Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) is a time to reflect on the history of the anti-sexual violence movement and where it still needs to go. It is a movement built on the backs of advocates who challenged themselves to present bold, innovative, culture-shifting approaches to prevention, accountability, and destigmatizing when survivors of sexual assault and harassment speak up. 10 years ago, RALIANCE followed in these footsteps by forging our own unique path to education, prevention, and accountability. Our business model of working within sport, workplace, and other organizational environments to disrupt the cycle of sexual violence has opened so many unique avenues for us. In honor of SAAM and our 10 years of operation, we are reflecting on how we have and will continue to be survivor-centered and advocate for a future free of sexual violence.
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) SAAM 2025 theme is, “Together We Act, United We Change.” Week by week, NSVRC challenges SAAM supporters to understand that:
-education is the foundation for progress
-having a shared understanding of sexual violence leads to solutions
-survivors must be championed
-communities must be equipped with the right prevention tools, and
-momentum must continue long after SAAM is over.
This lays out the basic blueprint for anti-sexual violence advocacy, and RALIANCE has consistently engaged in all of these points. Below are just some of the actions RALIANCE has taken over the past decade.
Our Grant Program
One of the most heartening areas of our work is the opportunity to pay it forward to the organizations and grassroots activists in our field through our grant program. This year, we awarded $300,000 to six grantees across the United States. In total, we have awarded nearly $4 million in grants to innovative, deserving programs and organizations engaged in survivor protection and sexual violence prevention. Many of these programs work in the communities where they are located, and that is a deliberate choice to both accommodate for the serious budget cuts faced by these programs and to show that sexual violence is an issue that requires community-based solutions.
Our Taxonomy
Workplace sexual misconduct can be difficult for organizations to understand and process. To support the understanding and processing of reports of sexual misconduct, RALIANCE developed a taxonomy (a system of categorization) which includes standardized language and descriptions for organizational use. RALIANCE works with our clients to incorporate the taxonomy into their overall reporting procedures. Â
Our Partnerships Across Industries
Initially, RALIANCE was heavily involved in collaborating with the sport sector as an avenue towards sexual violence prevention. While we still work with these organizations (and have designated the Sport + Prevention Center segment of our site to issues that relate most to their structures), we have grown to also include corporate in-person, remote, and app-based environments. The partnerships with our clients have varied, occupying prominent spaces in industries like hospitality, tourism, rideshare, technology, and more. Our diversified clientele shows that the demand to end sexual misconduct is universal, that allies can be found anywhere, and everyone is capable of change.
Our Sponsorship of National Sexual Assault Conference® (NSAC)Â
Anyone invested in sexual violence prevention must be plugged in to the needs of survivors today and collaborate with advocates to find mutual solutions for accountability, prevention, and victim services. NSAC affords all these opportunities, which is why we are so proud to have been a sponsor of the conference for the past several years. In addition to sponsoring, RALIANCE has hosted workshops in our areas of expertise and have formed many incredible bonds with conference attendees.
Our Support and Creation of Academic Research
Education is at the foundation of all advocation, and there is no education without substantive research. This is why we have offered our support to research that promotes a better understanding of sexual violence to the public, as well as creating our own publications. These works include Tulane University’s Newcomb Institute’s study, #MeToo 2024: A National Study of Sexual Harassment and Assault in the United States and the special issue, The Prevention of Sexual Violence in Sport: A Real Game Changer of the Journal of Interpersonal Violence in which RALIANCE staff authored several articles. More of our papers can be found at our Sport + Prevention Center research page.
Our Rape Crisis Center Directory
We are aware that people who visit our website may be survivors themselves, know someone in need of survivor services, or want to know what organizations are in their area as a precaution. Therefore, RALIANCE has been dedicated to maintaining a public Directory of Rape Crisis Centers across the United States to ease that search.
Our Public Support of Federal Policy
RALIANCE is aware that legislation dramatically impacts survivor options and workplace obligations regarding workplace sexual misconduct. This is why we have used our voice to be a proud champion of legislation we support like the BE HEARD Act and the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021. We encourage other workplaces to be tuned in to and advocate for similar legislative measures that promote survivor safety and expand survivor reporting options.
The Way Forward
With a decade under our belt, we have learned how valuable the work is, that others are willing to join the table with us, and that a safer, more respectful future is possible when powerful entities meaningfully engage with sexual misconduct, harassment, and abuse experts like RALIANCE. In the spirit of SAAM, we pledge to continue our mission. Together, we act. United, we change.
RALIANCE is a trusted adviser for organizations committed to building cultures that are safe, equitable, and respectful. RALIANCE offers unparalleled expertise in serving survivors of sexual harassment, misconduct, and abuse which drives our mission to help organizations across sectors create inclusive environments for all. For more information, please visit www.RALIANCE.org.
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