About NCADV

Board of Directors

Mission Statement and Purpose

The Mission of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) is to organize our collective power by advancing transformative work, thinking and leadership in communities and individuals who seek to end violence in our lives.

NCADV believes violence against women and children results from force or threat to achieve and maintain control in intimate relationships as well as from societal abuse of power and domination via sexism, racism, homophobia, classism, anti-Semitism, able-bodyism, ageism and other oppressions. NCADV recognizes abuse of power in society can foster battering by perpetuating conditions that condone violence against women and children.

NCADV's mission works for major societal changes necessary to eliminate both personal and societal violence against all women and children by:

• forming coalitions at the local, state, regional and national levels;
• supporting and providing  community-based, non-violent alternatives (safe home and shelter programs) for battered women and their children;
• public education and technical assistance;
• policy development and innovative legislation;
• focusing on its leaders and task forces that specifically represent the concerns of lesser-represented groups; and
• attempting to eradicate social conditions that contribute to violence against women and children.

NCADV serves to impact public policy and legislation that affects women and their children by:

• working with federal legislators to develop, pass and fund national policies (like the Violence Against Women Act) that address violence against women and children; and
• sponsoring conferences on domestic violence to provide a unique forum within the battered women’s movement for networking, dialogue, debate, leadership development and celebration

Principles of Unity

NCADV is comprised of people concerned about battered women and their families in both rural and urban areas. Our programs support and involve battered women regardless of race, societal class, religion or economic group, age or lifestyles. We oppose violence as a means of control over others, support equality in relationships and aim to help women regain power over their own lives. We strive toward becoming independent, community-based groups in which women make major policy and program decisions.

Summary of Organization's History

In 1978, over one hundred women's advocates came together in Washington, DC to attend the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights’ hearing on battered women.  NCADV was created at this historic event to unite advocates who had previously addressed in isolation the common problems their programs faced.  NCADV celebrates its 30th anniversary this year (2008) and remains the only national organization offering grassroots shelter and service programs for battered women.

NCADV, originally centered in Washington, DC, opened a new office in Denver, CO, in January 1992. The Denver office is now the central office, and the Washington office is NCADV's public policy center.

Today NCADV’s Board of Directors includes caucus representatives and at-large members nationwide who are active in domestic violence programs in their own communities that represent Battered/Formerly Battered Women, Women of Color, Rainbow Pride, Jewish Women, Child and Youth Advocacy, Rural Women and Queer Persons of Color.

Shelters did not exist for women in 1970.  Today there are more than 2,000 shelter and service programs in a national movement that believes women and their children are entitled to a safe environment free from violence and the threat of violence.