Friends, Inc.

What Friends, Inc. does

FRIENDS, Inc. (legal name: FRIENDS, Inc.) is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit corporation founded in 1978, headquartered in West Bend, and operating as the sole provider of shelter and support services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Washington County, Wisconsin. The organization runs a single integrated service platform comprising a 24/7 crisis hotline, a 22-bed emergency shelter across 7 rooms (expanded from 12 beds at its 1988 facility purchase), individual and children's advocacy, legal advocacy covering restraining orders and family law, prevention education delivered across all Washington County school districts, support groups, community outreach (including bilingual capacity added in 2020), and a Transitional Living Program for post-shelter self-sufficiency. All services are delivered free of charge and without eligibility restrictions on gender, race, disability, income, religion, or age; the gender-inclusive stance dates to a 2018 rebrand from prior names "Friends for Battered Women" (1978) and "Friends of Abused Families" (1986). The underlying technology stack is minimal: trauma-informed service provision as the operating framework, supported by the Osnium client database for documentation of hotline calls and client interactions, plus a standard website and email newsletter for community engagement. Headcount is reported in the 11–50 range with 13+ Board members and named program staff across advocacy, shelter, legal, children's services, outreach, and crisis functions, led by Executive Director Jesikah Becker (appointed October 2024). FRIENDS, Inc. does not generate revenue from service fees; its operating model is grant-funded, drawing on Federal and Wisconsin State government sources, United Way Washington County, United Way Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, and private foundations, supplemented by community fundraising events (e.g., a 5K walk/run that raised over $12,000) and capital grants such as the $100,000 Impact100 Greater Milwaukee award in June 2026 for garage renovation. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the 24/7 hotline and on-site services, with referral pipelines through social services, healthcare providers, and law enforcement, and a community-education channel through schools. No venture capital, private equity, parent entity, or subsidiaries are present.

Name

Friends, Inc.

Legal name

FRIENDS, Inc.

Website

https://friendswi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Support Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Child and Youth Services (62411), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), School Counseling Services (Individual & Group) (EDAKAMAB), Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Legal Aid) (BPADADAH)

Keywords

• Domestic violence services
• Sexual assault support
• Crisis shelter services
• Victim advocacy programs
• Trauma-informed support

Headquarters

HQ city

West Bend

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Government Grants/Funding: FRIENDS, Inc. is a nonprofit organization operating as the sole provider of shelter and support services for individuals affected by Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in Washington County. Funding comes from multiple sources including Federal, State, United Way Washington County, United Way Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, and private foundations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

FRIENDS, Inc. provides free, trauma-informed shelter, advocacy, and education services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Washington County, Wisconsin. Core offerings include a 24/7 crisis hotline, a 22-bed emergency shelter, individual/children's/legal advocacy, prevention education in school districts, support groups, community outreach with bilingual support, and a Transitional Living Program. All services are available to all individuals regardless of gender, race, disability, income, religion, or age.

Product overview

Friends, Inc. is a nonprofit organization providing a comprehensive suite of trauma-informed services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Washington County, Wisconsin. The organization operates as a single integrated service offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core services include a 24/7 crisis hotline, emergency shelter (22 beds across 7 rooms), advocacy services (individual, children's, and legal advocacy), prevention education programs in school districts, community outreach with bilingual support, support groups, and the Transitional Living Program. All services are free and available regardless of gender, race, disability, income, religion, or age.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 24/7 Crisis & Help Line Round-the-clock crisis hotline providing immediate support and referrals for individuals affected by domestic violence and sexual assault in Washington County.
• Emergency Shelter Emergency shelter facility with 22 beds in 7 rooms providing 24/7 support for individuals and children fleeing domestic violence in Washington County.
• Advocacy Services Individual advocacy services supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
• Children's Services Specialized advocacy and support services for children exposed to domestic violence and sexual assault.
• Legal Advocacy Legal advocacy services including assistance with restraining orders, charging conferences, and family law matters (divorce, separation, child custody, child support).
• Prevention Education Interactive prevention education curriculum delivered in school districts covering healthy relationships, sexual assault, harassment, abuse, technology use, bystander intervention, and gender violence.
• Community Outreach Outreach efforts including full-time Outreach Specialist and part-time Bilingual Advocate for underserved communities.
• Support Groups Support groups for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
• Transitional Living Program (TLP) Bridge-to-self-sufficiency program designed to empower individuals and families to achieve independence through enhancing independent living skills, maintaining income, and building a strong family unit in a violence-free environment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Shelter capacity of 22 beds in 7 rooms serving individuals and families in need

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin: Statewide coalition providing training, policy advocacy, and technical assistance to DV programs across Wisconsin, including direct funding flow-through to local providers like FRIENDS, Inc. Acts as a broader umbrella organization in the same industry vertical.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: National 24/7 hotline and resource hub for DV survivors. Comparable crisis-line operational model and is referenced by FRIENDS, Inc.'s own website as a partner resource.
• Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault (WCASA): Statewide coalition supporting sexual assault service providers with training, advocacy, and resources. Comparable in its sexual violence survivor-support mission and is a likely funder/peer for FRIENDS, Inc.'s SA programming.
• Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin & Upper Michigan: Large multi-service nonprofit with DV, housing, refugee, and family services across Wisconsin. Comparable in nonprofit structure and adjacent service lines (housing, case management), though operates across many program areas rather than specializing in DV/SA.

Direct peers

• Milwaukee Women's Center: Provides emergency DV shelter, counseling, and advocacy services in Milwaukee, WI. Comparable core services and trauma-informed approach, though serving a larger urban population.
• Rainbow House Domestic Abuse Services: Provides DV shelter, crisis intervention, children's services, and prevention education in eastern Wisconsin. Comparable service model and rural/small-county footprint to FRIENDS, Inc.
• Harbor House (Superior, WI): Domestic violence and sexual assault shelter serving northwest Wisconsin. Comparable in operating model (small regional shelter, 24/7 crisis line, advocacy, prevention education) and as a fellow sole-provider in its service area.
• Asha Family Services (Milwaukee): Wisconsin-based DV service organization providing crisis intervention, advocacy, and culturally specific support. Comparable in service breadth and trauma-informed framework.
• The Women's Center (Waukesha, WI): Provides DV and SA services including crisis hotline, shelter, individual advocacy, legal advocacy, and prevention education in Waukesha County, WI. Highly comparable in service portfolio and Wisconsin nonprofit operating model, adjacent geographically to FRIENDS, Inc.'s catchment area.
• Sojourner Family Peace Center: Largest domestic violence service provider in the Milwaukee metro area offering 24/7 hotline, emergency shelter, children's advocacy, legal advocacy, and transitional housing. Directly comparable in mission, service mix, and trauma-informed framework to FRIENDS, Inc., but operating at significantly larger scale in a denser urban geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/friendsinc-wi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Friends, Inc.