World Cares Center
World Cares Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2001 that trains and coordinates disaster volunteers across 27 US states and four countries through free credentialing programs, an online academy, and a virtual emergency operations center.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What World Cares Center does
World Cares Center (WCC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2001 in New York City in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks to train and coordinate disaster volunteers. Its core mission is reducing disaster-driven harm by empowering underserved and at-risk communities with training, credentialing, and coordination tools that bridge grassroots responders with official emergency management agencies. WCC serves individual volunteers, employers, educational institutions, governments, and displaced populations across 27 US states and four countries (USA, Haiti, Ukraine, Sri Lanka).
The product portfolio centers on three pillars: the Collaborative Disaster Volunteer Credential (a three-tiered training program covering basic, intermediate, and management levels with ICS integration), the Disaster Volunteerism Academy (an online portal with 40+ free courses available 24/7), and the Ready Responder Hub (a virtual emergency operations center launched in fall 2023 that integrates training and crisis communication). Supporting programs include the Hope Love Courage emotional resiliency curriculum, the OSHA-funded Resilient Worker Initiative, and the Boots on the Ground disaster simulation exercise. The technology stack is a standard LMS plus community coordination platform with no disclosed AI/ML components.
WCC operates a donation- and grant-funded revenue model with no commercial pricing. Revenue streams include individual and corporate donations, grants from federal agencies (OSHA, AmeriCorps) and foundations (9/11 Day, American Red Cross, DRI Foundation), corporate event sponsorships (Platinum $20,000 down to Friend $500 for the annual Stars Under the Stars gala), and in-kind product donations. All training is provided free of charge. Go-to-market relies on community-led engagement through the Ready Responders Network, supplemented by event-driven fundraising (Iron Skillet Cook Off, gala), product-led growth through the free academy, and partnerships with FEMA, NIEHS, OSHA, CDC, UNICEF, Johnson & Johnson, and leading universities.
World Cares Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- World Cares Center
- Legal name
- World Cares Center
- Website
- https://worldcares.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- World Cares Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2001 that trains and coordinates disaster volunteers across 27 US states and four countries through free credentialing programs, an online academy, and a virtual emergency operations center.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
World Cares Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disaster Preparedness Training and Emergency Response Services
- NAICS
- Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disaster Recovery, Reconstruction & Resilience Programs (BPAGAAAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Resilience, Preparedness Training & Exercises (HLAJAGAL), Emergency Preparedness Planning & Readiness (HLAJAGAA)
Keywords
Where World Cares Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
World Cares Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: Individual and corporate donations through website donation portal, annual Stars Under the Stars gala, and Iron Skillet Cook Off fundraising events.
- Grants and Government Funding: Grants from organizations including Red Cross (Sandy Recovery), 9/11 Day, AmeriCorps, and OSHA grants (Resilient Worker Initiative). Funding for specific disaster response and training programs.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships at various levels (Platinum $20,000, Gold $10,000, Silver $5,000, Bronze $2,500) for annual events and ongoing programs.
- Product Donations: In-kind donations of PPE, medical supplies, clothing, and other disaster response materials from product sponsors and corporate donors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free disaster volunteer training credentials |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free workplace mental health training |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Corporate event sponsorship packages |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
World Cares Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
World Cares Center delivers free disaster preparedness and response training to volunteers and communities through the Collaborative Disaster Volunteer Credential program (a three-tier Basic, Intermediate, and Management credential), the Disaster Volunteerism Academy online portal offering 40+ courses, and the Ready Responder Hub virtual emergency operations center. The organization also deploys trained response teams to disaster-affected areas and delivers the Hope, Love and Courage emotional resilience workshop program for survivors and caregivers.
Product overview
World Cares Center offers a comprehensive suite of disaster preparedness and response programs centered around three pillars: education, coordination, and provision of resources. The core offerings include the Collaborative Disaster Volunteer Credential (a three-tiered training program), the Disaster Volunteerism Academy (an online portal with 40+ free courses), and the Ready Responder Hub (a virtual emergency operations center combining training access with volunteer coordination). Supporting programs include the Hope, Love and Courage emotional resilience workshops, the Resilient Worker Initiative for workplace mental health, and the Ready Responders 9/11 Initiative. The organization operates primarily as a nonprofit training and coordination service rather than a traditional software product.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Ready Responders Network (RRN): A virtual emergency operations center that connects individuals during times of disaster, allowing them to share updates, request resources, and offer support.
- Disaster Volunteerism Academy
- Collaborative Disaster Volunteer Credential
- Hope, Love and Courage Program
- Resilient Worker Initiative
- Ready Responders 9/11 Initiative
- Ready Responder Hub
- September Space
Products and services
- Collaborative Disaster Volunteer Credential (CDVC)
Quantifiable outcome
- 45,000+ individuals served through September Space Community Resiliency Centers (2001-2007)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use World Cares Center
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
World Cares Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
World Cares Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Peace BoatcorePartnership to continue joint international disaster relief efforts. Peace Boat provides funding for Haiti missions and disaster response deployments.
