Global Refuge

Name

Global Refuge

Legal name

Global Refuge

Website

https://lirs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee Resettlement Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI), Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH), Resettlement, Relocation & Repatriation Support (BPADAHAD), Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE), Refugee/Migrant Health & Resettlement Health Units (HLAJAAAJ)

Keywords

• Refugee resettlement services
• Immigration legal services
• Financial empowerment programs
• Family reunification services
• Immigrant advocacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants: Global Refuge operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded primarily through foundation grants. The organization received a two-year $1 million grant from Truist Foundation to support its New American Lending program, which provides financial services to immigrant communities including loans, financial coaching, and small business capital.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization raises funds through individual donations, corporate giving programs, and fundraising campaigns. Donations can be made through the website, and the organization operates a Welcome Shop for merchandise sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Global Refuge is a nonprofit organization that provides refugee resettlement and immigrant support services, including reception and placement, housing, cultural orientation, financial services (loans, financial coaching, small business capital), career development, mental health care, immigration legal assistance, family reunification, and policy advocacy. Services are delivered at no cost to clients through welcome centers, field offices, and digital portals.

Product overview

Global Refuge is a refugee resettlement and immigrant services organization (formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, founded 1939) offering a comprehensive suite of services organized into distinct programs and portals. The core service portfolio includes Refugee Resettlement, Belonging and Empowerment (encompassing New American Lending, New American Careers, and Preferred Refugee Employer Program), Children and Family Services (including foster care and family reunification), Mental Health Services, Immigration Legal Services, Crisis Response, and Advocacy. The organization also operates digital platforms including Global Refuge Connect portal and a dedicated Travel Loans Portal. New American Lending is a flagship financial services program providing loans and financial coaching to immigrants and refugees. The organization has served over 800,000 newcomers since 1939 and reunited 22k+ children and families in 2023.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• New American Lending: Financial services program offering loans, financial coaching, and small business capital to immigrants and refugees.
• New American Careers
• Global Refuge Connect

Products and services

• Refugee Resettlement Core resettlement service that creates a new sense of home for refugees arriving in the United States, including housing, cultural orientation, and Virtual Reception and Placement programs. Targeted at refugees arriving in the U.S.
• New American Lending Financial services program offering loans, financial coaching, and small business capital to immigrants and refugees, with a focus on the Greater Washington-Baltimore region and expansion to other states. Has issued over $1.25 million in loans with 95% approval rate. Targeted at immigrants and refugees needing credit access.
• New American Careers

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1.25 million in loans issued to immigrants and refugees through New American Lending program
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI): National refugee resettlement and advocacy organization offering reception, placement, and integration services — a near-direct peer in scope, federal contracting, and advocacy footprint.
• World Relief: Faith-based refugee resettlement and immigration services NGO operating in numerous U.S. cities, providing comparable resettlement, economic empowerment, and case-management services.
• HIAS: Faith-rooted refugee resettlement and immigration legal services organization; historically parallel to LIRS and now competing head-to-head with Global Refuge for resettlement contracts, donors, and policy influence.
• Church World Service: Faith-based refugee resettlement and humanitarian aid agency that provides direct resettlement, employment, and integration services in many of the same U.S. geographies as Global Refuge.
• International Rescue Committee: One of the largest U.S. refugee resettlement agencies, operating welcome services, economic empowerment, and advocacy across multiple states — directly comparable to Global Refuge in mission, services, and federal-contract exposure.
• Asista Immigrant Assistance: Nonprofit providing immigration legal services, training, and policy advocacy for immigrant survivors of crime and abuse — adjacent to Global Refuge's Immigration Legal Services and advocacy functions.
• Kids in Need of Defense (KIND): Nonprofit focused specifically on unaccompanied immigrant and refugee children's legal and family reunification services — closely comparable to Global Refuge's Children and Family Services line.

Others

• National Immigration Law Center: National advocacy and litigation organization advancing immigrant rights and policy — comparable to Global Refuge's federal advocacy function and overlapping in policy positions on TPS, asylum, and admissions.

Emerging players

• Refugee Council USA: Coalition of U.S. refugee resettlement and advocacy organizations that shapes federal policy and coordinates sector responses — operates in the same policy and funding ecosystem as Global Refuge's advocacy team.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities USA: Large national network of Catholic Charities affiliates delivering refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, and family support — overlaps Global Refuge's service portfolio within a much broader social-services mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LIRSorg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@globalrefuge_
• Facebookfacebook.com/GlobalRefuge
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/globalrefuge
• Instagraminstagram.com/globalrefuge_

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Global Refuge