Refugee Assistance Alliance

What Refugee Assistance Alliance does

Refugee Assistance Alliance (RAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017 and headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida, that delivers wraparound resettlement and self-sufficiency services to legal refugees across South Florida's Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Its service portfolio consists of six integrated programs: a six-level English as a Second Language (ESL) program, economic support (benefits navigation, banking, credit, rent, emergency aid), emotional support via volunteer mentorship, education assistance (GED prep, vocational training, college support, driving test), employment assistance (resume, job placement, career coaching), and a federally funded Work Training Program including the Education for Employment Growth initiative. RAA also operates four volunteer engagement tracks (community support, ESL teaching, events committee, specialized skills) and an ambassador program, providing the volunteer labor that underpins service delivery.

The organization runs on a donation-and-grant revenue model with no client fees; primary revenue streams are individual donations, monthly giving, foundation grants (BAB, Miami, and Peacock Foundations are named partners), and federal workforce funding first secured in the 2020-2022 window. Go-to-market is community-led: refugees are reached through partnerships with local refugee agencies (notably the International Rescue Committee), word-of-mouth, and volunteer networks, while donors are acquired via a website, Donorbox-powered online giving (including a '50 in 50' campaign), email, community events, and earned media coverage in outlets such as Miami Herald and Miami New Times.

Technically, RAA has no proprietary platform; delivery is staff- and volunteer-mediated, with virtual ESL classes and remote case management supplementing in-person services. Leadership comprises Founder and President Kristen Bloom and Executive Director Jamie Scotti (joined 2018), supported by a roughly 11-person staff and a board chaired by Kieran Locke. Documented outcomes include 96% of assisted refugee households having at least one member employed, 66% adult enrollment in English classes, and 88% of education-funded adults completing or continuing studies.

Name

Refugee Assistance Alliance

Legal name

Refugee Assistance Alliance

Website

https://refugeeassistancealliance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Refugee Assistance Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017 in Coral Gables, Florida, delivering wraparound resettlement services—including ESL, employment, education, economic, and emotional support—to legal refugees across South Florida's Broward and Miami-Dade counties, funded by donations, foundation grants, and federal workforce contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee Resettlement Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Educational Support Services (6117), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI), Refugee & Migrant Integration Enterprises (Livelihoods, Services) (BPAGALAN), Immigrant & Refugee Workforce Integration Programs (EDAAAOAJ), Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI), Immigrant & Refugee Community Education (Integration/Navigation) (EDAAAFAH)

Keywords

• Refugee resettlement services
• English language instruction
• Employment assistance programs
• Workforce development training
• Humanitarian support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Coral Gables

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: RAA operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that generates revenue primarily through individual donations, monthly giving programs, and fundraising campaigns. The organization runs campaigns like the '50 in 50' initiative to raise specific amounts within defined timeframes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Refugee Assistance Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers wraparound support services to legal refugees in South Florida after the 90-day federal resettlement period ends. Its core offering includes English language instruction (six-level ESL program), economic support (financial guidance, emergency aid, benefits assistance), employment assistance (resume writing, job placement, career coaching), education assistance (GED prep, vocational training, driving test support), emotional support via volunteer mentorship, and a federally funded Work Training Program providing workforce development and certifications.

Product overview

Refugee Assistance Alliance (RAA) is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of wraparound services for refugees in South Florida. The organization provides six core integrated programs: English Language Learning (ESL Program) with six levels of instruction, Economic Support Services for financial stability, Emotional Support through volunteer mentorship, Education Assistance including GED prep and vocational training, Employment Assistance with resume writing and career coaching, and a Work Training Program with federally funded workforce development. Additionally, RAA operates four volunteer engagement programs (Community Support, ESL Volunteer Teachers, Events Committee, and Specialized Volunteers) that enable community members to participate in refugee support. The services work together to address the refugee cycle of poverty through three-year individualized support relationships, helping refugees achieve self-sufficiency and community integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• English Language Learning (ESL Program)

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of refugee households have at least one person employed
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• World Affairs Council of MiamiminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2021Panel partner during Welcoming Week along with IRC and Global Ties Miami for dialogue about welcoming refugees
• Hello Neighbor NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019RAA joined the first cohort of Hello Neighbor Network in 2019, a network of women leaders supporting refugees post-resettlement
• ProLiteracyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiteracy organization partner supporting adult education initiatives
• International Rescue Committee (IRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRAA partnered with local refugee agencies including IRC to offer extended support to the most vulnerable refugees after the 90-day federal resettlement period ended
• Local BusinessesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRAA partners with local businesses to provide workplace training that equips refugees with skills and qualifications needed for career advancement

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Refugee Services of Texas: Statewide refugee resettlement nonprofit offering case management, ESL, employment, and education services to newly arrived refugees. Closest direct peer in scale and service model to RAA, with the key distinction of serving Texas rather than South Florida.
• Ascentria Care Alliance: New England-based refugee and immigrant services nonprofit providing case management, ESL, employment support, and unaccompanied minor services; explicitly named in RAA team background as a prior employer of an RAA staff member, signaling direct comparability in service model and refugee client base.
• Heartland Alliance: Chicago-based anti-poverty and refugee services nonprofit providing refugee resettlement, employment training, and human services support. Comparable in offering wraparound services (housing, education, employment, mental health) to vulnerable populations including refugees, with similar reliance on government contracts and philanthropic funding.
• Hello Neighbor Network: Network of women-leader-founded refugee support organizations; RAA was part of its first cohort in 2019. Provides peer benchmarking, shared resources, and best practices for small refugee-led post-resettlement nonprofits with similar volunteer-driven, donor-supported models.

Broad incumbents

• HIAS: National Jewish-founded refugee resettlement agency providing reception, placement, legal, and integration services across the U.S. Directly comparable mission (refugee resettlement and self-sufficiency) with broader geographic footprint and longer operating history than RAA.
• US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants: National refugee resettlement and advocacy agency offering employment, education, and integration programming comparable to RAA's service mix, with federal contracting relationships and a network of affiliate offices serving similar refugee populations.
• International Rescue Committee: One of the largest U.S. refugee resettlement agencies and a named RAA partner; operates federally funded Reception and Placement program nationwide, while RAA focuses on extended post-resettlement wraparound support in South Florida. Same client population and service category, but at vastly greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Church World Service: Federally contracted refugee resettlement agency operating in multiple U.S. states, providing reception, employment, and integration services. Closely aligned with RAA's model of post-arrival support but at significantly larger scale and with longer tenure in the federal resettlement system.
• World Relief: Faith-based refugee resettlement and immigration services organization with offices across the U.S., providing ESL, employment, and case management services similar to RAA's wraparound offering, though operating at a national rather than regional scale.
• Catholic Charities USA: Network of diocesan agencies, many of which operate federally funded refugee resettlement programs providing case management, ESL, employment, and material aid in the same vein as RAA. Most directly comparable in service mix but operates as a federation of regional affiliates across the country.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AllianceRefugee
• Facebookfacebook.com/refugeeassistancealliance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/refugee-assistance-alliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Refugee Assistance Alliance