Boston Area Rape Crisis Center Raises $160,000 Amid Funding Shortfall

The Boston Area Rape Crisis Center raised nearly $160,000 at its 20th annual Walk for Change on Sunday, drawing about 500 participants.

The three-mile event supports the nonprofit’s advocacy and resource services for survivors of sexual violence and provides a key source of funding as the organization faces its largest budget shortfall in years.

BARCC relies heavily on grants and donations from partner organizations, including the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance. However, MOVA recently announced significant funding reductions for fiscal year 2027 tied to federal cuts, leaving BARCC with an estimated $500,000 deficit.

MOVA serves as a primary funding source for 88 nonprofits across Massachusetts, and the reductions — set to take effect July 1 — have left many organizations working to address gaps in their budgets.

Funds raised through Sunday’s walk will play an important role as BARCC adjusts to the shortfall, according to Kara Blue, the organization’s senior director of external relations. Of the total raised, approximately $75,000 came from participant fundraising, with the remainder provided through corporate sponsorships.

Elizabeth M. “Liz” Speakman, the executive director of BARCC, said the organization is urging state lawmakers to allocate $13.8 million in the state budget to offset the loss of federal funding. Without additional support, she said, maintaining current operations will be difficult.

“The funding cuts that we got will hopefully be fully restored, but if not, that funding that we get covers all of our direct service staff — so our case managers, our counselors, our legal advocates, people who support our hotline,” Speakman said. “And so we will have to be very creative about how we continue to provide direct service with such a big funding cut.”

Sunday’s event drew support from state legislators, with two of Cambridge’s representatives on Beacon Hill, Marjorie C. Decker and Mike L. Connolly, attending the event. Together, Decker and Connolly represent much of Cambridge.

Decker, who spoke at the walk, emphasized the importance of funding services that support survivors.

“People are resilient, but I also remind people that surviving trauma is not resilience on its own. Providing people the tools, the resources, the community, and the support, and the services that they need — that also builds resilience,” Decker said. “That is what we’re doing here today.”

The funding reduction from MOVA follows another setback for BARCC: the organization did not receive a grant this year from the Cambridge Community Safety Department. BARCC had applied for $100,000 and was one of six nonprofits that were not funded.

Caitlin E. Dube ’05, vice chair of the Cambridge School Committee, also spoke at the event, highlighting the organization’s role in the region.

“BARCC is a cornerstone of change in our community, and all of us are here to protect the work, the change, and the healing BARCC provides to thousands of survivors across countless communities,” Dube said.

BARCC serves 29 cities in the region and is headquartered in Cambridge. Speakman said the organization welcomed the opportunity to host the walk locally. Participants — including families, survivors, local businesses, healthcare workers, and advocacy groups — gathered at CambridgeSide to take part.

“We love the community that’s here and supporting us, and we just really appreciate Cambridge,” she said.

—Staff writer Shawn A. Boehmer can be reached at [email protected] and on Signal at shawnb.18. Follow him on X @ShawnBoehmer.

—Staff writer Claire A. Michal can be reached at [email protected] and on Signal at ClaireMichal.154.