Sexual Health Education (SHE) Centre for Prevention of Gender-Based Violence

What Sexual Health Education (SHE) Centre for Prevention of Gender-Based Violence does

The Sexual Health Education (SHE) Centre for Prevention of Gender-Based Violence, operating as SHE+ Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2005 by Patty Brisben and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Originally known as The Patty Brisben Foundation for Women's Sexual Health and rebranded to SHE+ Foundation around 2019, the organization is dedicated to advancing women's sexual health through three core functions: funding peer-reviewed research via an annual grant cycle, producing evidence-based educational content, and advocating against the systemic dismissal of women's health concerns by healthcare providers. Since inception, the foundation has raised between $7.5 million and $8 million cumulatively and has awarded more than $2.5 million across 61 grants to research institutions in 17 U.S. states. The grant program covers eight focus areas including endometriosis, vulvovaginal pain disorders, libido and desire, LGBTQIA+ health, pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction after cancer treatment, and the impact of perimenopause and menopause on sexual health.

SHE+ Foundation's product and content portfolio consists of the Resource Hub (a centralized evidence-based information platform for patients, providers, and advocates), the SHE+ Explains video series for teen and parent audiences, the Sex Care is Self Care podcast, the SHE+ Blog, and the She's Not Dramatic, She's Been Dismissed national advocacy campaign. The foundation does not develop proprietary technology; its technical stack relies on Fundraise Up for donation processing, Mailchimp for email, and Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity for web analytics. Its medical credibility is anchored by a Medical Advisory Board of credentialed OB-GYNs, pelvic medicine specialists, and sexual health therapists affiliated with institutions including Case Western Reserve University, Georgetown, MedStar Health, University Hospitals Cleveland, and George Washington University.

The business model is purely philanthropic: revenue derives from individual donations, corporate sponsorship of the annual Retro Royale gala (with sponsorship tiers ranging from $1,000 to $25,000), gala ticket sales and auctions, and community rewards program linkages. The annual gala is explicitly described as the foundation's largest revenue driver. The organization operates with a small staff of 1-10 employees, is governed by a Board of Directors and Medical Advisory Board, and holds BBB Accredited Charity status and Candid Silver Transparency 2025 recognition. Geographic reach is primarily U.S.-focused with a recent international grant extension to South Africa via the Topsy Foundation partnership.

Name

Sexual Health Education (SHE) Centre for Prevention of Gender-Based Violence

Legal name

The She+ Foundation

Website

https://sheplusfoundation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SHE+ Foundation is a Cincinnati-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2005 that funds women's sexual health research, produces evidence-based educational content, and advocates against medical dismissal of women's health concerns, serving women, researchers, and healthcare providers primarily across the U.S.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Women's Health Foundation

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAAHAM

Sexual Health & Relationship Wellness Education

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Health, Wellness & Lifestyle Education (Nutrition, Fitness, Mindfulness)

SECONDARYEDAAAHAI

Women's Health & Life-Stage Wellness Education (Fertility, Pregnancy, Menopause)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Health, Wellness & Lifestyle Education (Nutrition, Fitness, Mindfulness)

SECONDARYBPAGABAF

Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/International Development & Poverty Alleviation

SECONDARYHLAKAJAJ

Sexual & Reproductive Health (STI Care, Vulvovaginal Disorders)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Specialist Medical Practice/Obstetrics & Gynecology (OB/GYN)

Keywords

• Women's sexual health
• Research grant funding
• Health education resources
• Patient advocacy services
• Nonprofit foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

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, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Individual Gifts: The foundation relies on donations from individual supporters to fund research grants and educational initiatives. Tax-deductible gifts from donors support the organization's mission to advance women's sexual health.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors support the annual gala with packages ranging from $1,000 to $25,000, receiving recognition benefits including VIP tickets, program advertisements, website acknowledgment, and social media exposure.
3. Annual Gala Revenue: The annual gala serves as the biggest revenue driver of the year, with ticket sales, auction items, and sponsorship packages generating funds for research grants.
4. Community Rewards Programs: The foundation partners with community reward programs allowing supporters to link their rewards cards to generate donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The SHE+ Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advances women's sexual health by funding peer-reviewed research through an annual grant cycle across eight focus areas (endometriosis, libido and desire, LGBTQIA+ health, female genital mutilation, vulvovaginal pain disorders, pelvic pain, intimacy-related sexual dysfunction after cancer, and perimenopause/menopause impacts). It also produces and distributes free evidence-based educational content via its Resource Hub, SHE+ Explains video series, Sex Care is Self Care podcast, and blog, and runs the She's Not Dramatic national advocacy campaign addressing medical dismissal of women's health concerns.

