COALITION TO ABOLISH SLAVERY AND TRAFFICKING
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COALITION TO ABOLISH SLAVERY AND TRAFFICKING
EIN: 10-0008533
as of November 2023
as of November 13, 2023
Mission
Cast's mission is ending human trafficking through education, advocacy and empowering survivors.
Ruling year
2003
CEO
Kay Buck
Main address
3580 Wilshire Blvd. #900-37
Los Angeles, CA 90010 USA
EIN
10-0008533
Information and communications
Public safety
Freedom from slavery
Social rights
Justice rights
Population served
People of African descent
People of Latin American descent
At-risk youth
Victims and oppressed people
Domestic workers
NTEE code
Victims' Services (P62)
Ethnic/Immigrant Services (P84)
Civil Rights, Advocacy for Specific Groups (R20)
IRS subsection
501(c)(3) Public Charity
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Tax forms
Communication
Programs and results
Reports and documents
Download annual reportsWhat we aim to solve
Modern-day slavery is the hidden horror of Los Angeles. According to the Center for Public Policy Studies, there are as many as 10,000 women, men, and children across the city held against their will, forced into sex, work, or both through physical, psychological, or economic coercion. The trauma is unimaginable to those who have not experienced it—trafficking saps already vulnerable people of their most basic forms of independence and control over their own lives. Even if a trafficked person is freed, he or she will bear the scars of the experience for a lifetime, and will require countless hours of caring, support, and empowerment to begin to become whole again. Trafficking is everywhere in our lives, often hiding in plain sight or just out of view. Victims of labor trafficking wash dishes at our favorite restaurants, pick the tomatoes we savor, and stitch that cute new top by hand, all for little or no pay. We may have no idea that there are victims of sex trafficking at the truck
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Social Services
Clients come to CAST in a variety of ways, including community- and faith-based organizations (CBOs/FBOs), law enforcement agencies (LEAs), Good Samaritans, and self referrals. Upon intake, the CAST staff assesses for emergency needs, such as housing, clothing, food, and safety, followed by a comprehensive assessment and legal interview that also address safety. Attorneys then evaluate the legal needs and provide each client with the necessary education and information to make an informed choice about how to proceed with their case.
Combined social, shelter, and legal services are what continue to set CAST apart. To date, we remain the only organization in the country that offers all three branches of services in-house. We know that victims cannot become survivors without all three—a social service advocate to ensure access to benefits and services and to provide supportive counseling, validation, and normalization; a shelter or housing program to ensure basic necessities are provided; and finally, critical legal services that assist victims in navigating complex criminal, civil, immigration, and other legal proceedings that ultimately deliver the person to full status and work authorization.
Legal Services
CAST attorneys empower survivors to assert their legal rights and choose appropriate remedies to rebuild their lives. The legal services program works collaboratively with survivors, community-based organizations, public-interest attorneys and numerous government agencies to ensure survivors of human trafficking are provided culturally-sensitive, victim-centered legal representation.
Along with its in-house legal team, CAST's pro bono attorneys dedicate their time and talent assisting with immigration advocacy, criminal victim-witness advocacy, civil litigation, family law and cutting edge policy initiatives.
Shelter Program
CAST’s shelters provide physically and psychologically safe housing for trafficking survivors. Through a host of supportive programs and services, they are designed to provide emergency response, and to then help clients establish independence and self-sufficiency, to build community and to expand their own supportive networks.
The shelters offer 12+ months of transitional housing, case management, a financial savings program, social and cultural activities, group therapy, supportive counseling and more. Shelter residents are also taught skills in conflict resolution, job training, independent living and financial planning. The shelter is also home to an outdoor sanctuary filled with fruit trees and a garden where residents can plant herbs and spices to use in their cooking and provide a taste of home. Admission is based on safety, current needs and the availability.
Youth Program
CAST recognizes the specialized needs of minor and transition age youth (TAY) survivors of human trafficking and developed specific youth-focused programming. Youth services include monthly group activities focused on empowerment, positive experiences and education; comprehensive case management with interventions geared towards youth; and individual assistance navigating various systems, including the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services and Probation Department, when necessary. In addition, the program offers internships for Transition-Aged Youth (TAY), which seek to build job skills and professional development through direct work experience and mentorship.
