CULTIVATING COMMUNITY
Women Against Abuse
2025 Annual Report
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Informe Anual de 2025letter from leadership
As we reflect on 2025—a year shaped by a new federal administration and a five-month state budget impasse—one truth stands out: the strength of our community has never been more evident. At a time of profound uncertainty for the nonprofit sector, we did what community does best—we came together. Drawing on our shared purpose and collective resolve, we stood in the gap for the most vulnerable.
This year, cultivating community was not just a theme—it was a practice. We strengthened partnerships, deepened collaboration, and showed up for one another in meaningful ways:
- We joined the newly formed Philadelphia Nonprofit Leaders Group to respond collectively to shifting federal policies and advocate for our sector and the people it serves.
- During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we hosted our largest community resource fair in nearly two decades—bringing services, information, and vital connections directly to the community.
- Our Prevention Team was on overdrive, training thousands of first responders, City Council members, community groups, and young people as we built a shared understanding of relationship abuse and a safer future.
- Local companies, schools, organizations, and faith communities donated winter coats, toiletries, Thanksgiving meals, and hundreds of holiday gifts—meeting immediate needs while sending a powerful message of care and solidarity.
- And alongside our partners, we advocated for stronger city systems that better meet the needs of victims and keep people safe.
You are central to this movement. Your generosity and commitment make this work possible, and we are deeply grateful for your role in cultivating a safer, more connected community.
As we enter our 50th anniversary year, we hope you will continue to stand with us—nurturing the partnerships, advocacy, and compassion that have defined Women Against Abuse for five decades.
With gratitude,
Executive Director & President
Board Chair
Shakeda's Story
Impact By the Numbers
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Tamika's Story
I was 23 years old, a single mother, and pregnant with my second daughter. My fiancé had a drinking problem, and I took a lot of busted lips and sore arms until our daughter was born. I realized if I didn’t get out, my daughters wouldn’t see me as a strong person.
I didn’t want them to see me being beat. I knew I had to get away and advocate for them to be strong, so they’d never allow anyone to ever put their hands on them.
But leaving was hard. I didn’t have nurturing family support at the time, because my mom was going through some tough things.
Sometimes people don’t understand that we stay for financial reasons or because we don’t have anywhere to go. And sometimes we’re trauma-bonded to the situation.
I planned my escape carefully and waited until he was away from home. My friends came over with a U-haul, and within hours we packed up all my stuff and I was gone. It was all about getting away and it was very scary.
I stood my ground because I knew I could not raise my daughters that way. My love for them overpowered everything. I chose myself, but I chose my children even more – to not have them in that environment. I left and never went back.
Dish It Up
Our 17th Annual Dish It Up, which took place last June at the Crystal Tea Room, was a record-breaking success, raising $280,000 – the most ever – for Women Against Abuse’s services!
Our special 50th Anniversary Edition of Dish It Up will take place on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at the Crystal Tea Room. We’ll turn back the clock to 1976 — the year Women Against Abuse began — for a fab night that celebrates 50 years of hope, safety, and community. Join us for a '70s-inspired celebration featuring incredible dishes from Philadelphia’s top women chefs, all in support of our life-saving services for survivors of domestic violence.
Partnerships on Parade
Community partnerships are vital to our work, and we are deeply grateful to our many valued community partners! We’d like to spotlight a few...
Our 18th Annual iPledge Campaign launched Domestic Violence Awareness Month on October 1, 2025, with our largest community resource fair yet. Dozens of partners—from victim service providers to immigrant-serving organizations to mental health, sexual assault, and anti-trafficking agencies—joined us to raise awareness and connect community members with vital resources. We are grateful to be part of such a mighty and compassionate village of support.
We are grateful to the health care providers from St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, who offer on-site medical screenings and services at each of our emergency shelters—a tremendous relief for parents rebuilding after domestic violence. Their generosity extended even further this year when a team from St. Christopher’s hosted a festive holiday party for residents and their children, complete with pajama giveaways and a visit from Santa.
