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Survivors and Advocates for Empowerment Safe Inc

EIN 41-2226446 · Washington, DC

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair52 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DC SAFE (SURVIVORS AND ADVOCATES FOR EMPOWERMENT) ENSURES THE SAFETY AND SELF-DETERMINATION FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE WASHINGTON, DC AREA THROUGH EMERGENCY SERVICES, COURT ADVOCACY AND SYSTEM REFORM.

Income
$7.0 million
Spending
$8.2 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 94%
Employees
58
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$161,372, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 92% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 60% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $1.5 million spent. CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES: THE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM (CRT) PROVIDES 24/7 IMMEDIATE CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES FOR OVER 12,000 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS PER YEAR. THIS TEAM OPERATES THE 24/7 RESPONSE LINE, WHERE THEY CONNECT WITH SURVIVORS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING A VIOLENT INCIDENT. RESPONSE LINE ADVOCATES PROVIDE SUPPORT, INFORMATION, AND COORDINATE TANGIBLE ASSISTANCE LIKE EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION, SHELTER PLACEMENT, AND MORE. THEY ALSO ASSESS CLIENTS' FOR THEIR LEVEL OF RISK FOR REASSAULT OR HOMICIDE, TRIAGING CARE FOR THOSE AT THE HIGHEST RISK THROUGH OUR LETHALITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM. THE CRT FIELDS OVER 35,000 CALLS ANNUALLY, WITH CALLS FROM DC'S METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT (MPD) MAKING UP OVER 60% OF THOSE. MPD REQUIRES OFFICERS TO OFFER AND CONNECT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WITH DC SAFE SERVICES DIRECTLY FROM THE SCENE OF A CRIME.
  2. $4.2 million spent. SAFE SPACE CRISIS SHELTER: SAFE SPACE OFFERS UP TO 15-DAYS OF CRISIS HOUSING FOR OVER 500 SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THEIR FAMILIES ANNUALLY. SAFE SPACE IS THE ONLY SHELTER IN WASHINGTON, DC THAT CAN OFFER 24/7 IMMEDIATE-ENTRY PLACEMENT, MAKING IT A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR SURVIVORS IN THE DISTRICT. SAFE SPACE OFFERS HOUSING IN PRIVATE, FLEXIBLE, AND COMFORTABLE APARTMENT-STYLE SUITES, WITH ACCESS TO LAUNDRY FACILITIES, COMMUNITY SPACE FOR ADULTS, AND RECREATION AREAS FOR CHILDREN, AS WELL AS ON-SITE SERVICES SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING AND FORENSIC NURSING CARE. SHELTER ADVOCATES OFFER ON-SITE SUPPORT TO CLIENTS DURING THEIR STAY, HELPING WITH BASIC NEEDS SUPPORT, SAFETY PLANNING, AND NEXT STEPS WITH HOUSING.
  3. $1.0 million spent. SUPPORTIVE ADVOCACY SERVICES: THE SUPPORTIVE ADVOCACY TEAM (SAT) OFFERS COURT-BASED ADVOCACY SERVICES TO OVER 2,500 SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ANNUALLY. THEY HELP CLIENTS WITH SAFETY PLANNING, ASSESSING NEEDS, MAKING REFERRALS, AND NAVIGATING CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PROCESSES, WITH DIRECT ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR FILING FOR CIVIL PROTECTION ORDERS. SAT ADVOCATES OPERATE USING A HYBRID MODEL, OFFERING SERVICES VIRTUALLY AND IN-PERSON AT THE CITY'S TWO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INTAKE CENTER LOCATIONS. THEY ALSO OFFER COURT ACCOMPANIMENT AND ASSIST CLIENTS IN PREPARING FOR HEARINGS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2007.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.