Survivor Leadership Program
CAST’s work is directly informed by the real experiences of the clients it serves. The survivor leadership programs, Survivor Advisory Caucus (launched in 2003) and National Survivor Network (launched in 2011), bring together a community of survivors of human trafficking for peer-to-peer mentorship and survivor-led advocacy. Their voices on policy and public awareness have led to the development of stronger protections for victims in both California and federal anti-trafficking laws. By connecting survivors across the country, CAST supports and encourages survivors to realize their own leadership qualities and to value their insight, not just as survivors, but as experts in the field.
The accomplishments of the members of the Caucus and NSN, both individually and collectively, over the past year are tremendous. In 2016, nine members were appointed by President Obama to the newly established U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking. The 11-member council advises the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (PITF) and offers survivor-centered policy recommendations to both the White House and U.S. Congress on federal efforts to combat and prevent human trafficking.
Members also participated in policy advocacy efforts at the federal, state and local levels, including: Congressional hearings on the long-term impact of criminalization of human trafficking survivors, state Senate hearings on behalf of CAST-sponsored criminal justice reform legislation and government oversight board meetings on lost income compensation. In addition, CAST's staff and survivor leaders were invited by the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) to develop the "Survivor Professional Development Training Curriculum," which aims to strengthen the impact survivor advocates across the country can have in the anti-trafficking movement.
Equally impressive is the group's media advocacy. Members have shared their unique experiences, impressive accomplishments and remarkable expertise through opinion editorials for CNN, expert commentary on MSNBC and featured profiles by the BBC.
Training and Technical Assistance Program
CAST’s Comprehensive Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) program is designed to provide expertise and training for service advocates on the full spectrum of legal remedies available to human trafficking victims through individualized technical assistance, in-person training and regular working group calls. CAST TTA is now offering free support to attorneys and social service providers assisting trafficking survivors with legal needs in the following areas of law: immigration, criminal re-entry, reporting to law enforcement, ethics, criminal victim witness advocacy, program support, referrals, civil and more.
Through this program, CAST's TTA team established a toll-free hotline and dedicated email to respond to breaking requests for technical assistance from both legal and social service providers. For case specific questions or individualized technical assistance for attorneys and social service providers, contact TTA (email preferred) weekdays between 9 AM – 5 PM PST. Please allow for 48 hours turn-around time.
Where we work
Awards
Community Partnership Award - National Winner 2019
Mutual of America Foundation
Presidential Award for Extraordinary Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons 2014
Office of the President of the United States
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of human trafficking survivors and family members served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Victims and oppressed people
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Number of human trafficking survivors and their family members who received services from Cast, including hotline support, emergency support, case management, referrals, legal services and shelter.
Percent (%) of Cast program graduates with safe housing
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Social Services
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Percent of survivors of human trafficking who were in safe housing when they graduated from Cast's case management program this year. Cast social workers support survivors to access housing etc.
Percent (%) of successful T-visa applications for survivors of human trafficking
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Legal Services
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
A T visa is a type of visa allowing certain victims of human trafficking and immediate family members to remain and work temporarily in the United States. Cast attorneys work with survivors to apply.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Cast's mission is ending human trafficking through education, advocacy and empowering survivors.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Recognizing that the damage trafficking does is multifaceted and enduring, Cast offers a comprehensive continuum of care, including social and medical services (case management; 24-hour emergency response; the nation's first shelter exclusively for trafficking victims; safety planning; mental and legal health services; vision and dental care; family reunification; life skills, education and leadership training; and job preparedness) as well as legal services (full service support with victim identification/certification; criminal witness advocacy; immigration assistance; family law; educational advocacy; assistance applying for T-visas and accessing housing and public benefits that remove barriers to employment and self-sufficiency). What is unique about Cast, though, is how these social, medical, and legal services funnel into a leadership and advocacy model that empowers survivors to shape public policy and public dialogue, and to become powerful voices at the forefront of the anti-trafficking movement.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
As the oldest and largest anti-slavery organization in Los Angeles County, Cast is well-positioned to accomplish its mission.
