Read our Social Issue Report on empowering victims of domestic violence, which includes an overview of the social issue, an investment recommendation, information on the return on investment, and ways to take further action.

85 percent of domestic violence victims are women. Although violence is manifested differently, women of all ages, nationalities, economic classes, and ethnic groups are affected. High-performing organizations use the empowerment approach, which places the change agency with the victims, to help them cope with abuse, plan for safety, and develop self-esteem.

Domestic violence, or intimate partner violence, is a willful single occurrence or a pattern of abusive behavior employing coercion, threat, intimidation, isolation, power or fear that results in physical, psychological or emotional trauma. This report focuses on abuse perpetrated by males against their female partners.

Learn more about empowering victims of domestic violence in Massachusetts and New York.

Check out our Guide to Giving for donors and funders interested in empowering victims of domestic violence.

ABOUT SOCIAL ISSUE RESEARCH:

Social Issue Research (SIR) reports are a resource to help donors and funders learn about specific social issues affecting at-risk populations and identify high-performing organizations that are addressing those issues. Drawing on research and interviews with experts representing government, academia, nonprofits, and foundations, social issue reports provide an overview of the issue, populations affected by it, approaches to address it, and investment recommendations on how donors and funders can take action. The report is complemented by state reports that frame the issue in the local context and a method – a guide for donors – that provides criteria to evaluate organizations working to address the issue.