Yes We Can World Foundation

What Yes We Can World Foundation does

Yes We Can World Foundation is a Latina-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Burbank, California, that delivers bilingual education, cultural programming, and resettlement support to refugee, migrant, and Latine communities in the United States and at the US-Mexico border. Founded in 2018 by Estefanía Rebellón and Kyle Thomas Schmidt, the organization began with a single pop-up classroom and has since grown into a multi-program entity operating across five border locations, including a primary mobile schools site in Tijuana, Mexico.

Its core delivery vehicle is the Yes We Can Mobile Schools Program, which operates from converted 55-foot commercial coach buses — each seating up to 40 students and requiring approximately 90 days to convert from delivery into a fully equipped classroom. The program provides bilingual (English/Spanish) instruction for children ages 3–15 awaiting asylum, and holds a historic strategic partnership with Mexico's Secretary of Education (SEP) that grants it accreditation as the first and only accredited bilingual school program for refugee and migrant children at the US-Mexico border; credits earned are officially transferable. A supporting integration with Duolingo provides free English-language learning via iPads in classrooms.

The organization operates four program lines — Mobile Schools, Creative (multimedia production), Cultura Connect (after-school clubs, mentorship, cultural events), and First Gen (resettlement support for newly arrived families) — plus a merchandise storefront at a flat $25 per item price point. Revenue is generated through individual donations (one-time and monthly), corporate sponsorships, donor-advised funds (Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, BNY Mellon), peer-to-peer platforms (Venmo, GoFundMe, Facebook), and 100% proceeds from merchandise. Distribution relies on community-driven outreach, an influencer ambassador program (Creators for Good), event-driven fundraising, and earned media coverage in CNN, NPR, LA Times, PBS, and L'Oréal Paris. No parent company, private equity ownership, or public funding rounds are reported.

Name

Yes We Can World Foundation

Legal name

Yes We Can World Foundation

Website

https://yeswecan.world

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Yes We Can World Foundation is a Latina-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs the first accredited mobile bilingual school program for refugee and migrant children at the US-Mexico border, alongside cultural, resettlement, and multimedia programs for Latine youth and families across five locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Education and Refugee Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Language Schools (611630), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

Keywords

• Refugee education services
• Migrant children support
• Nonprofit education programs
• Bilingual mobile schools
• Latine community services

Headquarters

HQ city

Burbank

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: The primary revenue stream consists of individual donations collected through the website, Venmo, Go Fund Me, and Facebook Fundraiser. Donors can give one-time or monthly recurring donations. For donations above $250 USD, receipts can be provided for tax deduction purposes.
2. Merchandise Sales: The Yes We Can Store sells branded merchandise including t-shirts ($25) and baseball caps ($25) featuring messages like 'IMMIGRANT. HUMAN.', 'REFUGEE. HUMAN.', 'LATINA. HUMAN.', 'LATINO. HUMAN.', and 'AMERICAN. HUMAN.' 100% of proceeds support the organization's mission.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship opportunities for sponsors to fund creative projects, mobile schools locations, or mobile school buses. Sponsors can inquire about customized sponsorship packages.
4. Donor Advised Funds: Accepts donations from donor advised funds including Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, and BNY Mellon through the DAF Direct platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Yes We Can World Foundation operates the first and only accredited bilingual school program for refugee and migrant children at the US-Mexico border, delivered through converted mobile school buses that seat 40 students. The foundation runs a portfolio of programs including Mobile Schools (K-12 education at the border), First Gen Resettlement (family integration support), Cultura Connect (cultural mentorship), and Yes We Can Creative (multimedia content production). Funding comes primarily from individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

Yes We Can World Foundation is a Latina-led nonprofit organization that operates a multi-program portfolio supporting Latine and migrant communities. The core programs include: the Yes We Can Mobile Schools Program (accredited bilingual mobile school buses at the US-Mexico border), Yes We Can Creative (multimedia content production including podcasts, documentaries, and films), Yes We Can Cultura Connect (after-school clubs, mentorship, and cultural events), and the Yes We Can First Gen Resettlement Program (family support services for those who have arrived in the US). The organization also operates the Yes We Can Store, a merchandise sub-brand whose proceeds fund the mission. Together, these programs provide education, cultural empowerment, and narrative change for Latine youth and refugee/migrant families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Yes We Can Mobile Schools: The first and only accredited bilingual school program for refugee and migrant children at the US-Mexico border, operated from converted mobile school buses.
• Yes We Can Creative
• Yes We Can Cultura Connect
• Yes We Can First Gen (Resettlement Program)

Products and services

• Yes We Can Mobile Schools Program The first and only accredited bilingual school program for refugee and migrant children at the US-Mexico border, operated from converted 55-foot mobile school buses that seat 40 students ages 3-15, providing English and Spanish education along with trauma support and asylum process navigation.
• Yes We Can Creative

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 4,500 students served since 2018
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Secretary of Education Mexico (SEP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Historic strategic partnership recognizing Yes We Can Mobile Schools as the first and only accredited education model for refugee and migrant children at the US-Mexico border. The partnership provides official school certificates validating academic progress, grades earned, and school time, making all academic credits transferable and valid upon international school enrollments.
• DuolingosupportingTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with the world's most popular language learning platform (300+ million users) to bring free language learning to migrant children. Founder Luis Von Ahn, a migrant from Guatemala, created the app so everyone could learn another language for free. Yes We Can students use iPads with Duolingo to learn English.
• Local Partner ShelterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarefully-chosen local partner shelters with community-centered approach and excellent care for populations they serve. Partners provide housing, washrooms, and safe place for families in transit. Yes We Can builds school spaces and provides full-time education programs within or next door to these shelters.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/YesWeCanWF/fundraisers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Yes We Can World Foundation