Product overview

SHE+ Foundation (formerly Patty Brisben Foundation for Women's Sexual Health) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization advancing women's sexual health through research funding, education, and advocacy. The organization operates as a research and education foundation rather than a technology company, offering educational resources and programs including the Resource Hub (centralized evidence-based information platform), SHE+ Explains (video series), Sex Care is Self Care Podcast, advocacy campaigns, grant funding for research across eight focus areas, and community engagement programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• She's Not Dramatic, She's Been Dismissed: National campaign addressing healthcare dismissal of women's symptoms and concerns
• SHE+ Explains
• Sex Care is Self Care

Products and services

• Resource Hub Centralized platform providing trusted, evidence-based information on women's sexual and reproductive health, including toolkits, research, policy briefs, and educational materials for students, providers, advocates, and patients.
• SHE+ Explains Video series designed to make sexual health education clear, relatable, and accessible. Content is created for teens, parents, and by teens and parents, offering unique perspectives on topics including anatomy, gender identity, and bodily autonomy.
• Sex Care is Self Care Podcast Podcast providing groundbreaking information about sexual health, featuring discussions on reproductive health, intimacy concerns, and wellness topics often excluded from mainstream conversations.
• She's Not Dramatic, She's Been Dismissed Campaign National advocacy campaign addressing medical dismissal of women's health concerns, featuring personal stories, patient resources, advocacy guides, and tools for driving systemic change in women's healthcare.
• SHE+ Blog Blog featuring stories and insights from staff, medical advisory board, and board members as guest writers, covering topics including disability and sexual health, cancer survivorship, and vulvar lichen sclerosus.
• Grant Program Annual grant program funding research across eight focus areas: endometriosis, libido and desire, LGBTQIA+ health, female genital mutilation, vulvovaginal pain disorders, pelvic pain, intimacy-related sexual dysfunction after cancer treatments, and perimenopause/menopause impact on sexual health. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations and follow an annual LOI-to-full-application-to-board-review cycle.

Quantifiable outcome

• 61 grants awarded totaling over $2.5 million across 17 states
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant recipient conducting research on women's sexual health and function, particularly related to breast cancer impact.
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant recipient researching sexual health after cancer treatment and survivorship care integration.
• Society of Gynecologic SurgeonscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant recipient for VULVIE randomized controlled trial examining fractional CO2 laser therapy for vulvar lichen sclerosus treatment.
• Dana-Farber Cancer InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant recipient for cancer-related sexual health research.
• Medstar HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant recipient for endometriosis treatment research and platelet rich plasma studies for sexual dysfunction and vaginal dryness.
• Oregon Health and Science UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant recipient for postmenopausal pain research.
• North American Menopause SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant recipient for Sexual Health and Menopause online educational program.
• National Vulvodynia AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant recipient for organizing treatment plans and online tutorials for vulvovaginal pain.
• University of California San FranciscocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant recipient researching information suppression of women's sexual health on big tech platforms.
• Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant recipient for primary ovarian insufficiency research.
• University of Nebraska-LincolncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant recipient for research on inflammation and sexual desire.
• University of Kentucky Research FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant recipient for research on impact of motherhood on women's sexual desire.
• Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant recipient for development of health-related quality of life measure for hypoactive sexual desire disorder.
• Cancer Support CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant recipient for Reclaiming Intimacy program helping women reclaim their bodies following cancer diagnosis.
• Wright State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant recipient for women's sexual health research.
• Maricopa Health FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant recipient addressing sexual health needs of refugees with cultural sensitivity.
• UC Health Women's CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant recipient for women's sexual health initiatives.
• University Hospitals Cleveland Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant recipient for validation of sexual function tool for transwomen with neovaginas.
• Topsy FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant recipient for expansion of women's sexual health services in South Africa.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Vulvodynia Association: Nonprofit supporting women with vulvodynia and vulvovaginal pain disorders through education, research funding, and advocacy. SHE+ is a current grantmaker to NVA, indicating direct overlap in vulvar pain research agenda.
• National Women's Health Network: Advocacy nonprofit focused on women's health policy and consumer education. Comparable scale and grassroots-advocacy DNA, with a broader policy agenda than SHE+.
• American Sexual Health Association: National nonprofit dedicated to improving sexual health through education, advocacy, and outreach. Shares SHE+'s mission of public-facing sexual health education and stigma reduction, with deeper brand recognition.
• Foundation for Female Health Awareness: Nonprofit focused on education and awareness for female-specific health conditions. Direct peer in mission and audience, though with different topical emphasis.
• International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH): Professional society focused on research, education, and clinical practice in women's sexual health. Closely aligned with SHE+'s research-funding and medical advisory mission, with a global clinician network.

Broad incumbents

• Society for Women's Health Research: National nonprofit advocating for women-focused research across all health conditions through policy and funding. Operates at a broader scope than SHE+ but competes for the same donor and policy-advocacy space.
• Planned Parenthood Federation of America: National nonprofit providing reproductive and sexual health education, clinical services, and advocacy. While much larger and differently structured, it overlaps with SHE+ on sexual health education and grantmaking/corporate partner ecosystems.
• HealthyWomen: Leading nonprofit providing women-focused health education and policy advocacy. Operates a broader women's health portfolio but shares SHE+'s education-and-advocacy playbook and mid-tier donor base.

Emerging players

• Endometriosis Foundation of America: Nonprofit focused on endometriosis awareness, research funding, and education. Sub-brand overlap with SHE+'s endometriosis focus area and a more developed celebrity-driven fundraising model.
• RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association: Nonprofit addressing infertility and reproductive health through education, support, and advocacy. Adjacent peer in women's reproductive health but with a narrower clinical focus area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sheplusfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/sheplusfdn
• Xtwitter.com/sheplusfdn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/patty-brisben-foundation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Sexual Health Education (SHE) Centre for Prevention of Gender-Based Violence