Gender-Based Violence: Get Involved
Find groups and organizations who are working to support survivors and end gender-based violence.
The Anti-Violence Project (AVP) empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected communities and allies to end all forms of violence through organizing and education, and supports survivors through counseling and advocacy. Volunteers can join a Community Action Committee engaged in local campaigns, participate and staff events that respond to instances of violence in New York City, such as vigils, and advocate and lobby for the Right to Know Act, which will help increase accountability of the NYPD and decrease violence in police interactions.
Awakenings provides survivors of sexual violence in Illinois with a trauma-informed, inclusive art-making experience that encourages healing.
Boston Area Rape Crisis Center
The Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) provides free, confidential support and services to survivors of sexual violence, as young as aged twelve, their friends, and their families. They strive to meet the needs of survivors in crisis, in healing from sexual violence, and in navigating systems of support, such as healthcare, social services, and the criminal legal system. Volunteers provide crisis counseling for the hotlines, meet survivors at the hospital 24 hours after assault to provide support and information, and educate the community about sexual assault and BARCC’s resources and services.
Center for the Pacific Asian Family (CPAF)
The Center for the Pacific Asian Family (CPAF) works to end domestic and sexual violence in Asian Pacific Islander (API) communities, cultivating healthy and safe communities by addressing the root causes and consequences of family violence and violence against women. Volunteers help staff information tables at community events, plan or host volunteer and donor gatherings, canvass neighborhood businesses, connect CPAF to in-language media outlets, create or write social media and online content, and more. They are committed to meeting the specific cultural and language needs of Asian and Pacific Islander women and their families.
Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center
DARCC is the only independent, comprehensive rape crisis center in Dallas County. They have a 24 hour hotline, individual and group counseling, and advocacy opportunities.
Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition
Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC works) to ensure the wellbeing, safety, and lived equity of all trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive (TNBGE) community members in Massachusetts through programs such as the Trans Leadership Academy and the Identity Document Assistance Network (IDA Network); the Trans Leadership Academy prepares TNBGE for educational contexts and the workplace and the Identity Document Assistance Network provides guidance, support and financial assistance for those seeking to legally change their name and/or gender. Volunteers can serve as mentors for the Trans Leadership Academy, assist with the IDA Network in a variety of capacities, and support events such as the Trans Youth Summit.
Mirror Memoirs is a national storytelling and organizing project intervening in rape culture by uplifting the narratives, healing and leadership of Black, Indigenous, and of color Two Spirit, transgender, non-binary, intersex and queer survivors of childhood rape and sexual assault. They have an audio archive, book club, and memberships.
Moms Demand Action is a grassroots movement of Americans fighting for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence. With chapters in every state, Moms Demand Action provides a variety of ways to get involved locally, including writing letters to government officials, assisting with informational events, and volunteering at rallies and vigils.
The Network/La Red is a survivor-led, social justice organization that works to end partner abuse in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, kink, polyamorous, and queer communities. You can get involved as an intern or a volunteer providing survivors with connection to community, peer-support, safety planning assistance, information about partner abuse, and resources by staffing the crisis hotline, co-facilitating telephone-based support groups, facilitating informational workshops, planning events, and more. Note: Training is required.
CHAYN is a global nonprofit, run by survivors and allies from around the world, creating resources to support the healing of survivors of gender-based violence. They create open, online resources and services for survivors of abuse that are trauma-informed, intersectional, multilingual and feminist. You can get involved remotely with their global collective of volunteers as a general volunteer or as a tech volunteer.