We work closely with Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Lutheran Settlement House and Women In Transition to operate the 24-hour Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hotline. This year we also collaborated to promote the hotline to underserved communities, sharing hotline cards, developing creative public service announcements, leveraging free bus shelter ads, and writing a monthly column focused on healthy relationships for Impacto Media.
Since 2016, The Clay Studio has brought color, creativity, and comfort to children living in our emergency shelters. Led by artist Nitza Rosario, the Claymobile visits Ameya’s Place and Carol’s Place several times each month, offering hands-on workshops where children facing difficult circumstances can explore, express themselves, and heal through art. Each session gives children the chance to shape their own clay creations—later fired in The Clay Studio’s kiln and proudly returned. “The children really look forward to the clay workshops… it’s an outlet for them to destress and have fun,” said Arlene Malcolm-Bell, Senior Director of Residential Services. We are deeply grateful for The Clay Studio’s ongoing commitment to nurturing our youngest clients.
Quilting for Good is a powerful example of community care in action. Founded in 2023 by three Mt. Airy neighbors, this volunteer-led group creates handmade quilts to meet unmet needs across Philadelphia. To date, Quilting for Good has donated 72 quilts (and counting) to Women Against Abuse clients—offering warmth, comfort, and a tangible reminder that someone cares. For survivors rebuilding their lives, these quilts are more than blankets. They are symbols of safety, dignity, and connection—wrapping families in compassion as they begin again. We are deeply grateful to Quilting for Good and its network of community partners for helping cultivate healing, one stitch at a time.
We are continually strengthening the care we provide to survivors, and we are grateful for our partnership with the Children’s Crisis Treatment Center (CCTC) to support our youngest clients. Through this collaboration, CCTC Behavior Consultants work directly with families in our emergency shelters, bringing trauma-informed care to children where they are. With children making up more than half of our shelter residents, this partnership has been transformative—offering critical support to both children and parents as they begin their healing journeys. Having CCTC onsite allows children to start processing their experiences sooner, while parents feel better equipped and supported in helping their children take those first essential steps toward healing and connecting families to additional services that promote long-term stability.
Attorneys Named Philadelphia Bar Stars
We were proud to celebrate two members of our Legal Center team who were honored by the Philadelphia Bar Association as 2025 Bar Stars—a distinction recognizing exceptional service, leadership, and impact within Philadelphia’s legal community.
Mary Kate Kalinich, Custody and Support Supervising Attorney, was recognized as a Public Interest Bar Star for her outstanding work within the Public Interest Section including spearheading the section’s Public Interest Law Day; a full-day of CLE programs dedicated to emerging issues that impact our clients and greater public interest community.
Nadège Tandoh, Supervising Protection From Abuse Attorney - who served as the 2025 Chair of the Family Law Section earned the award for Best CLE Series. As Chair, Nadège created and led a month-long Domestic Violence Month CLE Series. Her leadership and work helps ensure that attorneys across the region are better equipped to serve survivors with skill and sensitivity.
Women Against Abuse’s Legal Center—established in 1978 as one of the nation’s first law practices dedicated solely to domestic violence—has long been recognized for its unparalleled expertise. Today, we remain the only nonprofit with offices inside Philadelphia Family Court, a testament to our longstanding commitment and the trust placed in our attorneys.
We are incredibly proud of Mary Kate and Nadège, whose exceptional knowledge, passion, and advocacy continue to shape a safer future for survivors throughout Philadelphia.
As tax laws continue to change, non-cash gifts—such as appreciated stock, IRA distributions, or donor-advised funds—can be a powerful way to support Women Against Abuse while maximizing potential tax benefits. These forms of giving often allow you to contribute more, reduce capital gains, and sustain our work cultivating safety and community for survivors. We would love to explore the option that works best for you.
Learn More About Donor Advised FundsIn the News
As a nonprofit organization, we can rarely afford to purchase expensive advertising, so media sponsors are a vital way for us to raise awareness and ensure victims know about the resources that are available. We’d like to extend a very special thanks to our media sponsors, and especially NBC10 Telemundo62, iHeartMedia, Impacto Media, Philadelphia Gay News and Center City District.
