9 Best Charities That Support Survivors of Human Trafficking (Complete 2024 List)

9 Best Charities That Support Survivors of Human Trafficking (Complete 2024 List)

By
Diana Stancu

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Survivors of human trafficking continue to suffer way after the exploitation ends. Statistics show that anxiety and depression continue to afflict up to 88% of victims, and 77% present with post-traumatic stress disorder. Knowing the severity of the damage, charities worldwide are working with survivors to help them achieve full health and peace of mind. So we had to ask: What are the best charities that support survivors of human trafficking?

The best charities that support survivors of human trafficking are Hagar, Safe Horizon, and Ally. Charities like Logos Wilderness Therapy, RAHAB Ministries, and Refuge for Women provide trauma-informed therapies to rehabilitate victims. 

Whether you want to support survivors’ holistic rehabilitation, empower survivors to fight against the human trafficking trade, or help establish a victim shelter, there is a charity for you. Keep reading to learn more about what the best charities that support survivors of human trafficking are all about, how they work, and what would be your best way to make a contribution.

Here’s What All the Best Charities That Support Survivors of Human Trafficking Have in Common

The charities on this list were chosen based on their impact, transparency ratings, programs, and achievements

They operate all over the world, from North America to East Asia, and they all share the same goal of supporting survivors of human trafficking.

Most of these charities work directly with victims of sex trafficking, both children and adults. They offer long-term, comprehensive aftercare services, like trauma-informed therapy, powerful community support, and empowering job opportunities.

They also work to reintegrate victims into society and stop the chain of abuse. Some charities continue to support survivors by advocating for their legal rights and conducting prevention campaigns that protect vulnerable communities from further exploitation.

Yet, through various approaches, they all work to ease the tragedy of being trafficked and empower the victims.

These Are the 9 Best Charities That Support Survivors of Human Trafficking in 2024

Below are our favorite charities that support survivors of human trafficking (you can click on their link to directly jump to their section in this article):

(At the end of this article we’ll also share our six-step approach on how you can select the best charity to support.)

1

Hagar: The Whole Journey

Logo for hagar
Hagar International Overview by Dr. Andrew Catford

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Their transparency & ratings:

Hagar has a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator and holds the Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar

We envision communities free and healed from the trauma of human trafficking, slavery, and abuse. When healing happens, the cycle of trauma stops.”

Hagar International

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What they do:

Hagar provides support along the “whole journey” of healing to victims of human trafficking and abuse. They give survivors a wide range of trauma-informed aftercare services, such as counseling, safe shelters, educational training, and empowering jobs. They also work with local partners to constantly improve restoration programs and equip survivors to raise awareness of the harmful effects of human trafficking. In addition, they work to prevent further exploitation by advocating for fair policies and strengthening social mechanisms locally and internationally. 

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What they’ve achieved:

Today, Hagar supports victims of human trafficking in six countries worldwide. For example, in 2021, they provided transformative services to nearly 155,000 survivors. In the same year, they gave almost 2,000 counseling sessions to hundreds of survivors and offered job and life skills training to 193 victims of trafficking. Their follow-up assessments revealed that counseling sessions reduced anxiety and PTSD for 78% of participants and equipped 95% of them with the coping skills they need to manage difficult emotions. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to Hagar directly on their website. You can also get involved by volunteering or applying for a job. In addition, you can become a local partner to help victims of human trafficking locally. 

2

Safe Horizon: Moving Victims of Violence From Crisis to Confidence

Logo for Safe Horizon
Safe Horizon Goes Beyond the Call

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Their transparency & ratings:

Charity Navigator gives Safe Horizon a 100% encompass score for Finance & Accountability. The charity is also accredited by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance.

Our mission is to provide support, prevent violence and promote justice for victims of human trafficking, their families and communities.

Safe Horizon

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What they do:

Safe Horizon runs emergency hotlines across New York City for survivors of trafficking to access crisis counseling, safety planning, and shelter. Their Anti-Trafficking Program provides support to victims through counseling, legal assistance, and advocacy. They also have community programs and counseling centers that give ongoing help to survivors until they become self-sufficient. In addition, they conduct an Immigration Law Project that protects immigrant workers from trafficking by giving them work authorizations

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What they’ve achieved:

Today, Safe Horizon operates programs across all of New York City’s communities, serving more than 250,000 victims of violence each year. For example, in 2020, their Anti-Trafficking Program supported 253 survivors and united seven families to start new lives free from exploitation. Their Immigrant Law Project provided legal advocacy to 332 trafficking victims in the immigration justice system. In the same year, their hotlines responded to 113,000 calls and their Crime Victim Assistance Program advocated for 33,500 New Yorkers during trials against their traffickers. 

