Welcome to the APA Marketplace! By Advocates, For Advocates.

About Us


ABOUT ADVOCATES PAYING ADVOCATES

The Advocates Paying Advocates Marketplace is the first digital marketplace built specifically for advocates and survivor-leaders supporting adults, children, and youth survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and trafficking. Share your training materials, templates, toolkits, and resources with advocates, leaders, volunteers, educators, businesses, and communities who need them - and earn income doing it.

OUR MISSION

Our mission: Supported advocates = sustained movement. We're building a communal economy where advocates support one another through knowledge sharing, fair compensation, and economic empowerment.

For 40+ years, advocates in the violence prevention movement have been the backbone of survivor services. The work is essential, and the dedication is unwavering. Yet many advocates seek additional pathways to financial stability while continuing to do work they love.

The APA Marketplace creates economic opportunities that help advocates to:

  • Build supplemental income streams while staying employed in mission-driven advocacy roles
  • Develop independent consulting businesses aligned with their expertise
  • Share knowledge through training materials, templates, and toolkits
  • Connect with a community of professional peers who understand the work and the movement

HOW IT WORKS

For Creators:

Upload your resources to the marketplace, set your prices, and earn 85-90% commission on every sale. Access the Creator's Guild (with Pro Creator membership) or Free Community for support, training, and professional development. Choose between two pathways based on your goals.

For Buyers:

Browse resources created by experienced advocates who understand your work. Purchase training materials, templates, tools, and guides that save you time and strengthen your programs. All purchases support advocates building economic stability.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Free Community

All creators have access to our Free Community for peer support, marketplace updates, and connection with colleagues.

Creator's Guild (Included with Pro Creator Membership - $29/month)

Pro Creator members receive access to the Creator's Guild, featuring monthly training sessions, co-working spaces, accountability groups, and advanced creator resources.

Business Guild (Separate Membership - $47/month)

Entrepreneurs on the Business Journey can join the Business Guild for business development support, strategic planning resources, marketing guidance, and networking opportunities.

ABOUT DAWSON VISIONARY ENTERPRISES

The APA Marketplace is operated by Dawson Visionary Enterprises (DVE), LLC, a woman-owned consulting firm founded by Shawndell Dawson. With 28 years of experience in survivor advocacy, coalition building, training, and technical assistance, and 15 years managing federal grants totaling over $1 billion in direct services funding and serving over 1.3 million survivors annually, DVE understands both the challenges advocates face and the incredible value of their expertise.

DVE's mission is to create economic pathways that support advocates and survivor-leaders while strengthening the movement to end violence against women, children, and people. We add resources to the field that honor the 40+ years of critical advocacy, violence prevention, and safety support for survivors while creating new opportunities for economic empowerment and strengthening a communal economy for people dedicated to ending violence, trauma, and abuse. 

WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT

  • Built by an advocate, for advocates - We understand your work, your mission, and what's at stake for survivors and their families
  • Communal economy model - When you succeed, the whole community benefits, and there is movement sustainability
  • High commission rates - You keep 85%-90% of every sale 
  • Respectful approach - We honor survivor leadership, advocacy experience, and  the movement's history and add value without competing with grant-funded resources
  • Choice-based pathways - Whether you want supplemental income or a full business, we support your goals
  • Comprehensive support - Training, community, and resources to help you succeed

COMMITMENT TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

We take copyright and intellectual property seriously. All creators must confirm they have rights to sell their materials. We do not support the sale of grant-funded materials. Review our policies for details.

OUR VALUES

  • Economic Empowerment - We help advocates and survivor-leaders expand their financial futures 
  • Movement Integrity - We honor 40+ years of survivor advocacy leadership
  • Community Support - Rising together strengthens the entire movement
  • Sustainable Careers - Creating pathways for long-term advocacy careers
  • Respect & Dignity -  We deeply respect advocates and survivor-leaders. Our marketplace is choice-based and all offers are our invitational