Legacy International

What Legacy International does

Legacy International is a Bedford, Virginia-based non-profit organization founded in 1979 that implements international youth leadership and professional development exchange programs. It operates a portfolio of eight core programs funded primarily through U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs grants, including the Professional Fellows Program (PFP) for MENA-region professionals ages 25-40, TechGirls for girls ages 15-17 in STEM, the On-Demand Youth Leadership Program (ODYLP) with specialized tracks such as EAGLE (AI and global leadership), the Saudi Young Leaders Exchange Program (SYLEP), the residential Global Youth Village summer exchange, and two registered-trademark curricula — LivingSidebySide® (intergroup communication and conflict resolution) and Skills for Success® (workforce readiness). The organization has implemented projects in over 105 countries across five continents and maintains an alumni base exceeding 10,000 across its Morocco programming alone.

The organization's core technology consists of programmatic curricula and training methodologies rather than software. LivingSidebySide® is documented by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) with measured outcomes in 125 New York City schools and 10 schools in Kyrgyzstan, representing the organization's principal evidence-based differentiator. Programs are delivered through in-person residential exchanges in the U.S. and partner countries, virtual programming (Global Viewpoints Forum launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic), and ongoing alumni engagement, with participant recruitment coordinated through U.S. Embassy partnerships in Algeria, Morocco, and other MENA countries.

Legacy International is funded almost entirely through U.S. federal grants supplemented by donations via GoFundMe and Network for Good. Programs are scholarship-based with no participant fees, and the organization operates with a staff of 11-50 employees. The leadership team is led by founder J.E. Rash, who serves as Founder and President. Geographic concentration is heaviest in the MENA region (Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Saudi Arabia), with additional implementation reach into Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caucasus, South and Central Asia, Europe, and the Pacific.

Name

Legacy International

Legal name

Legacy International

Website

https://legacyintl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Legacy International is a Bedford, Virginia-based non-profit founded in 1979 that implements U.S. Department of State-funded international exchange and youth leadership programs across 105+ countries, serving emerging leaders ages 15-40 through programs such as TechGirls, the Professional Fellows Program, and ODYLP.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Leadership Development & International Exchange Programs

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Guardianship, Custodianship & Local Sponsor Services (EDAIAHAF)

Keywords

• Youth leadership training
• Cultural exchange programs
• Professional fellowship programs
• STEM education exchange
• Conflict resolution training

Headquarters

HQ city

Bedford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funding: Legacy International receives primary funding from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, to implement exchange programs such as Professional Fellows Program, TechGirls, and Saudi Young Leaders Exchange Program.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization accepts donations through platforms like GoFundMe and Network for Good to support program operations and participant support.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Legacy International is a non-profit organization that delivers international youth leadership and professional development exchange programs. Its portfolio includes the On-Demand Youth Leadership Program (ODYLP), TechGirls, the Professional Fellows Program (PFP), Global Youth Village, the Saudi Young Leaders Exchange Program (SYLEP), LivingSidebySide, and Skills for Success. Programs are funded primarily through U.S. Department of State grants and implemented through partnerships with host organizations, U.S. embassies, and educational institutions across more than 105 countries.

Product overview

Legacy International operates as a non-profit international exchange organization offering a portfolio of youth leadership and professional development programs. The core offerings include the On-Demand Youth Leadership Program (ODYLP) with specialized tracks like EAGLE for AI education; TechGirls for STEM education targeting young women; the Professional Fellows Program (PFP) for MENA region economic empowerment; Global Youth Village as a residential summer exchange; Saudi Young Leaders Exchange Program (SYLEP); LivingSidebySide® for conflict resolution and civic skills training; and Skills for Success® for professional development. These programs are funded primarily by the U.S. Department of State and focus on cross-cultural exchange, leadership development, STEM education, and economic empowerment across multiple regions including MENA, with implementation reaching over 105 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TechGirls: A U.S. State Department initiative administered by Legacy International that provides STEM education and leadership training for young women ages 15 to 17.
• Professional Fellows Program (PFP)
• On-Demand Youth Leadership Program (ODYLP)
• Global Youth Village
• LivingSidebySide
• Skills for Success
• Global Viewpoints Forum