Ways to contribute:

You can support Safe Horizon by donating on their website. You can also participate in their public events or fundraising programs. In addition, you can volunteer or apply for a job.

3

Ally: Creating Safe Spaces for Survivors to Heal

Logo for Ally global foundation
Ally Global Foundation

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Their transparency & ratings:

According to their financial report, Ally spent 37.6% of their total income on overseas and general casework, 2% on education and awareness work, and 3.3% on fundraising.

We help survivors of human trafficking heal from trauma and build healthy, independent futures.”

Ally

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What they do:

Ally supports victims of human trafficking by providing safe shelters after rescue. There, women and child victims are supported through trauma-informed, holistic care and specialized education programs. Furthermore, the charity commits to long-term care by housing child victims from adolescence until they get a job. They also encourage survivors to reintegrate into society by offering trade and job training, educational scholarships, and transitional housing. In addition, they run prevention campaigns in rural communities to stop exploitation and mentor children to continue their education

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What they’ve achieved:

Today, Ally runs aftercare and prevention services in Nepal, Laos, Cambodia, and Canada. For example, in 2021, their prevention programs reached nearly 4,300 community members in over 50 locations. In the same year, they offered case management to 250 child survivors across 12 safe homes. They also funded schooling for 345 students, provided scholarships to 25 graduates, and gave vocational training opportunities to 76 female victims of trafficking

Ways to contribute:

You can support Ally by donating on their website. You can also become a monthly donor by joining The Refuge community. In addition, you can join their Move for Freedom fundraising event or support their urban vision for Nepal. 

4

Logos Wilderness Therapy: Safe House in the Wilderness

Logo for Logos Wilderness Therapy
Making Foundational Healing a Reality

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Their transparency & ratings:

Charity Navigator gives Logos Wilderness Therapy a 95% score for Culture & Community. They also hold the Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

Our purpose is to see the fullness of freedom reimagined, restored, and reclaimed for survivors of sex trafficking and trauma.”

Logos Wilderness Therapy

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What they do:

Logos Wilderness Therapy runs programs that combine the power of community and the catalytic impact of nature on emotional healing. Their Reclaiming Freedom Program helps sex trafficking victims to start a holistic healing journey through week-long trips in the wilderness. During their stay, victims are guided by wilderness and mental health professionals in individual and group therapies. Furthermore, the charity’s clinical psychologists research and combine exercises for attachment and experiential therapy, plus interpersonal neurobiology, to empower survivors to reclaim their health and future opportunities.

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What they’ve achieved:

Since their inception, Logos Wilderness Therapy has continued to give critical emotional support to sex trafficking victims through holistic care. For example, in 2020, they offered around 60 hours of trauma-specific treatment to 21 participants across 3 therapy trips. In 2021, they purchased $8,000 worth of sustainable gear, such as tents and cooking equipment, to properly equip all victims during their stay. In the same year, they invested over $100,000 in trauma-focused therapy for 26 survivors.

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to Logos Wilderness Therapy on their website. You can also support a survivor’s trip through a direct donation or sponsorship. In addition, you can start their Commit 12 Challenge to raise funds and awareness of their work.

5

RAHAB Ministries: A Ministry of Hope 

Logo for
RAHAB - A Ministry of Hope

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Their transparency & ratings:

RAHAB Ministries has a 100% overall rating for Finance & Accountability from Charity Navigator. They also hold the Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

As an acronym for Reaching Above Hopelessness and Brokenness, our mission is to empower and fully restore human trafficking victims.”

RAHAB Ministries

⚒️

What they do:

RAHAB Ministries protects communities from sex trafficking by rehabilitating both child traffickers and their victims, as well as through awareness campaigns. Through their youth program, they support at-risk children and their families by providing weekly mentoring. They also work to rescue women jailed for prostitution and provide emergency drop-in homes in areas with drug activity and sex trafficking. Afterward, they place survivors in residential shelters and offer trauma-informed aftercare services. Furthermore, their transitional housing offers case management until adult victims become financially independent.

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What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, RAHAB Ministries has continued to support survivors of sex trafficking. For example, in 2021, they helped over 600 sex trafficked women with emergency housing in high-risk areas. They also rehabilitated 16 women from 9 counties in residential shelters. In the same year, they provided aftercare services to 11 girls in multiple child shelters and mentored 43 youth from 4 counties. In addition, their 182 volunteers supported survivors through over 3,000 hours of care.

