clients

On May 19, 2016 we announced that if we did not raise $150,000 in the following six weeks, we would close our doors. Graciously, our community stepped up and donated the funds necessary to keep our doors open. Individuals, companies, and organizations made meeting our goal possible.

However, during this campaign (the first of two efforts to raise a total of $300,000 by October 1), many individuals asked us, “Why aren’t you receiving support from ____?” You fill in the blank.

The easy answer is we simply do not meet the current eligibility requirements for a variety of foundations or organizations, or the fund from which we do receive monies has shrunk considerably.

Simply put, organizations, foundations, and even individual donors can choose to change the focus of their giving at any time. Over the past several years, organizations and foundations that have traditionally been major sources of revenue for NWAWS have either changed their focus or have reduced the resources they are able to distribute to us. Consequently, NWAWS, like so many other nonprofit organizations affected by such a change, need to identify other sources of revenue. Ultimately, statistics and trends show that our future source of funds must be individual donors.

Let’s consider three examples that will illustrate this point. NWAWS has been a recipient of funds from United Way for years. At its peak, we received $71,000. This year we will receive close to $22,000. Have our programs changed? No. Has the focus of United Way changed? Yes. Is there anything unique in United Way in changing its focus? Not really. Overtime United Way has shifted to respond to different community needs, patterns of giving and their ability to address societal needs. In doing so, the pool of funds available for ‘member’ agencies has varied greatly.

Since 1996 United Ways around the country have been adopting the community impact model. The adoption process has been slow, and in my opinion erratic, but in its own way it has been steady. Slowly, more and more local United Ways have switched to this model. In 2013 United Way of Northwest Arkansas began its own process of transition. Over the course of that transition, funds available for member agencies who do not fit that model decreased.

A second example is the state funding we receive through the Domestic Peace Fund. We have received revenue from this fund for years, and at one time we received more than $40,000 from it. This year we will receive slightly more than $18,000. Why is this? It is because the fees that provide revenue for the fund have decreased considerably. The Fund is supported by fees associated with Marriage Licenses and Bail Bonds. Over the last few years, Bail Bond fees have decreased significantly. The amount of funds available from this source in 2016-17 is 43.6% of what it had been in 2012-13. One of the causes is the increased practice in Arkansas of judges releasing accused offenders from jail on their own recognizance, negating the need for a bail bond. No bail bond means no fees for the state fund. It is as simple as that.

Finally, let’s look at foundations. Foundations change their focus and priorities with some regularity, and when they do many organizations that have previously accessed foundation resources are cut out of the loop. This process is never pleasant and is rarely well-publicized. Clearly, it is the right of a funder to change or shift their priorities. However, those who no longer meet the new criteria for support must decide how they will deal with the loss of revenue. For some the answer lies in a reduction in services, for others, a realignment of activities, and for others a quickly designed effort to find replacement resources.

Foundations shifting their priorities, United Way changing its focus to respond more aggressively to certain community needs, and government revenue shrinking are all ways resources disappear from nonprofits. Failure to find replacement income for the streams that disappear places a nonprofit in a difficult position. Therefore, it is important that a nonprofit diversifies its resource base as much as possible.

One of the best ways to do this is by creating a reliably large, recurring, and diversified individual donor support base. These individual donors are vested in the mission. Individually, a loss of one should not create a huge hole in an organization’s revenue stream.

The goal of the campaigns conducted by NWAWS was, and is, to create that reliable, large, recurring, and diversified individual donor support base. This is not because we are opposed to seeking funds from sources that tend to be less reliable, especially considering that those less-reliable sources can often represent a large portion of a budget if successfully obtained. Rather we want long-term sustainable revenue that helps ensure that we can provide the quality and scope of program that the community deserves and that demand implies we need.

The truth is, some money has disappeared. The organizations who everyone thinks should be the savior of the nonprofit sector are not created to do so. We have relied on them for too long, and now we are focused on securing the support of individuals who are vested in our mission and work. That is the only way we can truly become sustainable.

Several years ago, a former client wrote us a letter thanking us for being a part of her village when she needed support. Would you consider joining our village so we can support other families like her? You can be part of the solution by joining our efforts to ensure reliable recurring revenue by making a donation to NWAWS. Every gift matters to those who find refuge behind our doors and help in our services.

