Nonprofit Gives $10M Cash to Abuse Survivors, 94% Thriving

When Sonya Passi founded FreeFrom in 2016, she made a bet that seemed almost too simple: give abuse survivors cash with no strings attached and trust them to rebuild their lives. Ten years and $10 million later, the results prove she was right.

The nonprofit gives survivors of gender-based violence direct cash transfers, often no more than $1,500. There are no receipts required, no explanations needed, and no judgment about how the money gets spent.

According to national statistics, one in two women and one in two transgender individuals will experience gender-based violence in their lifetimes. FreeFrom's mission centers on an idea that economic freedom is the key to escaping abuse.

The organization just released its 10-year impact report, and the numbers tell a powerful story. Among survivors surveyed who received cash assistance, 94% strengthened their social well-being and 93% improved their physical and psychological safety.

More than 90% made meaningful progress securing employment, stable housing, healthcare, and education. Before FreeFrom's support, half the survivors were in financial crisis; today that number dropped to just 10%.

"Survivors are incredibly resilient, resourceful, and know what they need," Passi told Good Good Good. "With a little bit of financial support, they are healing and getting to thriving."

The Ripple Effect

What surprised the organization most was how survivors used the freedom to transform areas FreeFrom wasn't even directly targeting. Without job placement services, 95% found employment. Without housing search assistance, 91% secured stable homes.

One survivor shared anonymously how the savings match program helped her escape at a critical moment. "The money went directly to putting a down payment on an apartment when my safety was at the most risk, and my abuser was threatening violence," she wrote.

Beyond direct services, FreeFrom has helped introduce more than 1,200 bills and pass over 220 pieces of legislation supporting survivor financial security across the United States. The organization recently received $2 million at Olivia Rodrigo's Daisy Chain Fields festival to continue expanding its reach.

The model proves that sometimes the best help means stepping back and trusting people to save themselves.