American-Scandinavian Foundation

What American-Scandinavian Foundation does

The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1912 and headquartered at Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York. ASF operates as the principal cultural and educational intermediary between the United States and the five Nordic countries — Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden — running a portfolio of exchange programs including the Fellowships & Grants Program (which has supported over 3,300 American and Scandinavian fellows since inception), an Internships & Training sponsorship program for Scandinavians working in the United States, publications (the annually published Scandinavian Review and the quarterly SCAN newsletter plus a weekly e-list), and a cultural program of gallery exhibitions, lectures, receptions, and themed events.

ASF's physical footprint is anchored by Scandinavia House, which houses the 3rd Floor Gallery, the Halldór Laxness Library, the Heimbold Family Children's Playing & Learning Center, the Shop at Scandinavia House, and Björk Cafe & Bistro. The organization distributes programming and services through this single NYC venue, its website (amscan.org), and a dedicated internship portal (apply.amscan.org); there is no multi-site physical footprint and no proprietary technology platform.

ASF's revenue model is a mix of recurring and discretionary streams: ten tiered membership subscriptions priced from $30 (Senior/Student) to $2,500 (Benefactor) annually, individual and corporate donations including planned giving via the Niels Poulson Society, Special Events revenue from the Annual Spring Gala (tickets, sponsorships, auction proceeds), grants, and ancillary retail/F&B income through venue operations. Its nonprofit governance — Board of Trustees, no parent entity — and 4-star Charity Navigator rating signal stable fundraising mechanics; the customer base is segmented into Nordic Culture Enthusiasts (primary), Corporate Members, and Fellowship/Grant Recipients, reached via Scandinavia House events, publications, email, and the annual gala.

Name

American-Scandinavian Foundation

Legal name

The American-Scandinavian Foundation

Website

https://amscan.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1912

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The American-Scandinavian Foundation, founded in 1912 and headquartered at Scandinavia House in New York City, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that promotes cultural and educational exchange between the United States and the five Nordic countries through fellowships, grants, internships, publications, and cultural programming supported by a tiered membership and donor base.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Newyork

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: ASF generates revenue through annual membership fees at multiple tiers, ranging from $30-$2,500 per year, providing access to publications, events, discounts, and other benefits.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donors and corporate members contribute to support ASF's mission of cultural exchange between the U.S. and Nordic countries. The organization accepts matching gifts, pledges, securities, and planned gifts.
3. Special Events Revenue: Annual Spring Gala and other special events generate fundraising revenue through ticket sales, sponsorships, and auction proceeds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The American-Scandinavian Foundation operates fellowships and grants supporting educational exchange between the U.S. and the five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden), sponsors internships and training for Scandinavians in the U.S., publishes the Scandinavian Review journal and SCAN newsletter, and runs cultural programs including gallery exhibitions, lectures, and special events at its Scandinavia House venue in New York City. The organization offers a tiered membership program with benefits such as publication subscriptions, event discounts, and venue access.

Product overview

The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) is a cultural and educational nonprofit organization that operates as a platform-plus-programs model, connecting the United States with the five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden) through fellowships, grants, internships, publications, and cultural programming at Scandinavia House in New York City. The core offerings include the Fellowships & Grants Program supporting over 3,300 fellows since 1912, the Internships & Training sponsorship, and publications including Scandinavian Review magazine and SCAN newsletter. Cultural programs encompass gallery exhibitions, lectures, and special events, supported by membership tiers offering various benefits. Scandinavia House serves as the physical hub, featuring the Heimbold Family Children's Playing & Learning Center, The Shop, and Björk Cafe & Bistro.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fellowships & Grants Program
• Internships & Training
• Cultural Programs at Scandinavia House
• Scandinavian Review
• Membership Program
• Annual Spring Gala

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,300+ fellows supported since 1912
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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

Broad incumbents

• Institute of International Education (IIE): A larger organization administering the Fulbright Program and a portfolio of international fellowships and exchange programs. Comparable to ASF on the fellowship-grant side though much broader in geographic scope and scale.
• American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS): A larger nonprofit distributing research fellowships and grants to scholars, including international components. Overlaps with ASF on fellowship administration but spans the humanities rather than Nordic-specific subjects.

Direct peers

• Asia Society: A New York-based nonprofit founded in 1956 to foster understanding of Asia with programs, fellowships, and a cultural center. Directly comparable to ASF as a region-specific cultural-diplomatic platform with programming, exhibitions, and a flagship NYC venue.
• Japan Society: A premier U.S.–Japan cultural organization headquartered in NYC, offering gallery programming, lectures, language classes, and member benefits. Closely mirrors ASF's venue-based, membership-driven cultural exchange model.
• French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF): A NYC-based nonprofit dedicated to French and Francophone culture, operating a cultural center with classes, screenings, exhibitions, and memberships. Highly comparable venue-plus-membership, language-and-culture nonprofit.
• Smithsonian Nordic Center / Nordic Museum: The Nordic Museum in Seattle is a heritage museum and cultural center serving the broader Nordic-American community. Shares ASF's Nordic cultural mission and venue-based cultural programming, though as a museum rather than fellowship-grant foundation.
• German American Cultural Foundation (Goethe-Institut USA equivalents): The Goethe-Institut operates U.S. cultural centers delivering language, fellowship, and cultural programming—directly comparable to ASF's fellowship, grants, and venue-based cultural exchange mission.

Emerging players

• Danish American Society: A heritage organization serving Danish-Americans with cultural programming and community events. A more narrowly scoped counterpart to one of the five Nordic-country constituencies ASF serves.

Regional players

• American-Scandinavian Foundation's Nordic-American parallel: Norwegian American Chamber of Commerce: A Nordic-U.S. business and cultural organization; overlaps with ASF in promoting U.S.–Nordic ties, though it focuses on commercial/trade rather than cultural exchange and operates as a network rather than a single venue.

Others

• Scandinavian House at NYU / American Scandinavian Foundation predecessors in Nordic studies programs: University-based Nordic studies programs at NYU, University of Wisconsin, and elsewhere offer fellowships and cultural exchange aligned with ASF's educational mission but operate as academic units rather than membership nonprofits.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ASFscanhouse
• Xx.com/ScanHouse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-scandinavian-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about American-Scandinavian Foundation