How the Smart Family Fund Helped the Brave House Scale Its Impact and Attract Transformative Funding
In New York City, young immigrant and refugee women face daunting challenges—from legal hurdles to social isolation. The Brave House exists to provide these women, ages 16-24, with the resources, community, and support they need to thrive. But in 2021, the Brave House was at a crossroads. This is when the Smart Family Fund (SFF) stepped in.
What Angel Philanthropy Means for Us
Angel Philanthropy is about identifying and catalyzing organizations on the brink of major breakthroughs. For the Brave House, SFF provided not just funding but also the tools and strategies to cross the chasm from promising startup to scalable organization.
Where the Brave House Was When We Found Them
Three years into their mission, the Brave House had made an undeniable impact, supporting nearly 100 young immigrant women from 14 countries with legal advocacy, mentorship, and wellness programs. However, with annual revenue capped at $172,000 and no centralized system for tracking outcomes, they couldn’t measure or communicate their impact effectively. SFF saw an opportunity to bridge this gap and set the Brave House on a path to long-term growth and sustainability.
How We Helped the Brave House Cross the Chasm and Grow Their Impact by 250% in Two Years
In 2021, SFF made a targeted investment to help the Brave House build a custom Salesforce database to track member demographics, advocacy cases, and program outcomes. With this infrastructure, the Brave House:
Logged over 1,200 advocacy cases, tracking services like housing support, mentorship, and legal aid.
Increased their capacity to support 350+ women annually—a 250% growth in two years.
Leveraged data to attract new funding and professionalize their fundraising efforts, growing from 303 donors in 2021 to 997 donors in 2024.
This infusion of strategic funding also allowed the Brave House to strengthen its development team and secure partnerships with corporate sponsors.
Unlocking Transformative Funding from Major Institutions
With SFF’s support, the Brave House transitioned from a promising grassroots organization to a competitive contender for major philanthropic funding. They secured grants from leading institutions, including the Robin Hood Foundation, Upwork Foundation, and Keith Haring Foundation.
A Healing Haven for Over 500 Women Annually
Today, the Brave House is poised to serve 500 women annually by 2025, with an annual revenue exceeding $500,000. They’ve partnered with organizations like Google,Microsoft, and Kirkland & Ellis to bring pro bono legal aid and mentorship into their community and are expanding their hub in Brooklyn to house multilingual staff and a "Healing Room" for wellness and mental health services.
Looking Ahead
With a foundation of sustainable funding and a clear vision for growth, the Brave House is creating a brighter future for New York City’s immigrant and refugee women.
The Smart Family Fund’s role here is complete. As the Brave House steps into its next chapter, SFF is moving on to support the next generation of transformative organizations.