Greenheart International

What Greenheart International does

Greenheart International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1985 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, that operates U.S. Department of State-designated BridgeUSA cultural exchange programs. The organization serves international students, teachers, interns, trainees, and work-travel participants coming to the United States on J-1 visas, as well as American students traveling abroad, host families, U.S. K-12 schools, and host employers. Core programs include Greenheart Exchange (inbound high school students from 60+ countries), Greenheart Travel (outbound programs to 17 countries), Teach USA (international teacher placement in U.S. schools), Summer Work Travel, and the Intern & Trainee Program, supplemented by an alumni network (Greenheart Club), Global Impact Grants up to $2,000, school grants up to $4,000, and youth leadership conferences. Technology infrastructure runs on WordPress, AWS, Salesforce, Microsoft Dataverse, and Zoho.

Revenue is generated through three streams: program fees paid by participants and host organizations, tax-deductible donations (with 85% directed to programming), and U.S. Department of State grants including FLEX, YES, and the Ambassador Scholarship Fund. The organization is a designated J-1 visa sponsor and implements federal grant programs administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Distribution combines direct website applications, a volunteer Local Coordinator network, school partnerships, and partner organizations such as SWAT in Jamaica and Jobs Connect USA. Marketing is multi-channel across website content, social media, email newsletters, earned media, and industry conferences including WYSTC.

The organization is in a period of leadership transition: long-tenured President Daniel Ebert stepped down in February 2026 after 27 years, with former Board Chair Matt Smith appointed CEO effective March 2026. The company has also divested non-core assets (Greenheart Shop and Sobremesa, December 2023) and faces material regulatory exposure from the FY27 budget proposal to cut ECA funding by 68% and from U.S. travel restrictions affecting 39 countries.

Name

Greenheart International

Legal name

Greenheart International

Website

https://greenheart.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Greenheart International is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1985 that operates U.S. Department of State-designated BridgeUSA cultural exchange programs, placing international students, teachers, interns, and trainees with U.S. host families, schools, and employers while sending American students abroad through Greenheart Travel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Exchange Programs

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Government-Sponsored Scholarships & Exchange Funding (EDAIAOAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Study Abroad Program Operators (THAKAGAD), Provider-Run International Internship Programs (Multi-Country/Multi-Industry) (EDAIAFAA), Study Abroad Provider Networks, Consortia & Membership Organizations (EDAIAAAK)

Keywords

• Cultural exchange programs
• J-1 visa sponsorship
• International student exchange
• Teacher placement services
• Study abroad programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Fees collected from participants for exchange programs including high school exchange, work travel, teach USA, intern/trainee programs, and travel abroad programs.
2. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and corporations supporting cultural exchange and Global Impact Grants. 85% of donations go directly to programming.
3. Government Grants: Greenheart is an implementing partner for Department of State grants including FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange Program), YES Programs, and Ambassador Scholarship Fund, which are funded by Congress and administered by DOS.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Greenheart International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates cultural exchange programs as a U.S. Department of State-designated BridgeUSA J-1 visa sponsor. The organization runs inbound programs placing international high school students, teachers, interns, and summer workers with U.S. host families, schools, and businesses (Greenheart Exchange), and outbound programs sending American students abroad for study, language, and cultural immersion (Greenheart Travel). It also administers Department of State grant programs including FLEX, YES, and the Ambassador Scholarship Fund.

Product overview

Greenheart International is a nonprofit cultural exchange organization founded in 1985, connecting people and planet to build global leaders through volunteer service, environmentalism, personal development, and cultural exchange. The company operates as a U.S. Department of State-designated J-1 visa sponsor offering a portfolio of interconnected programs. The core offerings include Greenheart Exchange (inbound programs placing international students with U.S. host families), Greenheart Travel (outbound programs sending Americans abroad), and Teach USA (placing international teachers in U.S. schools). Supporting programs include the Greenheart Schools Program (with school grants up to $4,000), Global Impact Grant (alumni grants up to $2,000), Greenheart Club (alumni network), and Greenheart Odyssey (youth leadership programs including the Jr. GGLC and GGLC conferences). The company also administers Department of State grant programs including FLEX, YES, and Ambassador Scholarship Fund. The organization celebrated 40 years and 10,300+ exchanges in 2025, and utilizes WordPress, AWS, Salesforce, Microsoft Dataverse, and Zoho for data storage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Teach USA: Teacher exchange program placing international teachers in U.S. schools
• Summer Work Travel
• High School Exchange

