2025 Impact Report

Healing, Stability, and Pathways to Purpose

Impact At A Glance - 2025 Impact

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See Our 2025 Impact Report

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Program Progress in 2025

In 2025, BraveWorks continued to strengthen its core trauma-informed programs, supporting women as they transition from healing to workforce readiness. Our core program ETCH remained the foundation of healing by helping women develop confidence, regulate emotions, build healthy connections, and strengthen their sense of identity and purpose.

FY2025 also marked the launch of EMERGE , the second phase of our core programming. Together, ETCH and EMERGE form a powerful pathway that bridges healing and economic empowerment, laying the groundwork that transitions seamlessly into our FY2026 program, The Brave Way.

Phase One

ETCH - Healing Through Creativity & Community

Focuses on emotional healing and stability through:

  • Trauma-informed group sessions
  • Jewelry-making and creative expression
  • Peer support and community connection
Phase two

EMERGE -Trauma-Informed Workforce Development

Helps women build economic stability through:

  • Workforce readiness training
  • Soft-skills development
  • Job preparation and professional confidence

Beads of Bravery - Community Program

We launched Beads of Bravery, an eight week outreach program bringing trauma-informed healing into the community. Each woman designed her own Brave Bracelet, symbolizing resilience and her next brave step. This introductory healing experience empowers women to begin their for women to begin their journey.

Participants explored:

  • Confidence
  • Emotional
  • Awareness
  • Triggers
  • Boundaries

Beads of Bravery is opening doors for new partnerships, reaching women who may not yet be ready for a full program but are seeking a safe place to start their healing journey.

Goal Achievement - Stability Impact

The chart illustrates the number of artisans who identified employment, education, and housing stability as goals and either obtained, maintained, or are on track to achieve them within the next six months.

Stability Outcomes Among Active Participants

Financial Impact

Expenses

BraveWorks remained strongly program-focused in FY2025, investing the majority of resources directly into trauma-informed services and support for women. This breakdown reflects a strong commitment to mission delivery while maintaining healthy infrastructure and fundraising capacity to sustain and grow our work.

Revenue

BraveWorks’ revenue in FY2025 came from a diverse mix of funding sources, supporting both stability and growth. This blend of philanthropy, earned revenue, and community partnerships helps BraveWorks sustain trauma-informed programming while building long-term resilience and flexibility.

Looking Ahead FY2026

Deepening Healing. Strengthening Stability. Expanding Impact.

As BraveWorks looks ahead to Fiscal Year 2026, we remain grounded in our mission to empower and equip women overcoming trauma, bridging the gap between pain and purpose. Building on the growth and learning of FY2025, the year ahead will center on strengthening our therapeutic framework, reinforcing workforce pathways, and expanding access to trauma-informed, healing-centered programming.

FY2026 represents a deliberate shift toward greater cohesion, consistency, and sustainability across the organization. BraveWorks is aligning every part of the organization around a deeper, longer-term impact for local women. The Brave Way is sustained support and a program-first model that allows healing, stability, and skill-building to happen over time.

Introducing The Brave Way

In FY2025, s laid the groundwork for The Brave Way, a one-year pathway launching in FY2026.

This model combines and extends our current core programs, ETCH and EMERGE, adding additional time and a final phase called EMBODY, focused on long-term stability. By integrating trauma-informed healing, creative skill-building, and trauma-informed workforce development.

As we look ahead to Fiscal Year 2026, The Brave Way will become the central program model, offering women a cohesive, therapeutic journey from stabilization to long-term economic and emotional resilience.

Key Priorities for FY2026

  1. Full Implementation of The Brave Way: We will launch The Brave Way as our central year-long program model, offering a structured, trauma-informed journey that integrates healing, creative expression, workforce development, and individualized case management.
  2. Strengthening the Therapeutic Framework: Continuing to build a cohesive, trauma-informed approach across all programs, ensuring alignment between group support, creative practices, workforce training, and one-on-one case management.
  3. Expand Workforce & Employer Partnerships: Deepen existing partnerships with employers such as Lowe’s and Harris Teeter, while exploring additional opportunities that provide women with stable, dignified employment and long-term economic mobility.
  4. Grow Community-Based Programming: Expand programs like Beads of Bravery to reach women earlier in their healing journey and offer accessible, introductory pathways that foster confidence, connection, and readiness for deeper engagement.
  5. Invest in Sustainability & Organizational Capacity: Strengthen infrastructure, diversify funding sources, and build partnerships to ensure BraveWorks can continue serving women with excellence, integrity, and long-term impact.

BraveWorks is strengthening and refining its service model to focus on long-term impact for local women. Programming is placed firmly at the center of the organization, with retail and space decisions aligned to support that work. BraveWorks remains committed to walking alongside women healing from trauma as they rebuild their lives and pursue economic independence. We are now better positioned to deliver lasting outcomes and amplify our impact on the community.