We have a well-trained, vibrant staff that can meet the needs of the population we serve. Every social worker on the CAST staff speaks at least two languages, and we have staff who are fluent in Spanish and other languages. In the event that we identify a victim who does not speak one of these languages, we partner with an agency that serves the relevant community and ask them to provide a certified translator as well as guidance on cultural norms. Even on our 24-hour hotline, Cast invested in a long-standing relationship with Tele-interpreters, which provides access to over 100 languages and dialects.
CAST meets the highest standards of transparency and accountability, including independent audits and program evaluation, documented board policies and minutes, and transparent human resources and compensation policies. The organization maintains sound financial and programmatic management. Cast has a 4-star Charity Navigator rating, driven by administrative expenses of less than 14%, fundraising expenses of only 12%, and a fundraising efficiency ratio of 10 cents spent for every dollar raised.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Founded in 1998 in response to the discovery of 72 Thai workers that had been kept for years in slavery and debt bondage in Los Angeles County, Cast has been at the forefront of the issue in Los Angeles, California, and across the U.S. Today, through partnerships with over 100 cultural and faith-based community groups, healthcare organizations, government agencies and law enforcement, Cast provides support to more than 1,600 survivors (and their family members) annually at every phase of their journeys to independence.
Cast has consistently been at the forefront of protecting the rights of trafficking victims, including developing and pushing for innovations such as the first-ever U.S. shelter solely for human trafficking survivors; a new model for serving trafficked children and young people transitioning out of foster care; a trauma-informed care framework for organizations serving trafficking victims; and a Survivor Advisory Council to the White House.
Among our accomplishments are a 2013 invitation to speak independently to the United Nations on human trafficking, a 2014 Presidential Award for Extraordinary Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons, our Executive Director being named the Los Angeles Visionary in C Suite Quarterly, and an Outstanding Non-Profit award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2017.
Moving forward, Cast is focused on scaling up its efforts to change the policies and systems that make trafficking possible. This includes training survivors to serve as leaders and spokespeople in the anti-trafficking movement, establishing partnerships with policymakers to ensure they have a complete understanding of the issue, and working with corporate partners to eradicate trafficking from their supply chains.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get honest feedback from the people we serve
Financials
Financial documents
Download audited financialsRevenue vs. expenses: breakdown
Liquidity in 2022 info
0.51
Months of cash in 2022 info
3.2
Fringe rate in 2022 info
21%
Funding sources info
Assets & liabilities info
Financial data
COALITION TO ABOLISH SLAVERY AND TRAFFICKING
Revenue & expensesFiscal Year: Jul 01 - Jun 30
COALITION TO ABOLISH SLAVERY AND TRAFFICKING
Balance sheetFiscal Year: Jul 01 - Jun 30
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.
COALITION TO ABOLISH SLAVERY AND TRAFFICKING
Financial trends analysis Glossary & formula definitionsFiscal Year: Jul 01 - Jun 30
This snapshot of COALITION TO ABOLISH SLAVERY AND TRAFFICKING’s financial trends applies Nonprofit Finance Fund® analysis to data hosted by GuideStar. While it highlights the data that matter most, remember that context is key – numbers only tell part of any story.