Read the letter by clicking below:

Diana’s Story*

Diana approached us after her husband was arrested. She had been married for several years and the abuse had been escalating from passive aggressive behavior to physical violence and threats of homicide. During this time she had lost her business and many friends due to the control and manipulation her abuser subjected upon her. Diana had to open a secret safety deposit box so she could keep important documents and family photos secure. She feared the worst when he was released from jail, and wanted to make sure that she would be safe.

Our advocates safety planned with Diana and also assisted her with filing an Order of Protection. She was able to secure her own housing without staying in shelter, but she still felt afraid and constantly worried that her abuser would find her and kill her like he always said. She wanted to purchase some home security devices, but after pricing the items she needed and realizing she could not afford them, Diana decided she would make some homemade booby traps and use those instead. Although she now had a way to be notified of an intruder, Diana still failed to feel safe at home and had a lot of trouble sleeping at night.

During this time Diana continued to come to our support groups and meet with our Support Services Advocate. She found it helpful to process what she had experienced with other survivors and began to feel like her life was coming back together. One day after support group, her advocate approached her about an opportunity. NWAWS had just received a donation of home security devices (window alarms, exterior motion lights, and home security signage) that clients could use to make their homes more secure and Diana was able to select several items that would work for her house.

Like Diana, many of our clients need support outside of our shelter. Last year, we were able to help 260 individuals on an outreach basis through our court advocacy program, support group, one-on-one meetings, job resources, or special events. Rebuilding one’s life after leaving an abusive partner or family member does not require a one-size fits all approach. Instead it requires a community of support and the ability to have needs—such as home security—met.

Through our support group and outreach programs, victims of domestic abuse are able to transition to becoming survivors by learning to find their own self and experiencing the freedom to become the person they have never been able to be. For the first time in a long time (or in some cases, ever), our clients begin to feel comfort and hope.

Our Support Services Advocate describes the transformation as simply “watching them grow”. She uses the illustration of a puzzle box: full with a thousand pieces, but so shaken and scattered that you do not know where to even begin putting it back together. Over time and with the support and guidance of others, these individuals begin to assemble their puzzle. By doing so, they begin rebuilding their lives.

A few weeks ago, Diana spoke to her advocate and shared that she can finally call her house, “home”. She was able to go and bring home her safety deposit box because today she feels safe. She feels complete.

Because of your support, we are able to help individuals like Diana create new lives without violence and fear. Peace of mind is something many of us take for granted but domestic violence survivors truly appreciate. Please consider joining our village and supporting us financially. It’s easy to do! Click here to donate online or here to learn more about donation options. Want to speak to someone directly? Please call our Development Director, Merritt Royal, at 479-246-0353 X 140.

Do you think you might be in need of our outreach services? Please call us 24/7 to speak with an advocate: 479-246-9999 or 1-800-775-9011.

*Name changed to protect privacy

(Above: photos from the shelter, Thrift Store, and special events featuring 2015 volunteers)

We say it often: we cannot survive without our community partners and donors.

And while donors keep the bills paid and community partners keep our pantries full, we absolutely could not exist without our volunteers. From groups who remodel or plan events, to individuals who tirelessly work the cash register at the Thrift Store or answer the phones, we need you and love you!

2015 saw huge numbers in volunteering—we had 480 volunteers contribute 9090 hours. Wow! To break that down even farther, we saved $194,162 by having volunteers perform specific tasks so our staff could focus on other efforts![1]

Each of our volunteers means the world to us. Their commitment to show up and diligence in their work allow NWAWS to achieve more than we ever could by relying solely on staff. A diverse volunteer base also brings in new ideas. We can credit many solutions to the creative minds of our volunteers.

Need semi-regular pick-ups of large loads of donated goods? We have a volunteer for that. Need a skilled person to cover the hotline and shelter while our advocates are in a meeting? We have a volunteer for that, too.

It seems like anytime a need arises, we have someone who is willing to step in and help share the burden. So volunteers and interns, we say more than thank you for your efforts this past year.

Thank you for your on-going assistance and the help that you will offer in the future.

No matter how far you may be removed from the clients we serve, your assistance means we can continue our work to ending the cycle of violence for families in our community. For that, we all owe you our eternal gratitude.

Check out our post after our Volunteer Banquet to learn more about a few of the outstanding people who work with us.