Products and services

• Greenheart Exchange
• Greenheart Travel
• Teach USA
• Summer Work Travel
• Intern & Trainee Program
• School-to-School Exchanges
• FLEX Future Leaders Exchange Program
• YES Program
• Ambassador Scholarship Fund
• Global Impact Grant
• Greenheart Odyssey
• Junior Greenheart Global Leadership Conference (Jr. GGLC)
• Greenheart Global Leaders Conference (GGLC)
• First Time Traveler Scholarships
• Greenheart Club
• Adventure Camp Thailand

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,300+ exchanges facilitated in 2025 alone
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 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 core and minor.

• LanyardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2026Greenheart partnered with Lanyard to help host organizations identify and provide housing to seasonal staff traveling to the U.S. on Greenheart's Work and Travel Program. Lanyard offers creative seasonal and short-term housing solutions across the United States through a vast network of housing partners, giving employers access to millions of beds.
• Jobs Connect USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreenheart partnered with Jobs Connect USA to place international teachers in the St. Louis area, specifically with Riverview Gardens School District.
• Zanzibar Volunteers for Environmental Conservation (ZAVECO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZAVECO facilitated six-day beekeeping training for participants in the Beekeeping for Mangrove Protection project in Tanzania. They also donated two additional beehives and organized World Bee Day commemoration with specialized training.
• Alliance for International ExchangecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Alliance is the only collective public policy voice of the U.S. educational and cultural exchange community. Greenheart President Daniel Ebert was appointed Treasurer of the Board of Directors. The Alliance champions growth, impact, and sustainability of exchange programs through advocacy, professional development, and public engagement.
• U.S. Department of State (Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreenheart is a U.S. Department of State-designated visa sponsor and implementing partner for Department of State grants including FLEX, YES Programs, and Ambassador Scholarship Fund.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• WYSE Travel Confederation: WYSE is the industry association that awarded Greenheart as a 2024 finalist; it represents and benchmarks youth and student travel providers globally, making it a peer of an ecosystem-level sort rather than a direct competitor.
• Alliance for International Exchange: The Alliance is the collective policy voice of the U.S. exchange community; Greenheart's former President is now its Treasurer, making it a strategic/ecosystem peer rather than a commercial competitor.

Direct peers

• World Learning: World Learning is a DOS-designated ECA implementing partner (e.g., the Fulbright exchange portfolio and the NSLI-Y program) that competes with Greenheart in administering federally funded exchange programs and teacher/work-travel placements.
• Aspect Foundation: Aspect Foundation is a J-1 visa sponsor running high school exchange, intern/trainee, and summer work travel programs, competing for the same U.S. host families and school districts that Greenheart targets.
• Nacel Open Door: Nacel Open Door is a J-1 visa sponsor offering high school, language, and short-term programs in the U.S., placing it in direct competition with Greenheart for inbound high school participants and host families.
• AFS Intercultural Programs: AFS is a long-standing U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor of high school and other cultural exchange programs, competing head-to-head with Greenheart Exchange on inbound student placement and host-family recruitment.
• International Student Exchange (ISE): ISE is a U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor focused on inbound high school exchange, with a similar Local Coordinator-driven model to Greenheart Exchange.
• IREX: IREX is a U.S.-based nonprofit that runs DOS-funded exchange, training, and youth leadership programs — directly comparable to Greenheart's government-grant-administered portfolio such as FLEX and YES.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): CIEE is the largest U.S. J-1 BridgeUSA visa sponsor, operating exchange, teach, intern, and work-travel programs that directly overlap with Greenheart's core product set. New Greenheart CEO Matt Smith was previously EVP at CIEE, underlining the deep operational comparability.

Broad incumbents

• EF Education First (EF High School Exchange Year / EF Educational Tours): EF is a global education and exchange incumbent offering high school exchange, study abroad, and language travel — overlapping with both Greenheart Exchange and Greenheart Travel at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/greenheart-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

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 Greenheart International