair. Operates the same North Carolina advocacy agenda, runs survivor networks, and hosts conferences that overlap directly with Shield NC's training and policy work.
- World Without Exploitation: National coalition focused on policy advocacy to combat commercial sexual exploitation. Comparable to Shield NC's legislative advocacy pillar and demand-reduction focus, with a similar state and federal policy engagement model.
Broad incumbents
- Polaris: National anti-trafficking nonprofit operating the US Human Trafficking Hotline and major policy/training initiatives. Comparable to Shield NC in core mission (anti-trafficking prevention, training, advocacy) but with national scale and federal government partnerships that Shield NC lacks.
- International Justice Mission: Large global anti-trafficking and anti-slavery organization with survivor services, law enforcement partnerships, and policy advocacy. Comparable protection-focused mission and coalition-building model but with international reach Shield NC lacks.
- National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: Large national nonprofit addressing child exploitation including trafficking, with federal funding and law enforcement integration. Comparable child-protection mission to Shield NC's work with foster youth and vulnerable minors, though at significantly greater scale.
Emerging players
- Thorn: Tech-enabled nonprofit building digital tools to combat child sexual exploitation and trafficking. Adjacent peer in the anti-trafficking space, representing the technology-enabled approach Shield NC has not pursued.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Shield North Carolina social profiles
Digital presenceShield North Carolina financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shield North Carolina leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Shield North Carolina funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shield North Carolina M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Shield North Carolina
What does Shield North Carolina do?
Shield North Carolina is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers human trafficking prevention services across North Carolina through a three-pronged model: EMPOWER (community education and training), PREVENT (collaborative demand reduction and outreach), and ADVOCATE (policy and legislative change). The organization runs public Human Trafficking 101 sessions, customized corporate and group trainings, monthly community outreach events, and the statewide NC Demand Reduction Task Force and Service Groups & Faith Alliance (SGFA).
Is Shield North Carolina a public or private company?
Shield North Carolina is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Shield North Carolina founded?
Shield North Carolina was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Shield North Carolina based?
Shield North Carolina is headquartered in Apex, United States, in the North America region.
How does Shield North Carolina make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. One-time Donations are the primary driver. The others are monthly Recurring Donations, corporate Sponsorships, event Fundraising and fundraiser Hosting.
Who are Shield North Carolina's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are A21, The Exodus Road, Shared Hope International, Truckers Against Trafficking, NC Coalition Against Human Trafficking and World Without Exploitation. Broad incumbents are Polaris, International Justice Mission and National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Thorn is listed as an emerging player.
Does Shield North Carolina have an API?
No public API is recorded for Shield North Carolina.
What industry is Shield North Carolina in?
Shield North Carolina's product category is Human Trafficking Prevention Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAAAG, Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response, with a secondary code of BPADAGAG, Child Rights & Protection. Its NAICS code is 813311 and its SIC code is 8300.