It truly takes an entire village to raise families out of distress and into violence-free lives. Will you consider joining us today? The ways to get involved are endless. Please check out our volunteer opportunities here or email Sheri for more information: shammond@nwaws.org.

[1]Value of volunteer hours is calculated at $21.36/hour based on numbers approved by the Arkansas Department of Human Services

Our crisis line rings every day. Even on the holidays.

Last year, our advocates and volunteers took a total of 1800 crisis calls. When compared to all the calls we answered, over 80% of our phone calls each day were from victims of violence or their families who are seeking our services. Our commitment to Northwest Arkansas is to always be available to take those calls, 24/7/365.

Domestic abuse does not take a break for holidays or weather. It happens in our community on a daily basis whether we admit it or not. The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey [1] found that more than 1 in 16 women and 1 in 20 men experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in the year prior to their survey.

If we compare those numbers with our NWA population of an estimated 500,000 people, we would expect that over 25,000 individuals were abused by intimate partners last year alone.

Thankfully the Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter has a service that can help. Anyone can contact our crisis line to receive support, make plans for safety, or simply share their story. We welcome these calls because it means abused individuals are reaching out for the help they need and our hope is that we can assist each person as they move toward a violence free life.

More information about the hotline calls we took in 2015:

106 callers were referred to us by law enforcement.
111 people were referred by a media source.
At least 5 people found our information in the phonebook–a service we are required to provide under state law.
268 people called on behalf of a friend or family member who was a victim of domestic abuse.
On average, a hotline caller had 2 dependents.
30 people were referred by a local hospital or medical facility.
50% of people had never contacted us before.

Are you in need of our services? Please contact us 24/7 at 479-246-9999 or toll-free at 1-800-775-9011.

Interested in volunteering and helping us answer these important calls? Email our Volunteer Coordinator, Sheri, at shammond@nwaws.org.

[1] Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2010 Summary Report. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/nisvs_report2010-a.pdf

Reflections from 2015 NWAWS residents describing how they feel as a result of their stay. In 2015, the Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter (NWAWS) provided temporary, emergency safe shelter and other services, on average, to 20 adults each month.

Our clients who resided in-shelter benefited from the following–at no cost to them.

Room, with a private bath, and utilities, paidFood, and access to a communal kitchen with cooking appliances, cookware, and dishes, allowing our residents to cook for themselves and their familiesBasic living essentials (toiletries, over-the-counter medicine, laundry detergent, etc.)Transportation financial assistance (as permitted by available funding) to/from work, school, medical appointments, court and other legal appointments, and job interviews24-7 access to a computer lab to create resumes, apply for jobs, and connect with familyProfessional advocacy services to identify personal goals of safety, create action plans for the future, and to connect clients with other community resources

While our clients do not pay, the cost (updated to today’s operational expenses) is $75 per day per adult.

Our name, the Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter, implies that we provide shelter to women. But did you know, we are unique as we allow men who choose to end abuse and violence in their lives to also live in our Shelter? We do not discriminate in the provision of our services by age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, disability, citizenship status, or any other legally-protected classification.

(And almost half of our residents are children. We will provide more details regarding the children we serve in a later highlight.)

Other basic information about our Shelter’s adult clients who lived in-shelter in 2015:

The largest age group of adults living in our shelter is 18-29.The average household income, with the abuser’s income removed, was a little more than $7,300.Spanish was the primary language for 7% of our residents. Our bilingual professional advocacy staff, administrative staff, and volunteers eliminate language barriers in supporting victims of domestic and sexual violence.42% shared that they had witnessed domestic violence as a child. One in four had been molested as a child. We are committed to helping adults and families break the cycle of violence and abuse NOW—for both their lives now and for their children’s futures.Just under half of our residents lived in Benton County. Another 33% of our residents were from the other counties in the Northwest Arkansas region we serve: Carroll County, Madison County, and Washington County. In the efforts to escape from their abusers, the remaining residents came from other counties in the state and from other states (California, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin).

NWAWS also supports and provides safe shelter for victims of sexual violence who meet our eligibility requirements–another unique service we provide within our Northwest Arkansas region.

Nationally, studies show that 8% of victims of domestic violence experience sexual violence by their intimate partners. One in four of our residents in 2015 were victims of sexual violence, in addition to other forms of violence, abuse, and control.

And a small percentage (2%) shared they were victims of human/sex trafficking.

Where Has All the Money Gone?