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to RAHAB Ministries directly through their website. You can also support their survivors by donating care products, volunteering, or by applying for a job.

6

Refuge for Women: Hope Has a Home

Logo for Refuge for Women
There is Hope

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Their transparency & ratings:

Charity Navigator gives Refuge for Women a 100% score for Leadership & Adaptability and Culture & Community. GuideStar gives the Platinum Seal of Transparency to both the charity itself and their Emergency Housing Network.

Our mission is to empower sexually exploited women to live a life of freedom through faith-based, residential healing programs.

Refuge for Women

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What they do:

Refuge for Women restores victims of sex trafficking through personalized shelter programs that last around two years. After the rescue, survivors stay in emergency housing for three months and undergo group and individual therapy, recovery meetings, and other rehabilitation classes. They then move into residential homes to gain life skills like financial planning and personal growth programs. The women also receive the necessary tools for landing safe, sustainable employment. Furthermore, the charity’s transitional homes offer ongoing counseling and job assistance until survivors achieve financial independence.

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What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, Refuge for Women has served over 300 victims of sex trafficking across 24 states and opened 11 shelters nationwide. For example, in 2021, they gave 2,284 hours of counseling and over 800 medical services to 148 survivors. In the same year, their follow-up assessments revealed a 35% decrease in anxiety, PTSD, and depression for survivors that followed their therapeutic programs. In addition, around 90% of the women that finished their rehabilitation programs continued to live in stability, safety, and sobriety. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to Refuge for Women on their website. You can also donate to specific housing facilities across the US. In addition, you can buy their survivor-made products

7

Saving Innocence: End Child Sex Trafficking 

Logo for Saving Innocence
Be A Light

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Their transparency & ratings:

Saving Innocence has a 95% encompass rating from Charity Navigator, with a 100% score for Leadership & Adaptability. GuideStar gives them the Platinum Seal of Transparency. 

We serve, empower, and advocate for child victims of sex trafficking.

Saving Innocence

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What they do:

Saving Innocence partners with local law enforcement to rescue children from traffickers within 90 minutes of an emergency call. Afterward, they shelter the victims in residential homes and provide aftercare services like counseling, medical check-ups, and educational mentorship. They also offer legal support during trials and empower survivors to advocate for their rights. In addition, they connect child victims with resource families to support long-term personal development. They also conduct prevention campaigns in communities to recognize and respond to sex trafficking.

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What they’ve achieved:

Since their inception, Saving Innocence has continued to offer critical help to trafficked children across the US. For example, in 2021, they responded to 105 emergency rescue calls and served 352 children through case management services spanning over 322,000 hours of care. In the same year, they spent over 20,000 hours advocating for fair policies that would protect child victims. They also trained over 70,000 professionals to prevent trafficking in their communities. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to Saving Innocence directly on their website. You can also support them by buying their merchandise or hosting a fundraising event. In addition, you can become a Resource Parent and offer out-of-home care to child victims.

8

Compassion First: From Numbers to Names

Logo for Compassion First
Compassion First

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Their transparency & ratings:

Compassion First has a 77% overall score from Charity Navigator, with a 100% score for Leadership & Adaptability. They also hold the Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

For us, it is not enough that the victims simply survive the abuse. Our goal is to see them healed and restored.

Compassion First

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What they do:

Compassion First supports female survivors of sex trafficking through individual care and community outreach. They collaborate with local law enforcement to support rescues and legal investigations to prosecute traffickers. They also help the victims with legal advocacy and assistance during their trials. In addition, the charity shelters the girls in aftercare facilities where they provide psychological care, community support, and educational training using personalized programs for each girl’s needs. They also run community awareness projects to prevent further trafficking.

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What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, Compassion First has continued to protect victims of sex trafficking across the Indonesian Islands. For example, in 2020, they invested nearly $1,3 million in prevention and aftercare programs that supported 600 victims and their families. In the same year, they also expanded their influence in 3 new areas nationwide. In 2021, they served 19 girls in rehabilitation homes, helped 3 girls to graduate high school, and gave 48 education scholarships to vulnerable communities. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to Compassion First through their website. You can also contribute by fundraising, volunteering, or by advocating on social media.

9

The Samaritan Women Institute for Shelter Care: Because Survivors Deserve Excellent Care

Logo for The Samaritan Women Institute for Shelter Care
The Samaritan Women 2019 (Jeanne Allert)

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Their transparency & ratings:

The Samaritan Women Institute for Shelter Care has an 89% encompass rating from Charity Navigator, with a 100% score for Leadership & Adaptability. GuideStar gives them the Platinum Seal of Transparency. 

