ILP

What ILP does

ILP (International Language Programs) is a Utah-based non-profit organization founded in 1992 that organizes 3-4 month semester volunteer abroad programs for college-age adults (primarily 18-25), as well as longer-term professional teaching placements. Its core offering consists of two program tracks: (1) volunteer semesters in 11 countries across Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania, where participants teach English or serve in orphanages and humanitarian projects, with housing, meals, roundtrip flights, visa, and training bundled into a single program fee; and (2) Professional Teaching Programs in Thailand and Taiwan placing native English-speaking teachers in 6-12 month paid contracts with employer-provided housing, flights, and salary. The organization also offers a newer Family Service Adventure Trip product line and a fundraising guide to help volunteers offset costs.

The underlying technology stack is intentionally lightweight and operationally focused rather than platform-centric: a self-serve web application portal (ilp.org and my.ilp.org), payment processing via Bill and Pay, Affirm installment financing, email/newsletter systems, and an extensive content-marketing blog (blog.ilp.org). The proprietary asset identified is an English-language teaching methodology developed by Dr. Trevor McKee of Brigham Young University, built around small-group experiential interaction. There are no mobile apps, no public APIs, and no disclosed AI/ML capabilities.

ILP's revenue model is fee-for-service on the volunteer side (bundled program fees typically half the cost of comparable study abroad programs) and placement/coordination-fee based on the professional teaching side (with salaries paid by foreign employer schools). Distribution is direct-to-consumer through the website, supplemented by in-person and virtual info meetings in Utah and Hawaii, campus recruiting at BYU, BYU-Idaho, BYU-Hawaii, ASU, and other Utah schools, a 31,867-follower Instagram presence, and word-of-mouth referrals among the LDS/Mormon college demographic. The organization employs 11-50 staff out of its Orem, Utah headquarters.

Name

ILP

Legal name

International Language Programs

Website

https://ilp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ILP (International Language Programs) is a Utah-based non-profit that runs 3-4 month volunteer abroad semesters and paid professional teaching placements in 11+ countries, primarily serving college-age adults through bundled-fee programs at roughly half the cost of traditional study abroad.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Volunteer Programs

NAICS

Language Schools (61163), Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Education & Teaching Volunteer Programs (EDAIAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Language Immersion & Cultural Exchange Programs (THAKAGAE), Provider-Run International Internship Programs (Multi-Country/Multi-Industry) (EDAIAFAA)

Keywords

• Volunteer abroad programs
• English teaching abroad
• International volunteer programs
• Humanitarian volunteer trips
• Study abroad alternatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Orem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Volunteer Program Fees: ILP charges a program fee for volunteers that covers housing, roundtrip international flight, meals, visa, WiFi, pre-departure and in-country training, and support throughout the experience. The fee is described as affordable and half the cost of typical study abroad programs.
2. Professional Teaching Program Placement: ILP places professional teachers in schools in Thailand and Taiwan. Teachers receive salaries from their employers (schools), with ILP facilitating the placement. For Thailand, employers cover housing, meals, and provide salary plus flight reimbursement up to $1,500. For Taiwan, employers cover roundtrip airfare, housing, teaching materials, salary, and completion bonus.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ILP (International Language Programs) organizes 3-4 month volunteer abroad programs for college-age adults, primarily teaching English in 11+ countries across Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. The organization also facilitates paid professional teaching placements in Thailand and Taiwan with 6-12 month contracts, plus family service trips for families wanting to volunteer together. All volunteer programs include housing, meals, roundtrip international flight, visa support, and pre-departure and in-country training as part of a bundled program fee.

Product overview

ILP (International Language Programs) offers structured volunteer abroad programs for college-aged adults lasting 3-4 months. The portfolio includes three core program types: Exchange Programs (in Thailand, Poland, Mexico, Bulgaria) where volunteers teach English to paying students; Humanitarian Programs (in Nicaragua, Uganda, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Peru, Vanuatu, Romania) offering free education to underserved communities; and a Hybrid Program (India) combining both models. For those seeking longer-term commitments, ILP facilitates Professional Teaching Programs in Thailand and Taiwan with paid positions and 6-12 month contracts. The organization also offers Family Trips for families wanting to serve together, plus a Fundraising Guide to help offset costs. All volunteer programs include housing, meals, airfare, visa support, and training as part of the program fee structure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Volunteer Programs (Exchange)

Quantifiable outcome

• Affordable alternative to traditional study abroad - often half the cost or less
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ): IVHQ is one of the largest and most recognized volunteer abroad providers globally, offering programs in 50+ countries including ESL teaching, childcare, and community development. Directly competes with ILP for the same college-age and gap-year volunteer demographic with a comparable fee structure and online application model.
• Projects Abroad: Projects Abroad operates fee-based volunteer programs across 30+ countries with structured teaching, childcare, and humanitarian placements. It targets a similar young-adult demographic and competes head-to-head with ILP on ESL teaching placements and program-fee positioning.
• GoOverseas: GoOverseas is both a volunteer abroad provider and a leading online marketplace/listing platform connecting students to programs like ILP's. Overlaps directly as a comparator for prospective applicants evaluating volunteer teaching and cultural exchange options.
• Global Volunteers: Global Volunteers is a non-profit offering short- and long-term volunteer abroad programs including English teaching and community development. Closely matches ILP's mission, structure, and nonprofit orientation, serving a similar altruistic travel demographic.
• Maximo Nivel: Maximo Nivel operates volunteer and ESL teaching programs in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru with a similar fee model and beginner-friendly positioning. Overlaps directly with ILP's Latin America destinations and price-sensitive volunteer audience.
• Volunteer Forever: Volunteer Forever is a volunteer abroad marketplace and fundraising platform that helps applicants find and fund programs like ILP's. Serves as both a competing comparator and a complementary fundraising resource for ILP applicants.
• Love Volunteers: Love Volunteers offers affordable volunteer abroad programs across 30+ countries including ESL teaching and orphanage work. Competes directly with ILP on price point, country selection, and the college-age altruistic travel segment.

Broad incumbents

• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): CIEE is a large, established study abroad and intercultural exchange organization offering teaching, language, and volunteer programs globally. It is a broader incumbent with deeper institutional university partnerships and longer program durations than ILP.

Emerging players

• Greenheart Travel: Greenheart Travel runs high school and young adult cultural exchange and volunteer abroad programs with a mission-driven focus similar to ILP's. Targets an overlapping college-age demographic and competes on shorter-term, group-based international experiences.
• International TEFL Academy (ITA): ITA is a leading TEFL certification provider feeding graduates into international ESL teaching jobs. It competes indirectly with ILP's Professional Teaching Program in Thailand/Taiwan by training the same job-seeking demographic and offering placement assistance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/ilpadventure

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 ILP