- American Red CrosscoreRed Cross awarded grant to World Cares Center specifically for Hurricane Sandy recovery operations.
- John Jay College of Criminal JusticecoreAcademic partnership for Fire Safety and Disaster Management Program. Lisa Orloff contributes to curriculum development. Dr. Lucia Velotti serves as Advisory Board member.
- Pratt UniversitycoreLisa Orloff developed curriculum for Graduate program Facilities and Construction Management.
- Rutgers UniversitycorePartner in developing robust training curriculum meeting safety and preparedness needs of general public and disaster volunteers.
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)coreWCC affiliated with NIEHS Hazardous Waste Worker Training Program. NIEHS supports Harvey Response team deployment.
- Baranova27coreUkrainian humanitarian aid organization partnered with WCC for medical treatment in resettlement villages, resiliency workshops, CPR/first aid training, and train-the-trainer classes.
- UNICEFcorePartnership for transient children and families program in Ukraine response efforts.
- Department of DefensecoreLisa Orloff called upon as advisor by Department of Defense for disaster management expertise.
- Con EdisoncorePartner in developing disaster response training curriculum.
- FEMAcoreWCC works with FEMA and multiple Offices of Emergency Management. Combines grassroots approach with Incident Command System and has authored a field guide.
- NYCOSHcorePartner ensuring quality, effectiveness, and integration of relevant topics and approaches in WCC training.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
World Cares Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Team Rubicon: Veteran-led nonprofit that mobilizes trained volunteers for disaster response operations across the US and internationally. Directly comparable to World Cares Center in mission, volunteer-led deployment model, and focus on disaster recovery operations.
- All Hands and Hearts: Disaster relief nonprofit that trains and deploys volunteers for early-recovery work including muck-and-gut, debris removal, and home rebuilding. Closely comparable to WCC's Sandy-era home rebuilding and volunteer training work.
- Heart to Heart International: Disaster response and humanitarian aid nonprofit delivering medical care, supplies, and volunteer training in the US and internationally. Comparable to WCC's medical clinic deployments in Ukraine and volunteer credentialing model.
- Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD): National association coordinating nonprofit disaster response organizations, including training and standards work. WCC has worked alongside NJ VOAD during Sandy response, making VOAD a direct peer in coordinating the volunteer disaster response ecosystem.
Broad incumbents
- AmeriCorps: Federal agency funding national service and volunteerism programs, including WCC's Ready Responder Initiative. Comparable as a national-scale funder and convener of community-based service and disaster preparedness.
- American Red Cross: The largest US humanitarian organization with broad disaster response, training, and sheltering capabilities. Operates in the same space as WCC but at vastly greater scale; WCC has received grant funding from Red Cross for Sandy recovery.
- Habitat for Humanity International: Large nonprofit mobilizing volunteers for home construction and disaster repair, including long-term recovery efforts after major US disasters. Comparable to WCC's home rebuilding work (1,400 Sandy homes prepared) at much greater scale.
- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): Global humanitarian network coordinating disaster response, preparedness training, and community resilience across 191 national societies. Comparable to WCC's international disaster response and training footprint, but at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.
- Direct Relief: Major humanitarian medical aid organization distributing pharmaceuticals and medical supplies globally. Direct partner of WCC for Ukraine medical supply chain, with overlapping focus on disaster-driven medical response.
Emerging players
- NECHAMA - Jewish Communities Disaster Response: Faith-rooted nonprofit that recruits, trains, and deploys volunteers for disaster cleanup and rebuilding. Directly comparable niche to WCC's muck-and-gut operations and volunteer training focus, though smaller in scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights4 records
Customer concentration
World Cares Center social profiles
Digital presenceWorld Cares Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
World Cares Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
World Cares Center subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
World Cares Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
World Cares Center M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about World Cares Center
What does World Cares Center do?
World Cares Center delivers free disaster preparedness and response training to volunteers and communities through the Collaborative Disaster Volunteer Credential program (a three-tier Basic, Intermediate, and Management credential), the Disaster Volunteerism Academy online portal offering 40+ courses, and the Ready Responder Hub virtual emergency operations center. The organization also deploys trained response teams to disaster-affected areas and delivers the Hope, Love and Courage emotional resilience workshop program for survivors and caregivers.
Is World Cares Center a public or private company?
World Cares Center is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was World Cares Center founded?
World Cares Center was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is World Cares Center based?
World Cares Center is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does World Cares Center make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are grants and Government Funding, corporate Sponsorships and product Donations.
Who are World Cares Center's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Team Rubicon, All Hands and Hearts, Heart to Heart International and Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD). Broad incumbents are AmeriCorps, American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity International, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Direct Relief. NECHAMA - Jewish Communities Disaster Response is listed as an emerging player.
Does World Cares Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for World Cares Center.
What industry is World Cares Center in?
World Cares Center's product category is Disaster Preparedness Training and Emergency Response Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAAAK, Disaster Recovery, Reconstruction & Resilience Programs, with a secondary code of HLAJAGAL, Community Resilience, Preparedness Training & Exercises. Its NAICS code is 624230 and its SIC code is 8300.