Each GrantTank cycle, The Jensen Project seeks to identify organizations that are making impactful change in the selected categories that serve survivors of sex trafficking. The following nonprofits have received catalytic funding and an invitation to the annual GrantTank Cohort, allowing for collaborative strategic planning for the future of the sector.
The Jensen Project has awarded 3Strands Global Foundation (3SGF) a grant to support their survivor-designed program that propels female survivors of sex trafficking into high-demand, sustainable careers in the medical field. Over the course of this grant term, twelve survivor clients will be enrolled in expedited industry training for medical assisting, phlebotomy, or medical coding and billing. This funding will cover tuition, books, medical supplies, and scrubs for each participant, as well as provide a temporary stipend to help offset living costs while engaged in programming. All participants will receive holistic support through the comprehensive Employ + Empower program, addressing personal and economic insecurity to ensure long-term stability.
Becoming a GrantTank recipient enables Allies Against Slavery to broaden their reach and impact in the United States. With increased funding, they will enhance and expand the national scope of Lighthouse, their innovative data platform. This additional data and insights in the platform will support a growing data ecosystem, educating stakeholders of the need in their area, informing nonprofits of surrounding services for increased collaboration, and improving overall understanding of the domestic human trafficking crisis, so we will be better equipped to fight it.
AnnieCannons is a groundbreaking organization creating career pathways in technology for survivors of trafficking. Their mission is rooted in economic justice—offering highly sought-after technical training that leads directly to long-term careers in fields like software engineering, cybersecurity, and data science. AnnieCannons equips survivors with the tools, confidence, and industry support they need to break the cycles of poverty and exploitation for good.
With support from The Jensen Project, AnnieCannons will expand its technical training and career readiness program, launch new learning pathways in high-growth industries, and deepen its national presence through a “Seven City Strategy.” This includes building tech hiring ecosystems in Dallas, New York, Atlanta, and beyond, all grounded in a trauma-informed, survivor-centered design.
The Jensen Project believes the quality of care is dependent on the employees of the organization and is proud to provide funding for critical positions at Awaken: a survivor-led Case Manager role in Reno, NV. These roles are integral to enhancing direct service delivery, strategic program development, and expanding capacity to combat commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking effectively.
The Jensen Project has awarded Designed For Joy a grant to enable the organization to serve up to 35% more survivors over a two-year period. This grant will fund a full-time case manager to work directly with women in crisis, helping them achieve economic stability more quickly, and will also cover client payroll and production materials for their employment programs.
The Jensen Project has awarded Eden Centers a grant to support their efforts in providing a stable Continuum of Care. This grant will specifically fund training for staff, safe and stable living environments through the Eden Emergency Center, Garden House, and Eden House, as well as economic empowerment initiatives. Over two years, the grant will directly enhance housing and economic empowerment services for survivors of human trafficking in Louisiana.
This 2024 GrantTank cycle, The Jensen Project proudly grants general operating support to RBI. This partnership is driven by a shared commitment to enhance capacity, program effectiveness, and operational efficiency. Their strategic focus includes expanding their team to meet growing demands and bolstering program impact through rigorous assessment and enhancement. By optimizing systems and technology, they aim to foster a resilient organizational framework that supports survivors on their journey toward empowerment and independence.
The Jensen Project has committed to a strategic partnership with Empowered Network. This funding supports Empowered Network’s pivotal shift from a contract worker model to a full-time staff structure, facilitating a substantial increase in Empowerment Plans from 100 in 2023 to an anticipated 325 by 2025. Empowered Network’s focus on housing, education, and employment solutions addresses systemic barriers for survivors of trafficking, empowering them toward sustainable independence.
Freedom a la Cart (Freedom) has been awarded a GrantTank grant from The Jensen Project to bolster and expand its critical services for survivors of sex trafficking. This funding will support Freedom in maintaining its current capacity to serve over 300 survivors annually while also facilitating expansion into a new geographic market within Ohio by the end of 2025. The organization aims to reach more survivors and enhance their journey toward self-sufficiency through a comprehensive array of programs that address the multifaceted challenges they face.
New Friends New Life (NFNL) is a long-established organization located in Dallas, TX that works to restore and empower trafficked and sexually exploited teen girls, women and their children. Survivors face deep challenges, including physical abuse, mental trauma, limited education, criminal records, and lack of financial resources. These barriers make it extremely difficult to pursue traditional education or secure sustainable employment, keeping them tethered to cycles of exploitation. As a part of their continued work, NFNL will expand its Economic Empowerment Program. This powerful barrier-removal initiative addresses the heavily prevalent systemic challenges survivors face on their path to long-term independence. With a trauma-informed approach and survivor-centered design, the program builds pathways to economic stability, professional growth, legal aid, and personal success.
