By Jamey Sheesley
With many non-profit organizations, their donors may wonder where the money they donate goes. In addition, many non-profit organizations have big grants and sponsorships, but with Break the Silence Against Domestic Violence there are no grants or corporate sponsorships. So who sponsors BTSADV? You do. Everyone who donates through social media, the website, and through monthly subscriptions sponsors this organization. According to BTSADV Board President Tara Woodlee, “The majority of our donations come through our Facebook page, more than anywhere else.” These donations are all from you and we are so thankful for you and every dollar you donate.
The amazing part of BTSADV is that the donation process is very personal. The donations come from people affected by domestic violence, whether themselves or a loved one. The donated money is then used to help other domestic violence survivors through programs like the Survivor Sisters Retreat, Angel Scholarship, or Legacy Families Retreat. “The donation process for Break the Silence Against Domestic Violence is a very personable experience: it is survivors helping survivors,” Tara said.
All of our programs are after-care help. Once domestic violence has stopped does not mean a survivor is okay, there is a lot of effort that goes into the after-care. There are many layers of healing for a survivor and their families and that is what these programs provide.
“All of our donations are spent on survivors and running the organization,” said Tara.
Break the Silence is committed to help survivors in need. Individuals have completely built this group and not only do individuals contribute but so do BTSADV board members and volunteers. “We want to lead by example,” Tara said.
Not only do volunteers and board members give it their all, but Kristen Faith, Founder and CEO of BTSADV, cares for each follower and donor, which also makes this a very personal organization. BTSADV has grown in such a personal way and it is all because of Kristen. The more BTSADV receives, the more this organization can pay it forward.
According to the Where Does My Money Go pie chart, 27.8% of donations go to programs, 5.3% to fundraising, 7% to marketing, and 11.5% to operations. Many people may get upset seeing that not every penny goes to giving back, but that is because it costs money to run an organization. It costs money to print flyers to promote a fundraising event. It is about the cause being shared, not the amount of overhead. There is a wonderful quote by Dan Pallotta that states “The next time you’re looking at a charity, don’t ask about the rate of their overhead. Ask about the scale of their dreams.” This is what BTSADV is accomplishing by reaching out and helping survivors of domestic violence and bringing more awareness to this problem in big ways.
“Our donors can always ask for our financials. We are an organization that encourages open communication and values trust,” said Kristen. Every donation is put to good use.
Volunteers are what keep this organization going. “Our team contributes over 10,000 hours in donated volunteer time each year which allows us to allocate donation dollars into our programs,” according to Kristen. Without our incredible volunteers, this would not be possible.
BTSADV also hosts events like Battle of the Bands to raise money for programs to help survivors. At this first annual Battle of the Bands fundraising concert, BTSADV raised close to $1500. These events are not supposed to be big-ticket deals but a way to bring the community together to raise awareness about domestic violence. TerryJosiah came to the stage at the event and talked about his story and afterward invited anyone else to the stage to share their stories. Both men and women flocked to the stage declaring they were survivors and then after the audience made donations for BTSADV to help survivors. People of all ages donated to this cause. Whether it was one dollar or several, this speaks volumes to what BTSADV is and what the mission is. Break the Silence Against Domestic Violence has grown over the last few years thanks to followers and donors like you.
As a survivor myself, I donate to BTSADV because I know the impact it had on me. I found the BTSADV Facebook page about a year after getting out of an abusive relationship and found the content they shared to be extremely helpful. When someone has suffered trauma for a number of years it is hard to “get over it” even if the abuser is no longer in the picture. This group helped me to come out of my shell, start sharing my story, and stand up for those who have also suffered. I felt such a personal connection to this group because their mission is genuine; they really want to help others who have been down this damaging road. I felt such a passion for this group that also started donating my time. It is a personal charity you can call and talk to an actual human, they will talk with you and help you. This group is one in a million and I do not regret donating anything to them because I know how much they are helping others.
If you are interested in donating to Break the Silence Against Domestic Violence, go here.
