ICES

What ICES does

ICES (International Cultural Exchange Services) is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991 and headquartered in Henderson, Nevada, that operates student academic and cultural exchange programs. Its core products are inbound high school placement programs (J-1 Public High School, F-1 Academic CHOICE/VALUE, F-1 Middle School), a Virtual High School program, short-term cultural experiences, and outbound study abroad and volunteer programs for American students, plus a newer Internship & Professional Training track. The organization also runs the Bridging Cultures Scholarship and the Global Ambassador volunteer program.

ICES makes money primarily through program fees paid by international students and families for placement, visa sponsorship, host family matching, orientation, and ongoing support. Host families volunteer accommodation at no charge, with tax benefits accruing to them. Distribution is hybrid: a national network of Regional Directors and Local Coordinators manages host family recruitment and student support, partnerships with U.S. high schools enable placement, international partner organizations feed student pipelines from 37 countries, and the icesusa.org website plus content marketing (blog, social, email) drive top-of-funnel awareness.

The technology stack is human-coordination-led rather than platform-led — there is no evidence of proprietary software, APIs, or automation systems. AI/ML capabilities are not disclosed; operations rely on established program frameworks and the coordinator network. Leadership is led by President and CEO John Crist, with an employee base in the 501–1000 range.

Name

ICES

Legal name

International Cultural Exchange Services

Website

https://icesusa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

ICES is a U.S. nonprofit founded in 1991 that places international high school students with American host families and schools under J-1 and F-1 visa programs, and sends American students abroad on study and volunteer exchanges.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Student Exchange Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Inbound Exchange Hosting & Visiting Student Administration (EDAIABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outbound Exchange Advising, Placement & Nomination Services (EDAIABAL), Paid Placement & Au Pair/Working Holiday Placement Programs (EDAIAFAD)

Keywords

• Student exchange programs
• Cultural exchange services
• International student placement
• Host family matching
• Study abroad programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Henderson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Student Exchange Program Fees: ICES generates revenue through program fees charged to international students participating in their exchange programs. These fees cover visa sponsorship (J-1, F-1), placement services, host family matching, orientation, ongoing support, and program administration. Host families are not charged to participate; they provide room and board as volunteers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ICES is a nonprofit organization that facilitates international student exchange by recruiting international students (ages 15-18) from 37 countries, sponsoring them under J-1 and F-1 visas, and matching them with vetted American host families and partner U.S. high schools for semester- or year-long placements. The organization also operates outbound study abroad and short-term volunteer programs for American high school students, plus internship and professional training placements for international college students and graduates. Host families participate as unpaid volunteers; revenue is generated through program fees paid by participating students and their families.

Product overview

ICES (International Cultural Exchange Services) is a nonprofit student academic and exchange organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of cultural exchange programs. The core offerings include inbound exchange programs (J-1 and F-1 visa programs for international students attending American high schools), outbound study abroad opportunities for American students, host family placement services, and professional internship/training programs. The organization operates as a unified platform connecting international students, American host families, schools, and communities through programs including short-term cultural experiences, virtual high school options, volunteer abroad opportunities, leadership development through the Global Ambassador Program, and scholarship funding via the Bridging Cultures Scholarship. Programs span from short-term exchanges to full academic years, serving both international students seeking American experiences and American students exploring global education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ICES Bridging Cultures Scholarship Program: Scholarship program awarding funds to globally-minded teen students
• Global Ambassador Student Volunteer Program

Products and services

• J-1 Public High School Program USA Cultural exchange program for international students (ages 15-18) to attend U.S. public high schools using J-1 visa sponsorship, paired with American host families for a semester or academic year.
• F-1 Academic High School CHOICE Program USA Academic program enabling international students to attend U.S. public, private day, or private boarding high schools with F-1 visa status, with a choice of school type.
• F-1 Academic High School VALUE Program USA Cost-optimized F-1 academic program for international high school students seeking quality U.S. education.
• F-1 Middle School Program USA Academic exchange program for international middle school students to study in the United States on F-1 visa.
• Virtual High School Program USA Online high school program enabling international students to experience American education remotely.
• Short-Term Student Programs (American School Experience) Short-duration exchange programs including the American School Experience, designed for students seeking brief cultural immersion.
• Host Family Program USA Program connecting international exchange students with American host families for cultural immersion and accommodation (host families participate as unpaid volunteers).
• High School Study Abroad Program Outbound program for American high school students to study abroad in Asia, Europe, Latin America, or Oceania.
• Short-Term Volunteer Abroad Programs (Volunteer Language Buddy / Volunteer Language Teacher Assistant) Short-term volunteer programs for American high school graduates, including Volunteer Language Buddy and Volunteer Language Teacher Assistant programs available in France and Italy.
• Global Ambassador Student Volunteer Program Leadership development program for American high school students providing peer support to exchange students while learning cross-cultural understanding.
• ICES Bridging Cultures Scholarship Program Scholarship program awarding funds (e.g., $17,000 in 2024) to globally-minded teen students through annual essay contests and cash prizes.
• Internship & Professional Training Program USA Program matching international college/university students (enrolled or recent graduates) with American companies for internship and training placements under J-1 sponsorship.

Quantifiable outcome

• 37 countries represented in annual student intake
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): CIEE is one of the largest U.S.-based nonprofit international exchange organizations, running J-1 high school programs, study abroad, and internship/training programs with a comparable host family and school-partnership model to ICES.
• AFS Intercultural Programs: AFS is a long-standing international nonprofit running high school exchange programs in more than 50 countries, with a host family placement model and program-fee revenue structure that directly mirrors ICES's core J-1/F-1 inbound business.
• Greenheart Exchange: Greenheart Exchange is a U.S. Department of State-designated J-1 visa sponsor operating high school and adult exchange programs with a comparable host family recruitment and school partnership approach.
• Aspect Foundation: Aspect Foundation is a nonprofit J-1 visa sponsor focused on inbound high school exchange, operating regional coordinator networks and scholarship-supported placements that overlap directly with ICES's core product.
• International Student Exchange (ISE): ISE is a nonprofit J-1 high school exchange sponsor using a similar regional representative model to recruit host families and place international students with U.S. high schools.
• Nacel International: Nacel International is a smaller direct competitor operating J-1 high school and short-term cultural exchange programs with a host family placement model comparable to ICES.
• IREX (via AYUSA): IREX runs the AYUSA brand for inbound high school J-1 exchange, providing a directly overlapping program to international students placed with American host families.
• ASSE International Student Exchange Programs: ASSE is a nonprofit J-1 visa sponsor placing international high school students with American host families through a regional representative network directly comparable to ICES's distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• EF Education First: EF is a large private global education company offering high school exchange, study abroad, language training, and cultural programs — broader than ICES but with overlapping J-1-style exchange product lines.
• World Learning: World Learning operates exchange and training programs including high school and Fulbright-style exchanges via The Experiment in International Living, competing with ICES in inbound student placements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/icesusaorg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcbRmZbZSR-y7AVvsBidhWw
• Facebookfacebook.com/InternationalCulturalExchangeServices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/icesusa
• Instagraminstagram.com/icesusaorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 ICES