We want to ensure that any survivor, anywhere in the nation, has access to qualified, compassionate care.”

The Samaritan Women Institute for Shelter Care

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What they do:

The Samaritan Women Institute for Shelter Care protects victims of sex trafficking by coordinating and training ministries to open shelter programs nationwide. Their Ministry Fundamentals program helps participants to gain the tools they need to create dependable charities that would aid victims of human trafficking or other types of abuse. In addition, their Shelter Mentorship Program provides classes to help organizations to understand victim psychology and manage rescue operations. The program also teaches them proper case management and leadership skills.

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What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, the Samaritan Women Institute for Shelter Care has continued to offer vital support to female victims of human trafficking. For example, from 2011 to 2018, they provided aftercare services to tens of survivors of sex trafficking through trauma-informed programs. In the same period, they also reached over 3,500 community members nationwide with human trafficking awareness campaigns. In 2021, they funded over $255,000 into organization training and $241,000 for restorative services to support victims. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to the Samaritan Women Institute for Shelter Care directly on their website. You can also contribute by hosting a fundraising event or through workplace giving.

How Can You Select the Best Charities to Support?

The charities on the list are, we deem, the best charities that support survivors of human trafficking. However, you may have a particular charity you want to support. Let’s look at what you can do to ensure your contribution has the most significant impact.

  • Check out the charity website. Charities that are worthy of your donations are transparent in their mission and their figures. Familiarise yourself with their history, mission, and values. Their website usually is the best place to start.
  • Identify the charity’s mission. Without a goal, the charity is likely to fail. If the charity’s mission isn’t clear, it’s probably worth looking for a charity that does have a clear mission. 
  • Check if the charity has measurable goals. An effective charity has clear goals. You want to know your donation will help the charity reach its goals. But if it doesn’t have targets, it’s likely to fail or squander your gift. The charity should be able to account for its spending and supply evidence of the work they do.
  • Assess the successes or goals the charity has achieved. You wouldn’t invest in a business if it kept missing its targets. In the same way, charities are like this too. If no one is assessing a charity’s progress in reaching its targets, the chances are they’re not making a substantial positive change.
  • Check the charity’s financials and stats. Trustworthy organizations will publish financial statements and reports each year. Some might be exempt from having to do so, but they should be able to provide them to public members who are interested in donating.
  • Locate sources who work with or benefit from the charity. Word of mouth and first-hand experience of a charity’s work lets you know the charity’s quality. If you’re able to do so, check out the charity for yourself or speak to someone familiar with it. This way, your donation will go to the right place. 

How Can You Best Support These Charities?

After you’ve made your decision, it’s time for you to decide on how you’d like to help the charities you’ve chosen. Check how you can help – each charity runs specific programs that have unique aims. Find out what the aim of such programs is and whether they are right for you. 

Here are a few ways you can help your chosen charity:

  • Donate money. You can find donation pages on the website of most charities. Your donation can be a one-time payment, or you can set it to be deducted regularly at different intervals. You can mostly pay via credit card, but some charities also take PayPal or Bitcoin payments.
  • Buy their official merchandise. The charities can also raise money by selling merchandise. So, you can support them by buying the mugs, shirts, caps, pens, pencils, and any other such items they may be selling. Ideally, you should buy as much as you can to share and spread the word about the charity’s activities.
  • Engage in volunteer work. As you’ve seen from our descriptions above, some charities engage in a lot of local and grassroots programs. You can help by taking on and organizing the program in your local area.
  • Help their fundraising efforts. You can spread the word about the charity in your workplace, school, church, etc., and hold creative fundraising drives on social media or offline within your small circles.
  • Share their stories. Most charities have compelling stories that you can share with your audience to attract more people to the cause.

Final Thoughts

Now it is up to you to select the charity that resonates most with you. And whichever charity you end up choosing and contributing to, we are sure that they will immensely appreciate your support. Hopefully, the information within this article has made this selection process a bit easier for you to support charities dedicated to supporting survivors of human trafficking – based on the causes that matter most to you.

Stay impactful,

Illustration of a signature for Diana

PS: Finally, I want to leave you with a thought-provoking TED talk from Dan Pallotta, a leading philanthropic activist and fundraiser, about what is wrong with the way we think about charities – and what we can do about it:

The way we think about charity is dead wrong | Dan Pallotta

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