Help Center, Inc.

What Help Center, Inc. does

Help Center, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1971 and headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, delivering free crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and mental health support services across thirteen counties in Southwest Montana. Its core operations center on a 24/7 suicide and crisis line (local 406-586-3333 plus 988 affiliation), a 24/7 sexual assault line, the Sexual Assault Counseling Center (SACC), the Gallatin County Child Advocacy Center (GCCAC), a Telecare daily check-in program for homebound individuals, a Follow-Up Program, suicide loss survivor support groups, and community education programs including QPR and ASIST training. The organization also stewards Montana 211, an online Montana Mental Health Directory, and a fee-based Mental Health Professional Crisis Answering Service and referral database for licensed providers in Gallatin, Park, Madison, and Beaverhead Counties.

The underlying technology is intentionally low-tech and human-centric: phone-based crisis call center operations, an internal staff and volunteer search tool, an online referral database, and a searchable mental health directory. No mobile app, API, or AI components are disclosed in the source data. The organization completed a major infrastructure expansion in 2024, acquiring the former Western Montana Mental Health Campus (5.1 acres, five buildings, valued over $5 million) for $3.1 million through a partnership with Western Montana Mental Health and Bozeman Health, expanding facility footprint from 6,100 to over 15,000 square feet. The new campus also includes two affordable housing buildings with ten units managed by HRDC. The organization relocated its headquarters to 699 Farmhouse Lane, Bozeman, MT 59715 on January 29, 2025.

Help Center, Inc. operates a hybrid nonprofit revenue model combining donations, government grants and contracts, a thrift store (Sacks Thrift), and fee-based provider subscriptions. Individual mental health providers pay $200/year, for-profit practices $500-$2,500/year based on size, and nonprofit practices $800/year for crisis answering service and directory listing access. All services to end clients are provided at no cost. The organization is accredited by the International Council for Help Lines and the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems, holds a 2025 Candid Gold Seal, and operates with a lean team led by a Race Director / Development & Communications Manager following the 2022 passing of long-tenured Executive Director Wendy Visscher. In 2024 the organization served approximately 7,000 individuals through 15,000 contacts.

Name

Help Center, Inc.

Legal name

Help Center, Inc.

Website

https://helpcenterinc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Help Center, Inc. is a Bozeman, Montana-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 that delivers free 24/7 crisis intervention, suicide prevention, sexual assault counseling, and child advocacy services across thirteen counties in Southwest Montana, supported by donations, grants, a thrift store, and provider subscriptions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Crisis Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH)

Keywords

• Crisis intervention services
• Suicide prevention counseling
• Mental health crisis support
• Community resource referrals
• Nonprofit social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bozeman

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, families, and businesses supporting mental health and crisis services. Multiple giving options including one-time, monthly recurring, stock donations, IRA distributions, donor-advised funds, legacy/planned gifts, and endowment contributions.
2. Mental Health Provider Services: Fee-based crisis answering service and referral database for mental health professionals. Individual providers pay $200/year; practice/group fees range from $500-$2,500/year based on size; nonprofit practices pay $800/year.
3. Government Grants and Contracts: Funding from government sources to support crisis line operations, suicide prevention programs, and community mental health services across 13-county service area.
4. Sacks Thrift Store: Thrift store operations providing financial support for Help Center programs and offering vouchers to those in need of basic items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Help Center, Inc. operates a 24/7 suicide and crisis intervention line along with specialized counseling, advocacy, and community resource services across 13 counties in Southwest Montana. The organization delivers free, confidential mental health crisis response, sexual assault counseling, child advocacy, suicide loss survivor support, and a fee-based mental health provider referral/answering service. Sacks Thrift retail operations and donations fund the bulk of program delivery.

