2025 Impact Report
A Year of Growth
2025 was a robust year for the Joyful Heart Foundation. Despite the many difficulties our communities faced during the past year, we stood steadfast in our commitment to survivors and their healing. We continue to recognize that community is often the antidote to despair and that through collaboration, we can be the change in the world we want to see.
We started new initiatives, such as our Survivor Stories podcast, strengthened existing ones, like our Heal the Healers grant fund, and continued to work towards a world where survivors and their healing is not only acknowledged but prioritized.
We are deeply grateful that during this turbulent time, our community has remained strong in the face of shared challenges and continue to champion our mission of creating a more compassionate world that supports survivors of abuse in their path to justice and healing.
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Policy and Advocacy
From statehouses to coalitions, our policy team fought tirelessly in 2025 to expand protections for survivors and dismantle the barriers to justice. Through strategic advocacy on image-based abuse and rape kit testing, combined with national convenings and groundbreaking reports, we’re building a future where every survivor has access to healing, accountability, and justice.
Image-Based Abuse Initiative
Through their advocacy, the policy team remained committed to expanding protections for survivors of image-based abuse.
In 2025, the team tracked over 150 IBA-related bills, with 38 bills across 26 states signed into law.
Additionally, responding to new threats, 19 states enacted legislation to address deepfakes and AI-generated intimate images.
We continued to convene and expand our monthly state and federal policy working groups with policymakers to harness the collective wisdom and power of advocates to work towards a world where image-based abuse is eradicated.
FEDERAL WIN
TAKE IT DOWN ACT
The first federal law addressing IBA, The TAKE IT DOWN Act criminalizes the creation and distribution of nonconsensual intimate images. This includes criminalizing synthetic images (deepfakes) and requires platforms to remove these images within 48 hours of discovery.
150+
bills Tracked
38
Bills signed
1st
Federal IBA Law
End the Backlog
Forging ahead in our End the Backlog initiative, we continued our work towards ensuring that every kit is tested promptly and survivors regain their self-determination within a justice system that has too often failed them.
We are thrilled to report that 27 states introduced 55 bills related to the six pillars of reform. Of those introduced, 19 bills were successfully signed into law.
Additionally, 9 states (AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, MD, MI, MN, and NY) passed critical funding legislation to ensure that mandates are funded and jurisdictions can implement reforms effectively.
19
bills signed
9
states fund legislation
Webinars and Trainings
Our work never gets done in a vacuum. As a leading voice in the field, we hosted and participated in numerous conversations, published critical reports and trainings that bring the most current thought leaders together to discuss, present, and collaborate.
10
webinars and trainings
1400+
people trained
Reports
This year, in conjunction with partners throughout the country, we were able to publish two critical reports that illustrate the problems and successes in the field. Though our collective knowledge and community input, our reports compile the most up-to-date information to inform legislation, practice, and systems throughout the country.
SAKI 10: Power of partnership
In honor of ten years of funding from the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, Joyful Heart published a report detailing the history, successes, and challenges in this groundbreaking federal program.
Image-Based Abuse Landscape report
This legislative report offers crucial guidance for states looking to improve their laws addressing Image-Based Abuse (IBA): crimes involving the nonconsensual creation or distribution of sexual or intimate images, which inflict devastating, long-lasting trauma on victims.
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Healing Programs and Resources
Joyful Heart’s mission has always revolved around creating a world where survivors and their healing is prioritized. Our programs this year expanded even further to provide free wellness and healing resources geared towards both survivors, their communities, and the frontline professionals who support them.
Heal the Healers Grant
The 2025 Heal the Healers funding cycle was our largest to date. Supporting professionals working directly with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse who face a heightened risk of secondary trauma, remains a key component of the Heal the Healers mission.
67
Grants Awarded
22
States
Over
308k
Dollars Dispursed
Grantee Testimonials
“I am beyond grateful to the Heal the Healers fund for supporting our team at the Women’s Center of Greater Lansing. Our staff give so much of themselves every day to help survivors of domestic violence and trauma heal and rebuild their lives. This grant allows us to create a space where they can also rest, recharge, and care for their own wellbeing. By supporting our staff, you are helping us better care for the survivors who rely on us.”
Women’s Center of Greater Lansing, Lansing, MI
“Qeciyewyew. Thank you. We are honored to receive support from the Joyful Heart Foundation’s Heal the Healers Fund. This grant allows the Indigenous Idaho Alliance to create space for our community’s caregivers, organizers, and healers to rest, reconnect, and be replenished through our Healing Kits and Gatherings program. At a time when our work is carried under immense pressure, this support strengthens our ability to continue showing up for our people with love, resilience, and care.”
Indigenous Idaho Alliance, Boise, ID
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Awareness & Community Building
This year, we expanded how we connect with and support our community. From intentional and engaging book club discussions to powerful podcast conversations, we created opportunities to learn, heal, and elevate stories that ignite change.
Joyful Heart Virtual Book Club
In the second year of our bookclub, we dug deeper into ourselves. With two memoirs and one of the seminal texts on modern healing modalities, we came together to truly read, connect and heal.
Survivor Stories
In 2025, we began our first-ever podcast. Introduced by our founder, Mariska Hargitay, and hosted by Joyful Heart Board member, Debbie Millman, these in-depth conversations added yet another layer of understanding of the survivor experience.
Season one included topics that are directly impacting survivors today: the rape kit backlog, image-based abuse, and barriers caused by statutes of limitations.
Heartshop Relaunch
This year, we added even more ways to show off your Joyful Heart pride. With custom JHF swag to handmade goods, every purchase gives back to our vital, unwavering work.
