moving forward with resilience
Women Against Abuse
2021 Annual Report
“[Healing from trauma] looks different for everyone, but just being able to have genuine tools and compassion to say, ‘Hey, I see you, I hear you, and I'm not trying to fix you. I literally just want to be here for you’ is the biggest thing ever.” - Candace, therapist and child survivor
The past year has been filled with trauma on many levels, from the continuing lives lost to COVID-19, to the distressing spike in gun violence and domestic homicides, to rising costs and economic uncertainty.
Women Against Abuse’s clients have had to navigate this backdrop while surviving abusive relationships. Their strength and ability to overcome is nothing short of heroic.
And Women Against Abuse’s committed team has been right there with them – as Candace describes – seeing, hearing, and offering support on the long road of healing from trauma. Together, we are truly moving forward with resilience.
Our 2021 Annual Report will summarize our impact and focus over the past year, providing a glimpse into the inner workings of Women Against Abuse during an unprecedented chapter in our more than 45-year history.
As we look to the future – unknown as it may seem amid the constant fluctuations in the pandemic recovery – we are sure of several things that bring us confidence and resolve:
- We are sure of our mission and the crucial need for our services;
- We are sure that change and progress can and do happen every day in the effort to end intimate partner violence;
- And we are sure of you – our incredible supporters and partners who make it all possible.
Thank you for journeying with us.
In solidarity,
Executive Director & President
Board Chair
Candace's Story
When people consider domestic violence (DV), they often think of the adult victim/survivor. But what about the children who have seen or experienced the abuse; the boys, girls and young adults who have been afraid in their own home? Candace, who worked as a therapist at Women Against Abuse, witnessed her mother being abused for many years, and is choosing to share her story to shine a light on this little told aspect of DV. These are her words.
“I journal a lot. One of the questions I have been meditating on is ‘who would you be if you didn’t believe something was wrong with you?’ I have been trying to figure that out. The job title, the mom title, the degree, all of this success, it looks great. Someone looking in thinks you’ve got it all together. You meditate every day, you’re a therapist, you and your kids have a great relationship. But it’s the silent, internal battles that no one sees. When the kids are asleep and the lights are off, those constant little reminders of being a child survivor of DV that no one talks about.”
Impact By the Numbers
Impact:
Impact:
Khadijah's Story
Operating During COVID-19
The past year was all about adapting to the changing needs of clients throughout the many phases of COVID-19 and the reopening of much of day to day life amid vaccinations and new variants. Below is a snapshot of how Women Against Abuse navigated this unprecedented landscape.
We reduced capacity in our emergency safe havens to 75% for most of the year to ensure residents could safely social distance in private rooms.
We replaced our traditional buffet-style meals in the dining room with grab and go bags that residents could enjoy back in their rooms.
We were thankful to be able to resume in-person therapy and case management sessions, while still offering virtual options. Children's services also resumed - a much needed support for the many parents who had been assisting their school-aged children with virtual learning during the 2020-2021 school year while also caring for their younger ones from within the safe havens.
Women Against Abuse Legal Center attorneys represented clients seeking Protection From Abuse orders and custody of their children via video while the Philadelphia Family Court building was closed throughout Fiscal Year 2021. Philadelphia Family Court resumed in-person operations in early July, and our Legal Center soon followed in offering staggered on-site availability.
Trainings continued to be offered virtually, while school-based teen dating violence prevention programming was able to resume on-site in the fall of 2021.
Dish It Up
While we are thrilled to be planning an in-person event for May 2022 at Lincoln Financial Field, our annual fundraiser was held virtually last year. The 2021 virtual Dish It Up featured chef demonstrations by Kiki Aranita and Abigail Dahan, a moving video documenting the story of survivor and advocate Khadijah, and a live solicitation led by Board Chair Leslie Miller Greenspan!
See what we have in store for the 2022 Dish It Up!
Get your tickets now!We Can't Do It Without You!
Women Against Abuse needs your support to continue to innovate quality, cost-effective services to survivors of intimate partner violence and to provide leadership in the movement to end domestic violence.
Become a Partner for Safety
JOIN OUR MONTHLY GIVING COMMUNITYMake a lasting impact through the 1976 Legacy Society
DISCOVER PLANNED GIVINGInvest in our future through a Donor Advised Fund
Learn moreWe offer our heartfelt thanks to the many people, companies, foundations and government entities that made our work possible. The generous support of our donors and local foundations has been more important than ever!
View our fiscal year 2021 donor listFinancial Highlights
Women Against Abuse is committed to the highest quality fiscal management, ensuring that all contributions are used with integrity, transparency and for the greatest impact for survivors of domestic violence.
| Current Assets | $7,643,241 |
|---|---|
| Cash and cash equivalents | $316,506 |
| Certificate of deposit | $150,000 |
| Contributions receivable | $3,269,487 |
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | $241,251 |
| Investments | $3,665,997 |
| Noncurrent Assets | $2,704,015 |
| Land, building, improvements, furniture and equipment, net | $2,704,015 |
| Total Assets | $10,347,256 |
| Current Liabilities | $2,009,547 |
|---|---|
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $1,600,098 |
| Notes payable | $401,353 |
| Client deposits | $8,096 |
| Notes Payable, net of current portion | $1,940,000 |
| Total Liabilities | $3,949,547 |
| Total Liabilities & Net Assets | $10,347,256 |
|---|---|
| Without Donor Restrictions | $5,279,602 |
| Operating | $1,321,303 |
| Board-designated | $3,958,299 |
| With Donor Restrictions | $1,118,107 |
| Total Net Assets | $6,397,709 |
| Governmental grants and contracts | $11,105,179 |
| Foundation awards | $468,094 |
| Contributions | $758,068 |
| In-kind contributions | $1,104,081 |
| Allocated investment income | $120,226 |
| Other | $20,664 |
| Total Revenue & Support | $13,576,312 |
|---|
| Program Services | $12,895,557 |
|---|---|
| Safe Havens | $8,032,552 |
| Legal | $3,359,413 |
| Sojourner House | $568,965 |
| Safe at Home | $376,491 |
| Policy and Prevention | $558,136 |
| Supporting Services | $1,409,674 |
| Management and general | $967,206 |
| Fundraising | $442,468 |
| Total Expenses | $14,305,231 |
| Change in net assets from operations before depreciation | ($728,919) |
| Depreciation | ($372,714) |
| Gain on forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program loan | $1,026,232 |
| Net investment income | $738,377 |
| Change in Net Assets | $662,976 |
|---|---|
| Net assets at beginning of year | $5,734,733 |
| Net assets at end of year | $6,397,709 |