Guardian Group: First Quarter Impact Report 2026
The core of our mission is simple but urgent: finding the people others miss. As we wrap up the first quarter of 2026, that mission has translated into 140 victims of trafficking identified.
These 140 women and children represent the “why” behind every dollar and every volunteer hour. The consistent support of our donors and volunteers provides the steady foundation required to maintain this relentless search, ensuring that no one is left to face these shadows alone.
Victims Identified
140
victims identified in 33 states and in 78 cities in 2026.
1684
Victims have been identified since the program began in 2018.
Law Enforcement Support
Disciplined Growth for Lasting Impact
A cornerstone of our mission is ensuring that when we partner with law enforcement, we provide more than just a free resource; we provide a standard of excellence. Our philosophy has always been to grow with intention, ensuring we never over-promise and under-deliver to the agencies that we support. This quarter, we leaned into that strategy of deliberate expansion. We are proud to report that we added 4 more agencies to our network this past month, bringing our Q1 total to 11. Your monthly support helps us maintain this disciplined approach, building trust and reliability across the law enforcement community that will continue to deliver results throughout the years.
Active U.S. Law Enforcement partners in 34 states.
Project 1591 Volunteer Force
297 Certified Volunteers
Highlighted by the red states and located in 22 additional countries
The first quarter of 2026 has been defined by a significant expansion of our certified volunteer force. We are wrapping up Q1 with 297 certified volunteers actively scanning the surface web for potential trafficking victims. This dedicated force now spans 41 states and 22 additional countries, proving that geographical boundaries are no match for a collective commitment to justice. By crowdsourcing this critical OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) work, this volunteer force continues to expand our reach, ensuring that we are identifying victims in every corner of the United States 24/7/365. As we move into the second quarter, this momentum is vital. Every new volunteer certified and every state covered represents another set of eyes on the digital front lines, disrupting trafficking and bringing more victims into the light.
Operation IFAST
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17
IFAST Certified Companies
highlighted by the orange states and an additional 119 companies in the process, represented by the blue states
We want to congratulate Albany Mutual Telephone, DRN ReadiTech, Allo, Range and WTC Fiber on their IFAST Certification! Operation IFAST has now trained over 3,700 technicians and other utility providers to recognize and report potential trafficking. Bringing more trained eyes to communities across the country.
The clock is ticking!
Our Virtual 5K ends on May 1st, and we need your energy to finish the race strong. Lace up your sneakers and help us raise awareness (and miles) for this vital mission.