Just days before announcing their potential closure, Callisto received the highest honor from the Los Angeles Tribune: the Impact Organization of the Year Award. The letter commended their Callisto Vault Incident Log and Matching System, which has helped countless survivors document their experiences, connect with others harmed by the same perpetrators, and quietly take control of their justice journeys.
“Through the innovative Callisto Vault platform, your work has set a new standard for excellence in survivor support, inspiring a growing movement for change,” the Tribune wrote, praising Callisto’s role in transforming how institutions and communities address sexual assault.
For Callisto, this should have been a moment of celebration—a recognition of their tireless efforts to protect and empower survivors. Instead, it was a bittersweet reminder of a tragic reality: Callisto is on the verge of closing. What should have been a celebratory moment for the nonprofit that has revolutionized how survivors of sexual violence seek justice is now tinged with heartbreak.
Callisto, known for its innovative encrypted platform that enables survivors of sexual assault to capture the details of the incident in a timestamped manner, empowering them with agency around how to deal with and navigate their assault, is at risk of disappearing, leaving countless survivors without a lifeline. Callisto is currently available to anyone with a .edu email address. Its goal is to end serial sexual assault, one match at a time.
As the organization teeters on the edge of shutting down, their ability to provide privacy, support, and connection to survivors like Ray Epstein—whose life was changed by their services—may soon come to an abrupt end.
A Testimony of Transformation
The loss of Callisto would be a devastating blow to survivors such as Ray Epstein, a college student whose experience with Callisto has changed her life. Ray, an Ambassador for the App and Program, reflects on how discovering Callisto was a pivotal moment in her healing process:
“In high school, I saw Instagram accounts pop up where people would share their stories so others could connect, but there was no guaranteed anonymity or protection on those platforms. When I got to college, I was still reeling from my experience, still heartbroken, and far from healed. I started researching advocacy work and found Callisto during one of my searches. I remember dropping my phone and sobbing because [Callisto] was exactly what I had needed throughout my entire adolescent life. Since I was 13, for five years at that point, I had been wishing for a way to connect with others who shared my experiences. Knowing that Callisto existed was unbelievably life-changing for me. I remember feeling whole again for the first time since I was 12.”
Ray’s story underscores the critical role Callisto plays in providing survivors with a safe, confidential way to process their trauma and connect with others who may have been harmed by the same perpetrator. ” Callisto really felt like the only path to justice for me, and it was all I needed. I didn’t need anything else; I just needed that comfort,” she added.
Since finding out about Callisto, as an ambassador, Ray has played a vocal role in spreading awareness about the app across colleges campuses. “I remember the first time I did a demonstration of the [Callisto] technology at a sorority chapter meeting. I was trying to spread the word right after they launched on the national level last October. I vividly recall a girl in the front row bursting into tears—it was the exact same reaction I had when I first learned about it. Knowing that something like this exists as an alternative pathway to justice is so powerful. Everyone I meet who learns about this technology cares deeply about it,” ray reflects underscoring the the silent struggles that young girls face when they’ve been sexually abused and are not sure what to do or where to turn.
An Unexpected Crisis: Callisto at the Brink of Closure
In a heartbreaking twist, Callisto, despite being named a transformative force in the fight against sexual violence, is set to close its doors unless it can raise $1 million in the coming days. The recognition by the Tribune came just as Callisto made the painful decision to announce their looming shutdown due to lack of funding.
“How do you extinguish the fire that has fueled your small-but-mighty team and has served as a beacon of hope for so many survivors?” Callisto asked in their public announcement. Despite their revolutionary work, the nonprofit has struggled to recover from pandemic-related financial difficulties, compounded by the historically low funding for gender-based violence initiatives. The situation was made worse by corporate hesitation to publicly align with organizations addressing sexual assault—a risk in today’s social climate.
Now, Callisto’s future hangs in the balance. Without a miracle donor, the organization will be forced to halt its services, giving survivors only a limited time to retrieve their encrypted incident logs before the technology is shut down, no longer allowing them to find others harmed by the same person without publicly disclosing.
Ray Epstein, like many others, fears what the future holds if Callisto disappears. “When I was in middle school, I was abused for several months by my first boyfriend. When I reported it, my school completely retaliated against me. They didn’t believe me, and I was forced to finish eighth grade at home. He was eventually suspended and expelled, but for other reasons, not for anything related to me. When I found Callisto, it was a lifeline. Knowing that others might never have that chance—it’s terrifying.”
Celebration and Grief: A Roller Coaster of Emotions
The juxtaposition of being named the Impact Organization of the Year while facing imminent closure has thrown Callisto and its supporters into a state of grief and disbelief. The recognition underscores the profound impact Callisto has had over the years, yet it also highlights the painful reality of nonprofit struggles—particularly those dealing with sensitive and complex issues such as sexual violence.
“To be recognized for our work just as we are forced to shut down—it’s a bitter pill to swallow,” Callisto’s CEO, Tracy DeTomasi, reflected. “We have spent years fighting for survivors, and now, just as we are being acknowledged for our impact, we face the possibility of letting those same survivors down.”
For Callisto’s small but dedicated team, the timing of this award is both a blessing and a curse. It shines a light on the vital role they have played, but it also amplifies the urgency of their situation. Without immediate financial support, the recognition will serve as a eulogy to a service that could no longer be sustained.
A Call for Action: Help Keep Callisto’s Lifeline Alive
While Callisto’s situation is dire, there is still hope. The Los Angeles Tribune’s award has drawn public attention to their plight, but more is needed. Callisto requires $1 million to continue providing their essential services. Without it, the platform will close, leaving survivors without one of the few safe spaces available to them.
This is where you come in.
Callisto needs the support of the public, advocates, and potential benefactors to survive. Your contribution could make the difference between this vital platform continuing to support survivors or vanishing entirely.
Donate today by visiting Callisto’s donation page or reach out to development@projectcallisto.org to explore partnership opportunities. Every dollar counts in the fight to keep this critical resource available for survivors.
About The Impact Organization of the Year Award by The Los Angeles Tribune
The Impact Organization of the Year Award recognizes Callisto’s groundbreaking work in empowering survivors of sexual assault, providing them with agency, safety, and support, and transforming how institutions and communities address these critical issues.
Through their innovative CallistoVault platform, encrypted technology Matching System & the Incident Log, Callisto has set a new standard for excellence in survivor support, offering a safe alternative to reporting and increasing accountability for serial offenders. Your tireless efforts have not only advanced justice but also inspired a growing movement for change.
The Impact Organization of the Year Award is a part of the transformative initiative of The Los Angeles titled “Voices for Change”—an ambitious program launched by the LA Tribune CEO Moe Rock, who pledged over $10 million in advertising resources to support non-profits and visionary leaders dedicated to making the world a better place.
Other Resources:
Callisto’s Heartbreaking Announcement September 25, 2024
About Callisto’s Technology
Crowd Funding Campaign: Help Keep Callisto Open
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