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Business model indicators
| Profitability info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) before depreciation | $167,668 | $463,688 | $1,181,412 | $836,072 | $803,941 |
| As % of expenses | 4.2% | 11.0% | 25.6% | 15.3% | 10.5% |
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) after depreciation | $126,999 | $421,996 | $1,152,177 | $807,643 | $670,551 |
| As % of expenses | 3.1% | 9.9% | 24.8% | 14.7% | 8.6% |
| Revenue composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenue (unrestricted & restricted) | $4,097,001 | $4,718,003 | $5,522,796 | $6,262,222 | $9,121,198 |
| Total revenue, % change over prior year | 8.9% | 15.2% | 17.1% | 13.4% | 45.7% |
| Program services revenue | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Membership dues | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Investment income | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Government grants | 51.4% | 58.2% | 62.0% | 65.2% | 67.6% |
| All other grants and contributions | 47.7% | 41.6% | 37.7% | 34.7% | 32.2% |
| Other revenue | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Expense composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses before depreciation | $4,009,389 | $4,201,866 | $4,612,872 | $5,478,013 | $7,649,110 |
| Total expenses, % change over prior year | 7.1% | 4.8% | 9.8% | 18.8% | 39.6% |
| Personnel | 59.1% | 66.1% | 68.3% | 62.6% | 55.8% |
| Professional fees | 16.7% | 12.2% | 10.0% | 8.8% | 10.9% |
| Occupancy | 4.9% | 5.3% | 5.2% | 4.0% | 3.2% |
| Interest | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Pass-through | 6.3% | 5.2% | 5.7% | 16.6% | 20.6% |
| All other expenses | 13.0% | 11.2% | 10.8% | 8.1% | 9.5% |
| Full cost components (estimated) info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses (after depreciation) | $4,050,058 | $4,243,558 | $4,642,107 | $5,506,442 | $7,782,500 |
| One month of savings | $334,116 | $350,156 | $384,406 | $456,501 | $637,426 |
| Debt principal payment | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $743,761 |
| Fixed asset additions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $3,595,869 | $0 |
| Total full costs (estimated) | $4,384,174 | $4,593,714 | $5,026,513 | $9,558,812 | $9,163,687 |
Capital structure indicators
| Liquidity info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Months of cash | 1.3 | 1.0 | 4.3 | 5.2 | 3.2 |
| Months of cash and investments | 1.3 | 1.0 | 4.3 | 5.2 | 3.2 |
| Months of estimated liquid unrestricted net assets | 1.6 | 2.8 | 5.6 | 6.5 | 5.6 |
| Balance sheet composition info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $445,460 | $349,129 | $1,650,509 | $2,387,548 | $2,052,597 |
| Investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Receivables | $1,303,605 | $1,833,501 | $2,021,583 | $2,086,322 | $3,192,217 |
| Gross land, buildings, equipment (LBE) | $945,909 | $953,581 | $953,581 | $4,445,607 | $4,445,607 |
| Accumulated depreciation (as a % of LBE) | 23.9% | 28.1% | 31.2% | 5.0% | 8.0% |
| Liabilities (as a % of assets) | 13.9% | 12.3% | 22.8% | 53.3% | 43.6% |
| Unrestricted net assets | $1,247,005 | $1,669,001 | $2,821,178 | $3,628,821 | $4,299,372 |
| Temporarily restricted net assets | $926,834 | $927,351 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Permanently restricted net assets | $25,000 | $25,000 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Total restricted net assets | $951,834 | $952,351 | $570,884 | $460,450 | $1,041,242 |
| Total net assets | $2,198,839 | $2,621,352 | $3,392,062 | $4,089,271 | $5,340,614 |
Key data checks
| Key data checks info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material data errors | No | No | No | No | No |
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Documents
CEO
Kay Buck
Fueled by her passion for justice, Kay has over 25 years of experience leading anti-trafficking initiatives in the United States and abroad. Joining the Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST) in 2003, Kay leads one of the longest-running anti-slavery organizations in the United States, serving thousands of survivors and their families with comprehensive care to rebuild their lives and impact systemic change to prevent human trafficking. Kay is responsible for opening the first shelter for trafficked women in the country and creating CAST’s one-of-a-kind survivor leadership program, which empowers and trains survivors to use their voices collectively to inform public policy and social change, resulting in better laws to combat trafficking.
Number of employees
Source: IRS Form 990
COALITION TO ABOLISH SLAVERY AND TRAFFICKING
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
COALITION TO ABOLISH SLAVERY AND TRAFFICKING
Highest paid employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
COALITION TO ABOLISH SLAVERY AND TRAFFICKING
Board of directorsas of 09/21/2023
Board of directors data
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Steven Hirsh
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Linda Lopez
Social Impact Consultant
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Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 01/19/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
Contractors
Fiscal year endingProfessional fundraisers
Fiscal year endingSOURCE: IRS Form 990 Schedule G
Solicitation activities
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- Financial statements for 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019
- Letter of Determination
- Officer and/or Employee data for 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018
- Contractor and/or Paid Preparer data for 2022, 2021, 2020
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