What Global Volunteers does

Global Volunteers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, founded in 1984 by Bud Philbrook and Michele Gran. It operates short-term volunteer vacation programs — typically one to two weeks in duration — across 14 countries (11 international plus 3 US-based programs in Puerto Rico, Montana, and Texas). Service activities center on teaching conversational English, supplementing school curricula, supporting community development, and delivering essential services such as nutrition and healthcare; the flagship Reaching Children's Potential (RCP) program operates in Peru and Tanzania with a 12-pillar holistic child welfare model. The organization has mobilized 44,000 volunteers across 37 countries over its 40+-year history, relying on locally embedded country managers and longstanding partnerships with schools, conservation bodies, indigenous communities, and faith-based organizations in each destination.

The business model blends fee-for-service and philanthropic revenue streams. Volunteers pay tax-deductible program contributions of approximately $2,991-$3,544 per two-week program (with single-room upgrades adding $280-$1,340), which covers food, lodging, airport transfers, program management, team leadership, and emergency medical evacuation insurance. A $350 non-refundable deposit secures placement. Additional revenue comes from donations — including the Changemakers Club monthly giving program, gift catalog purchases, matching gifts, and philanthropic partner funding — and from group bookings for 10+ participants (corporate, college, and professional association channels). Distribution is direct-to-consumer via website registration, a toll-free phone line (800-487-1074), and email; the organization also operates a Salesforce-based volunteer portal (globalvolunteers.my.site.com) for participant coordination.

Customer segments span retirees, families with children, high school and college students, professionals, solo travelers, and corporate teams, with primary markets segmented by persona rather than industry. Marketing is conducted through organic social (Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn), content (blog), email newsletters, and significant earned media coverage in outlets including USA Today, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, Time Magazine, Newsweek, and People Magazine. The organization holds a Charity Navigator three-star rating (85%) and a GuideStar transparency seal; it explicitly contributes to 9 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and is participating in the UN-designated 2026 International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development. Cuba operations are presently suspended due to fuel shortages and infrastructure challenges.

Name

Global Volunteers

Legal name

Global Volunteers

Website

https://globalvolunteers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Global Volunteers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1984 that runs short-term volunteer vacation programs in 14 countries, sending individuals, families, students, retirees, and corporate groups to teach conversational English and support community development, nutrition, and child welfare initiatives globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Volunteer Tourism and International Service Programs

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Unpaid/Volunteer-Linked Work Placement Programs (EDAIAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disaster Relief & Humanitarian Aid Volunteering (EDAIAGAF), Environmental Conservation & Sustainability Volunteering (EDAIAGAB), International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD), Medical Missions & Global Health NGOs (BPAGACAI)

Keywords

• Volunteer vacation programs
• International service programs
• Conversational English teaching
• Humanitarian volunteer travel
• Community development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Volunteer Program Contributions: Global Volunteers generates revenue primarily through tax-deductible program contributions paid by volunteers for participation in 1-2 week service programs abroad and in the US. Contributions cover food, lodging, airport transfers, program management, team leadership, emergency medical evacuation insurance, and administrative costs. Single room upgrades are available for additional fees.
2. Donations: The organization accepts tax-deductible donations from the public, including monthly giving through the Changemakers Club, one-time gifts, matching gifts, and funding opportunities for philanthropic partners.
3. Gift Catalog: Global Volunteers offers a gift catalog allowing donors to fund specific volunteer programs or services as gifts for others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Global Volunteers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that recruits and places short-term (typically 1-2 week) volunteers into service programs in 14 countries (11 international and 3 US-based), where they teach conversational English, deliver essential health and nutrition services, support community development, and supplement school curricula under the direction of local community leaders. Volunteers pay tax-deductible program contributions covering food, lodging, airport transfers, team leadership, emergency medical evacuation insurance, and administration, while the organization supplements its funding through donations, monthly giving, and a gift catalog.