Becoming a GrantTank recipient means that Global PEHT will better assist trafficking survivors in their transition from exploitation into healing and opportunity. Survivors often need a period of intensive case management to achieve the basic levels of stability necessary to participate in a residential program. With support from The Jensen Project, PEHT will continue to expand its capacity, strengthen its wraparound services, and build sustainable pathways to healing, housing stability, and independence for survivors of trafficking.
The Jensen Project has awarded Reflection Ministries of Texas with a grant renewal to support comprehensive services for survivors of sex trafficking in West Texas. This includes academic opportunities such as literacy courses and GED programs, life skills training in areas like financial literacy and communication, and career support services to enhance job readiness and stability. Reflection Ministries also provides trauma-informed counseling and holistic mental health services, ensuring survivors receive the necessary support for long-term healing and independence.
The Jensen Project has awarded REST another grant to support their efforts to offer survivors of sex trafficking safety, stability, and self-sufficiency. REST aims to identify, access, and maintain stable housing for survivors, recognizing it as crucial for their safety, stability, and long-term independence.
GrantTank 2024 funding will elevate key staff salaries and provide staff with employee benefits that were previously unavailable. Rest Stop values their dedicated staff and felt these enhancements were crucial for attracting and retaining qualified staff capable of delivering continuous trauma-focused care. This funding is essential not only for addressing the immediate workforce shortages but also for establishing sustainable practices in staff support and organizational resilience.
The Jensen Project will support Rethreaded in this new season of partnership and funding to bolster their capacity to provide their participants with essential healthcare coverage by establishing a robust medical benefits program and hiring a dedicated Human Resources professional. As Rethreaded plans to expand its workforce to more than 50 employees over the next 2-3 years, these initiatives are pivotal in maintaining employee stability and fostering a supportive workplace environment.
The Jensen Project has awarded SEI funding to sustain its Advocacy Project. This funding is crucial for SEI to continue its mission of supporting survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE) by addressing the legal barriers that prevent them from achieving sustainable exits from exploitation.
Street Grace is a faith-based nonprofit organization that is eradicating the sexual exploitation of children through prevention, protection, policy, and pursuit. With a focus on deterring demand, their AI-powered platform, Transaction Intercept, equips law enforcement to disrupt illegal attempts to buy sex and gather powerful data to drive accountability.
As an organization led by a team of subject matter experts and guided by a council of survivors, Street Grace is aware of the devastation caused by the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC). By leveraging cutting-edge technology, survivor-informed design, and strong partnerships with law enforcement, Street Grace makes it harder for buyers to remain anonymous, and easier for agencies to take action
The Jensen Project has awarded a grant to support The Network’s data-driven strategy to combat sex trafficking in the United States. This funding will enhance their capacity to increase data confidence, automate manual tasks, and make data accessible to partners. The Network’s approach involves equipping partners with online data about illicit massage businesses (IMBs), reducing storefronts, and decreasing exploitation.
The Jensen Project has agreed to support The WellHouse’s alumni care initiatives, which focus on providing affordable housing, job skills training, and expanding ShopWell, their survivor-run social enterprise. This funding will also equip the new ShopWell studio and facilitate plans to rent a storefront, enhancing job opportunities and economic empowerment for both graduates and residents.
The Jensen Project’s grant to Thistle Farms marks a pivotal support for their Job Readiness 2.0 program, aimed at empowering women survivors of trafficking and exploitation. This initiative builds on Thistle Farms’ holistic approach, integrating survivor feedback to enhance occupational therapy, career assessment, and entrepreneurial mentorship. These efforts are crucial in bridging the gap between programmatic support and sustainable independence for survivors.
The Jensen Project has awarded Wellspring Living a grant to support their “Bridge Community Transitional Housing” program. This initiative provides stable housing and comprehensive support services to survivors of trafficking and their children, fostering autonomy, stability, and hope within a nurturing community environment. The funding ensures ongoing access to safe and supportive environments, crucial for these survivors as they transition towards sustainable independence.
A yearly grant program, funding up to $2 Million to advance opportunities for agencies who serve adult female survivors of human trafficking.
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It takes funding for organizations to help women impacted by sexual violence, but it’s just the starting point. The Jensen Project’s holistic approach empowers nonprofits with grants, resources, and ongoing support to fuel the fight against sexual violence.