Products and services

• On-Demand Youth Leadership Program (ODYLP) A youth leadership exchange program that equips emerging leaders with skills in areas such as Climate Adaptation and Resilience, Clean Energy, and Community Service through cross-cultural experiences. Targets youth from diverse backgrounds seeking leadership development opportunities.
• ODYLP: Excellence in AI and Global Leadership Exchange (EAGLE) A specialized track within ODYLP focused on AI education and global leadership development for youth participants. Addresses artificial intelligence literacy alongside cross-cultural exchange.
• TechGirls A U.S. State Department initiative administered by Legacy International providing tech education and mentorship to girls ages 15-17 from around the world, focusing on STEM skills and leadership development.
• Professional Fellows Program (PFP) A U.S. Department of State-funded two-way exchange program for economic empowerment in the MENA region, bringing professionals ages 25-40 to U.S. cities for 5.5-week professional exchanges and conducting reciprocal U.S. delegation visits to fellows' home countries.
• Global Youth Village A residential summer camp program focused on building global leaders through cross-cultural experiences and leadership training, held at the Bedford, Virginia campus.
• Saudi Young Leaders Exchange Program (SYLEP) A multi-phased leadership experience for Saudi university students ages 20-25 focused on entrepreneurial skills, workplace competencies, and community engagement.
• LivingSidebySide® (LSBS) A professional development training program that facilitates intergroup communication, conflict prevention and resolution, and civic engagement skills for schools and communities. Implemented in 125 NYC schools and 10 schools in Kyrgyzstan with outcomes measured by SIPRI.
• Skills for Success® A professional development immersion program focused on workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills for emerging leaders.

Quantifiable outcome

• LivingSidebySide program implemented in 125 NYC schools and 10 schools in Kyrgyzstan with measured improvements in conflict resolution and tolerance.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TechGirls Global (techgirlsglobal.org)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegacy International administers the TechGirls program, a U.S. State Department initiative that provides STEM education opportunities for girls ages 15 to 17 from multiple countries worldwide.
• Global Youth Village (globalyouthvillage.org)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegacy International operates the Global Youth Village program, a residential summer camp focused on youth leadership development, cross-cultural exchange, and building global leaders.
• U.S. Embassy AlgierscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for implementing Professional Fellows Program follow-on projects and alumni programming in Algeria, including the EYEs for Fundraising project at American Cultural Center Algiers.
• U.S. Embassy RabatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting Digital Morocco 2030 initiative and professional exchange programming, with focus on strengthening small businesses and entrepreneurs.
• Tech Ranch AustinminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAustin-based technology accelerator and startup ecosystem hub that hosted Professional Fellows Program participant Ghazi Saddem, providing exposure to the U.S. tech ecosystem.
• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted mixed-methods evaluation of LivingSidebySide program implementation, measuring short and medium term results of the program's conflict resolution and social cohesion training.
• She Codes (Libya)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLibyan non-profit founded by PFP alumna Najla Almissalati focused on empowering women and children with coding skills to bridge the gender gap in technology.
• UM6P (Université Mohammed VI Polytechnaire)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoroccan university visited during PFP outbound exchanges, particularly the Coop Lab focused on cooperative enterprises.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Institute of International Education (IIE): IIE is a larger, established operator of the Fulbright Program and many State Department-funded exchanges, offering an overlapping portfolio of scholarship administration and international education services at materially greater scale.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): CIEE operates study abroad and exchange programs with strong ties to U.S. government and academic partners, offering comparable cross-cultural leadership development offerings at broader scale.

Emerging players

• Global Citizen Year: Global Citizen Year runs gap-year and youth leadership programs with cross-cultural immersion components — overlapping with Legacy's Global Youth Village and ODYLP but smaller scale and narrower geographic focus.

Direct peers

• Meridian International Center: Meridian operates U.S. State Department-funded professional exchange programs and leadership training for international visitors, closely aligned with Legacy's PFP and Skills for Success offerings.
• Youth for Understanding (YFU): YFU is a youth-focused exchange nonprofit operating study abroad and leadership programs globally, with comparable host-family and participant-cohort model to Legacy's Global Youth Village and ODYLP.
• AFS Intercultural Programs: AFS is a global nonprofit running youth intercultural exchange and leadership programs across 100+ countries — directly comparable in mission, target demographic, and international reach.
• IREX: IREX is a global nonprofit that implements U.S. State Department-funded exchange and leadership programs for youth and professionals internationally, directly comparable in funder base, programmatic model, and target cohorts.
• Cultural Vistas: Cultural Vistas administers U.S. Department of State-funded professional exchange and fellowship programs for emerging international leaders, directly competing for similar cooperative agreements.
• World Learning: World Learning administers the Fulbright Program and other State Department exchange initiatives, including The Experiment in International Living and School for International Training — a near-identical exchange implementation peer.
• American Councils for International Education: American Councils implements multiple U.S. government-funded academic and professional exchange programs across Eurasia, MENA, and beyond, with comparable scale, program mix, and federal contracting posture.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Legacyintl1979
• Facebookfacebook.com/Legacyintl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/legacy-international
• Instagraminstagram.com/legacyintl
• Xx.com/LegacyIntl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Legacy International