Give Support: Overview

Donate Now

DAIS relies heavily on support from friends and allies to make our work possible. Your contributions ensure the safety and survival of thousands of families every year. In the most literal sense, your support saves lives.

As a DAIS supporter, you become part of a lifeline of hope for people who need it most—people who live in overwhelming fear, who worry they may not live to see tomorrow. For more information please contact our Development Coordinator at (608) 251-1237, ext. 304.

Sonia's Story

Your support helps people like Sonia.^* Sonia’s marriage started happily. Her husband was charming; he was protective; he made her feel safe. Over time, protection turned to jealousy, and then it turned to rage. He hid their credit cards and checkbook; he told her every day she was worthless; he broke her arm when he couldn't find his keys. Each time, he apologized and begged for her forgiveness.

Last month, Sonia’s husband threatened to kill her. She worked up the courage to call the DAIS Crisis Line. When Sonia arrived at the DAIS shelter later that night, she was terrified. But here, she was safe. And here, she began to heal.

^* Names have been changed to protect client confidentiality.

You Make Our Help Possible

We help thousands of people like Sonia every year. Demand for our services is rising, and the severity of abuse reported by our clients is escalating.

But the future is bright because there are people like you—compassionate people from across Dane County who say yes to hope and no to fear.

Thanks to you, we were here in the night when Sonia needed us. Thanks to you, we will be here tomorrow. And the next day, and the day after that. Until everyone across our community lives free of violence and fear.

Ways to Give

DAIS Makes a Difference

In recent months, the demand for DAIS services has risen sharply. For example, DAIS served more people in the first three quarters of 2008 than in all of 2007.

That trend has continued in 2009. In the first quarter of 2009, DAIS experienced:

a 53% increase in demand for Children’s Program services
a 44% increase in demand for emergency shelter
a 74% increase demand for our Crisis Response Program

Across the board, virtually all of our programs are seeing record-breaking levels of need.

In addition, the severity of abuse being reported by DAIS clients has escalated and deepened:

DAIS has seen victims of more brutal violence than ever before—victims with more severe injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, victims of more violent sexual assaults, and abusers who are using weapons more often.
Abusers are becoming more brazen in their abuse—hurting their victims in public places, leaving bruises on areas of their victims’ bodies that can be easily seen.
DAIS clients are expressing more fear than ever before and are feeling more desperate as other resources available to them in the community are diminishing. We've seen more clients who are suicidal.
An increasing number of our clients are telling us that their abusers have made death threats against them.
Clients are also reporting that it is harder to leave their abusers because of the financial crisis.

DAIS services are crucial to the health and safety of our entire community. At the end of the day, we think of our work as homicide prevention—vital for people who have nowhere else to turn.

How Your Gift Helps

Almost one-quarter of our expenses are covered by individual donations from people like you. Gifts of all sizes can make a huge difference. For example:

$1,000 covers the cost of personal care items for women and children living in our shelter.
$500 pays for one week of coverage for the Help Line.
$400 covers the cost of food for 25 shelter residents for one week.
$120 funds holiday gifts for a family staying in our shelter.
$50 covers the cost of a lock change for a Crisis Response client.
$15 pays for round-trip cab fare for a shelter resident to attend a follow-up medical appointment, or a community member to attend the DAIS Drop-In Community Support Group.
$12 helps a survivor obtain a copy of her child’s birth certificate, necessary for accessing government assistance or transferring children across state lines.