Product overview

Help Center, Inc. is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of free mental health crisis and support services to Southwest Montana. The core offering centers on the Help Center 24/7 crisis and suicide prevention line, supplemented by specialized counseling programs including the Sexual Assault Counseling Center (SACC), Gallatin County Child Advocacy Center (GCCAC), and Hearts and Homes parenting support. The organization operates community resource services (Montana 211, Montana Mental Health Directory, Follow-Up Program, Telecare Program), suicide loss survivor resources, community education and training programs (QPR, ASIST), and a Mental Health Professionals Referral Database with Crisis Answering Service. Sacks Thrift provides fundraising support, and Run For Your Life is an annual awareness/fundraising event. Together these programs form an integrated crisis response and mental health support ecosystem serving 13 southwestern Montana counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Help Center: 24/7 mental health crisis response and suicide prevention services.
• Sexual Assault Counseling Center (SACC)
• Gallatin County Child Advocacy Center (GCCAC)
• Hearts and Homes
• Run For Your Life (RFYL)

Products and services

• Help Center 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Line Free, confidential 24/7 mental health crisis response and suicide prevention service accessible via local line (406-586-3333) and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Provides immediate crisis counseling, suicide prevention intervention, and connection to community resources for individuals in emotional distress across 13 Southwest Montana counties.
• Sexual Assault Counseling Center (SACC)

Quantifiable outcome

• Served ~7,000 individuals through 15,000 contacts in 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Western Montana Mental HealthcoreOthers · 1 March 2024Collaborative property sale agreement allowing Help Center to acquire the former Mental Health Campus at below-market price. The generous agreement between Western Montana Mental Health, Bozeman Health, and Help Center enabled the $3.1 million acquisition of a property valued over $5 million.
• Bozeman HealthcoreOthers · 1 March 2024Joint agreement with Western Montana Mental Health to facilitate property transfer of the Mental Health Campus to Help Center at favorable terms.
• HRDC (Human Resource Development Council)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Expert management of two affordable housing buildings with ten units on the Help Center campus property, ensuring housing stability for community members.
• Montana State University (MSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with MSU and other universities to provide graduate-level counseling interns who deliver free counseling services to the community under professional supervision.
• One Valley Community FoundationmajorOthersEndowment fund management through One Valley Community Foundation. The permanent fund generates interest used for general operating budget support. Also recommended as local DAF sponsor for donors.
• Network for GoodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline donation platform hosting Help Center's fundraising campaigns including the Answering the Call capital campaign.
• Montana 211coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to connect Montanans with health and human service resources. Help Center maintains community resource database for 13 counties used by Montana 211.
• International Council for Help LinesmajorOthersAccrediting body for crisis helpline services. Help Center maintains professional standards accreditation.
• Alliance of Information and Referral SystemsmajorOthersAccrediting body for information and referral services. Help Center maintains standards accreditation for resource directory services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• CONTACT USA: National network of independent local crisis centers and helplines; Help Center is a member/peer in the same accredited local crisis line model serving community-level mental health and crisis needs.
• Samaritans USA: Nonprofit operating 24/7 emotional support hotlines using a trained volunteer listener model; highly comparable to Help Center's crisis line delivery and reliance on community volunteers.

Broad incumbents

• Boys Town National Hotline: Long-running national 24/7 crisis and referral hotline; comparable phone-based crisis intervention model with accredited counseling staff, though operating nationally and serving a broader youth/family mission.
• The Trevor Project: National 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention organization (LGBTQ+ youth focus); comparable accredited crisis line and counseling model, but national scope and specialized population.
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP): National suicide prevention nonprofit funding research, advocacy, and local chapters; comparable suicide prevention mission and donor-funded model, though primarily advocacy/research rather than direct service.
• Vibrant Emotional Health: Operator of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline national backbone; comparable accreditation (International Council for Help Lines) and crisis line mission, though national scale and primary federal contractor role.
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): National grassroots mental health advocacy and peer-support organization with local affiliates; comparable nonprofit mental health support model with similar donor and grant funding dynamics.

Emerging players

• Crisis Text Line: National crisis support service delivered via text rather than voice; comparable 24/7 crisis intervention mission and volunteer-driven model, though different delivery modality and national scope.

Regional players

• Western Montana Mental Health Center: Regional community mental health center in Western Montana; comparable Montana-based behavioral health services and was the property transfer partner for Help Center's new campus acquisition.

Others

• HRDC (Human Resource Development Council): Southwest Montana community action nonprofit that manages the affordable housing units on Help Center's new campus; an adjacent regional social services partner rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/helpcenterincmt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Help Center, Inc.