Women Against Abuse is frequently called on to provide expert insight on domestic violence. Media interviews help us raise awareness and educate the community as we work toward a safer Philadelphia. Here are a few key highlights from the past year:
While homicides in Philadelphia dropped last year, domestic violence-related killings increased sharply. We joined Tamala Edwards on 6abc Action News' Inside Story to discuss why domestic violence homicides are rising and what must be done to protect survivors.
6abc Inside StoryIn Newsweek, we pushed back against rhetoric that downplays the seriousness of domestic violence and underscored the widespread impact on survivors and communities.
NewsweekWe were featured in Politico highlighting the real-world impact of federal funding freezes on domestic violence programs.
PoliticoWe collaborated with our hotline partners - Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Lutheran Settlement House, and Women In Transition - to author a monthly column in Impacto Media. We shared culturally informed insights like this article that highlights resources for immigrant Latinos experiencing domestic violence.
Impacto MediaWe spoke with ABC News and Good Morning America to address a common question: why domestic violence survivors may not be able to "just leave" an abusive relationship.
ABC News & Good Morning AmericaWe were spotlighted in this Philadelphia Tribune article that featured a self-defense and empowerment workshop facilitated by Board Member Jamie Colleen Miller. The event was hosted by Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson, the Philadelphia Police Department and others.
The Philadelphia TribuneWe Can't Do It Without You!
Women Against Abuse needs your support to continue to provide caring, high-quality services to survivors of intimate partner violence, and to remain a leader in the movement to end domestic violence.
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Access our most recent advocacy alertWe offer our deep thanks to the many people, companies, foundations and government entities that made our work possible over the past year. We could not carry out our life-saving services without our generous familia of supporters. Mil gracias.
View our Fiscal Year 2025 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. We are pleased to have a Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid, the highest-level designation that a nonprofit can earn.
| Current Assets | $6,026,212 |
|---|---|
| Cash and cash equivalents | $87,318 |
| Contributions receivable | $2,995,091 |
| Other receivables | $76,255 |
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | $17,641 |
| Investments | $2,849,907 |
| Noncurrent Assets | $13,593,660 |
| Operating leases right-of-use assets | $8,813,877 |
| Land, building, improvements, furniture and equipment, net | $4,779,783 |
| Total Assets | $19,619,872 |
| Current Liabilities | $3,406,825 |
|---|---|
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $1,489,502 |
| Line of Credit | $1,044,100 |
| Operating lease liabilities | $856,052 |
| Client deposits | $17,171 |
| Noncurrent Liabilities | $10,653,735 |
| Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion | $8,713,735 |
| Notes Payable, net of current portion | $1,940,000 |
| Total Liabilities | $14,060,560 |
| Without Donor Restrictions | $5,058,745 |
|---|---|
| Operating | $1,848,699 |
| Board-designated | $3,210,046 |
| With Donor Restrictions | $500,567 |
| Total Net Assets | $5,559,312 |
| Governmental grants and contracts | $12,407,827 |
| Foundation awards | $241,377 |
| Contributions | $976,807 |
| In-kind contributions | $456,226 |
| Allocated investment income | $500,000 |
| Other | $106,811 |
| Total Revenue & Support | $14,689,048 |
|---|
| Program Services | $13,061,006 |
|---|---|
| Safe Havens | $8,159,170 |
| Legal | $3,512,728 |
| Sojourner House | $457,833 |
| Safe at Home | $515,843 |
| Policy and Prevention | $415,432 |
| Supporting Services | $1,503,940 |
| Management and general | $994,662 |
| Fundraising | $509,278 |
| Total Expenses | $14,564,946 |
| Change in net assets from operations before depreciation | $124,102 |
| Depreciation | ($569,193) |
| Net investment income | ($172,963) |
| Net assets at beginning of year | $6,177,366 |
| Net assets at end of year | $5,559,312 |
| Change in Net Assets | ($618,054) |
|---|