The Good Deed Impact Fund has decided to support the President Kaljulaid Foundation’s initiative Employers Against Domestic Abuse. The initiative contributes to reducing domestic abuse by creating aware and safe work environments where people know how to recognize abuse, support those in need, and guide them to help.
The initiative was launched by the President Kaljulaid Foundation and brings together mission-driven Estonian employers who want to consciously prevent domestic abuse and support employees who may be experiencing abuse or using it against others. The initiative brings a topic that has often remained in the shadows into the everyday management and workplace culture of organisations.
“By today, 23 companies employing approximately 30,000 people have joined the initiative. During the first year of operation, we conducted more than 50 training sessions in these companies and created e-learning materials to raise awareness of domestic abuse. With the support of the Impact Fund, we will be able to significantly increase our training capacity and bring knowledge about domestic abuse and its prevention to an even larger number of people,” commented Triin Adamson, Head of the Employers Against Domestic Abuse.
The Good Deed Impact Fund is supporting the initiative both in increasing its substantive impact and in strengthening the organisation’s capacity. With this support, the program will be developed and expanded by engaging new companies, creating additional training opportunities, and introducing a new learning platform. In cooperation with experts, new materials will be developed, and the personnel costs of the training manager will be covered.
In addition to supporting the substantive development of the initiative, the President Kaljulaid Foundation’s financial and project management capacity will also be strengthened.
Behind the Impact Fund’s funding decision is the conviction that the initiative addresses a complex and previously underrecognised problem. The initiative creates visibility, mobilises employers, and is clearly moving toward measurable impact, while having the potential to develop into a self-sustaining model.
“Domestic abuse does not stay behind the doors of the home — its impact inevitably carries over into the workplace. Employers have an important role to play in noticing it, offering support, and creating an environment where asking for help is possible,” said Pirkko Valge, CEO of the Good Deed Foundation. “The initiative helps break down the walls surrounding cases of domestic abuse and bring this difficult issue into the open,” she added.
The Employer Against Domestic Abuse is also an alumna of the 2024/2025 cohort of the NULA incubator. The program gave the initiative momentum to develop its model and create a direction for measuring impact — in a field where clear frameworks have so far been lacking. “So far, there is no good model in the world for assessing the impact of domestic abuse-related activities in organisations. That is what we are currently working out with the help of NULA’s seed funding,” explained Triin Adamson.
The Good Deed Impact Fund is Estonia’s first strategic philanthropy fund, established in 2018 by the Good Deed Foundation, and supported by private individuals and companies who care about Estonia.
With the support of the fund, organizations such as the KiVa Antibullying Program, the SPIN program, the Substitute Teachers Program, Peaasjad NGO, and the Child Welfare Development Centre have expanded their activities.