named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Court Advocacy
Provides support and representation for survivors navigating the legal system, ensuring their rights are protected and they are not criminalized for exploitation.
Educational Initiative
Supports survivors in pursuing education through enrollment in high school, GED/TASC preparation, and college; reported 73% of participants enrolled in high school and 54% in college in July 2018.
Holistic Case Management
Offers comprehensive, individualized support including mental health services, housing assistance, and life skills training to promote independence and healing.
Survivor Leadership Institute and Resource Center (SLI)
National program that fosters survivor leadership through professional development, community building, and authentic leadership opportunities; hosts the annual Emerging Leaders Conference and offers webinars, workshops, and exhibits.
Survivor’s Guide to Leaving Training
Two-day virtual training for professionals, led by GEMS’ CEO Rachel Lloyd, based on the VSL model; focuses on supporting survivors during the first year after leaving exploitation.
Transitional & Supportive Housing
Provides safe, stable housing for survivors as they transition out of exploitation and work toward economic sustainability.
Victim, Survivor, Leader™ (VSL) Program
Groundbreaking, award-winning model that supports survivors through trauma-informed, empowerment-based services centered on survivor leadership and transformational relationships; serves as the foundation for GEMS' direct services and national training.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Education 2 activities
- Advocacy for policy change to protect exploited youthLeads advocacy efforts resulting in landmark legislation, including co-writing and helping pass the New York State Safe Harbor for Exploited Youth Act—the first U.S. law to end the criminalization of commercially sexually exploited children—through survivor-led advocacy. Also hosted the first National Summit for Sexually Exploited Youth, the first survivor-led Congressional Briefing, and the first survivor-led legislative hearing in Albany.
- Capacity building and professional training on survivor-informed practicesDelivers national training programs for professionals and organizations working with survivors, including the Victim, Survivor, Leader™ (VSL™) training, Survivor’s Guide to Leaving, CSEC 101 Lite virtual training, and technical assistance to help agencies become survivor-informed and survivor-engaged. Trains thousands of professionals annually and supports the field through the national Survivor Leadership Institute and Resource Center.
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Domestic Violence Survivor Support Services 1 activity
- Direct support services for survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and domestic traffickingProvides comprehensive, long-term services to girls and young women, ages 12–29, affected by commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking, including outreach, case management, educational support, housing referrals, and material assistance such as toiletries, diapers, travel support, school enrollment, and vocational training funding. These services are grounded in the "Victim, Survivor, Leader" (VSL™) model and aim to support participants in exiting exploitation and achieving personal and professional development.
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Youth One-on-One Mentoring 1 activity
- Educational and leadership development programsOperates educational initiatives that support survivors in academic advancement, with data from July 2018 showing 73% high school enrollment, 54% college enrollment, and 46% pursuing GED/TASC credentials. Also hosts leadership conferences such as the Emerging Leaders Conference, which convened over 120 survivors from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico for professional and leadership development.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$5.49M
Contributions & grants$5.48M100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$1900%
Other revenue$3K
expenses
Total expenses$2.56M
Program expenses71%
Admin / overhead23%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$1.48M
Grants paid out$390K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.36M
Cash$2.26M
Investments$0
Liabilities$260K
Net assets$3.10M
Liquid reserves10.6 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +145.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 4
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RACHEL LLOYD | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 40 | $151K |
| VICTORIA EDMUND | RESIDENTIAL DIRECTOR | 40 | $123K |
| SADAF YOUSAF | CONTROLLER/FISCAL DIRECTOR | 40 | $107K |
| YVETTE VELEZ | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 23 | $75K |
board members · 5
- ADRIANA SANCHEZ — DIRECTOR
- GREGORY MORGAN — SECRETARY (FROM 08/24)
- LINDA BROOCKS — DIRECTOR
- RUBEN AUSTRIA — INTERIM CHAIR (FROM 07/24)
- VALARIED NICHOLAS — DIRECTOR
relationships · 9
Who they work with
- JuVee Productions Partner — Collaborating to produce a movie adaptation of Rachel Lloyd's book "Girls Like Us".
- New York State Government — Collaborated with state officials to co-write and pass the Safe Harbor for Exploited Youth Act.
- Prochaska and DiClemente Partner — Adapts the Stages of Change model developed by Prochaska and DiClemente for use in GEMS programming.
- Rachel Lloyd Partner — Founded GEMS in 1998 to support girls and young women who had been commercially sexually exploited
- Rachel Lloyd Partner — Founder and CEO of GEMS who leads trainings and develops programming.
- Rikers Partner — Visited Rikers prison to conduct outreach and support girls affected by commercial sexual exploitation.
- Survivor Leadership Institute and Resource Center Network — National center created by GEMS to support survivor leadership and engagement.
- Victoria Partner — Point of contact for housing referrals, indicating coordination with external referral sources.
- intake@gems-girls.org Partner — Point of contact for service referrals to GEMS
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Client-Centered, Experiential Learning Modelmethodology: client_centered_adult_learningBy using adult learning practices and client-written assessments, the organization increases engagement and self-determination because participants are treated as capable agents whose lived experience and autonomy are foundational to effective learning and program alignment.
- Survivor-Centered Transformation with Leadership Developmentmethodology: Victim_Survivor_LeaderBy guiding girls and young women through a structured Victim, Survivor, Leader™ (VSL) model, the organization fosters healing and self-sufficiency because it positions lived experience as central to personal recovery and systemic change, leveraging survivor leadership to build trust and model long-term success.
- Trauma-Informed, Systems-Change Approachmethodology: trauma_informed_systems_changeBy integrating trauma-informed care with an analysis of structural inequities—such as racism, poverty, and gender-based violence—the organization removes systemic barriers to healing and success because commercial sexual exploitation is understood as a symptom of broader social injustices, not individual pathology.