Product overview

Global Volunteers is a nonprofit organization offering volunteer vacation programs. The company provides a portfolio of volunteer service programs organized by volunteer type (corporate, college, high school, retiree, family, professional) and by destination country. Core programs include international and domestic (USA) volunteer opportunities focused on teaching conversational English, delivering essential services, supporting community development, and supplementing school curricula. The flagship Reaching Children's Potential Program (RCP) operates in Peru and Tanzania providing comprehensive child welfare services. The company also offers a digital Volunteer Portal for participant coordination, plus donation and fundraising programs including the Changemakers Club monthly giving initiative. Programs span 14 countries including China, Cook Islands, Cuba, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Nepal, Peru, Poland, St. Lucia, Tanzania, Vietnam, and three USA locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• International Volunteer Programs Short-term (1–2 week) volunteer service programs in 12 countries outside the US (China, Cook Islands, Cuba, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Nepal, Peru, Poland, St. Lucia, Tanzania, Vietnam) covering conversational English teaching, essential services delivery, community development, and school curriculum supplementation. Designed for individual adult volunteers, families, students, retirees, and corporate/professional groups.
• USA Volunteer Programs Domestic short-term volunteer service programs in three US locations: Aguada, Puerto Rico; Blackfeet Reservation, Montana (near Glacier National Park); and Rio Grande Valley, Texas (San Juan). Programs follow the same community-development and English-teaching model as international programs.
• Corporate Volunteer Programs Customized team-based volunteer programs designed for corporate employee groups seeking international community service trips that combine CSR goals with team-building outcomes. Discounts are available for groups of 10+ participants and exclusive dates can be arranged.
• College Student Volunteer Programs Service-learning volunteer programs designed for college and university students, including those seeking academic credit, cultural exposure, and resume-building international experience through the Students As Teachers (SAT) pathway.
• High School Student Volunteer Programs Volunteer programs tailored for high school students, including summer and gap-year opportunities with age-appropriate service activities and group supervision.
• Professional Association Volunteer Programs Service programs designed for professional associations and member-based organizations seeking coordinated group volunteer experiences aligned with their community-service missions.
• Retiree Volunteer Programs Specialized volunteer opportunities for retirees and seniors offering meaningful, hosted travel-and-service experiences where participants contribute professional skills and life experience to community development programs.
• Family Volunteering Programs Multi-generational volunteer programs that allow families with children to serve together, with age-appropriate activities and country-specific minimum-age thresholds between 6 and 15 years.
• Reaching Children's Potential (RCP) Program Comprehensive, long-term child welfare program operating in Peru and Tanzania under the direction of local community leaders, eradicating hunger, improving healthcare, and enhancing cognition through 12 integrated essential services delivered in partnership with host families and organizations such as Sagrada Familia and the Ventanilla Health Clinic.
• Donation Programs (Changemakers Club, Gift Catalog, Matching Gifts) Fundraising and donation opportunities including the Changemakers Club monthly giving program, a Gift Catalog for funding specific programs as gifts, Matching Gifts programs, and one-time gifts under the organization's 501(c)(3) tax-deductible designation (EIN: 36-3352680).

Quantifiable outcome

• 44,000 volunteers have served in 37 countries since 1984
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Xi'an International UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary university partner in China where volunteers teach conversational English to students. Volunteers stay on campus at the Horyan Hotel. The university values volunteers' unique backgrounds and matches expertise with student needs.
• Takitumu Conservation AreacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental conservation partner in Cook Islands where volunteers work alongside environmental scientists on conservation projects including seedling planting, trail maintenance, and light construction.
• Cuban Council of ChurchescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in Cuba conducting programs for the elderly at church facilities, where volunteers engage in English conversation, games, and physical therapy assistance.
• Missionary Church of God (Cuba)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCuba community partner serving impoverished residents in Zamora neighborhood, including construction of soup kitchen to provide meals to 60 individuals in need.
• Maleviziou Local English SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local English schools in Maleviziou, Crete where volunteers teach conversational English to students ages 8-16 during evening classes.
• L. R. Pappalardo SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian school partner for summer English camps in Sicily, where volunteers teach pronunciation and vocabulary to children through interactive activities.
• TED Vocational High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVocational high school in Sicily with 120 students offering auto mechanics, aesthetics, culinary arts, and electrical training. Volunteers help students learn English terminology for their trades.
• Kampung Sungai Temon (Orang Asli Community)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous 'Sea Gypsy' community partner in Malaysia where volunteers help children develop conversational English through games, songs, and sports.
• Sagrada FamiliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafe harbor for babies and youth in Lima's Ventanilla district, where volunteers support the Reaching Children's Potential Program through education, health, and nutrition services.
• Ventanilla Health CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner where volunteers with medical backgrounds can assist with primary care for impoverished families in the surrounding shanty towns.
• ReymontowkacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric 200-year-old restored manor house in Chlewiska hamlet, near Siedlce, Poland. Serves as primary volunteer lodging and cultural center for English teaching and Ukrainian refugee support programs.
• Reymontowka School NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of rural primary and secondary schools in Poland where volunteers teach conversational English to Polish and Ukrainian youth.
• Ukrainian Center in SiedlcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport center for displaced Ukrainian families where volunteers help with English language instruction and provide psychosocial support during gatherings.
• Xi'anminorOthersLocal partner organizations and leaders directing volunteer service in Xi'an, China
• St. Joseph's Primary SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary school in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, where volunteers have taught English for multiple years, forming lasting connections with teachers and students.
• Astha Women's SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's school in Kathmandu, Nepal directed by Bina Deuja, focused on education for women who could not complete their education when young.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• United Nations Volunteers (UNV): UN entity that mobilizes volunteers for sustainable development assignments worldwide. Comparable on mission (SDG alignment) and volunteer mobilization, but operates via multilateral-government funding model rather than fee-for-program.
• Habitat for Humanity International: Large, established nonprofit mobilizing short-term volunteer teams for construction and community development globally. Overlaps with Global Volunteers on the volunteer-build/service-leisure model but at vastly greater scale and broader geographic footprint.
• Peace Corps: US government international service program placing volunteers in long-term assignments focused on education, health, and community development. Overlaps on mission and host countries but with multi-year assignments and government funding rather than 1-2 week fee-based programs.

Direct peers

• Cross-Cultural Solutions: International volunteer organization offering short-term service programs in countries overlapping with Global Volunteers (Peru, Tanzania, Costa Rica). Comparable on duration, target customer (individuals, families, retirees), and volunteer fees.
• International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ): One of the world's largest volunteer-abroad placement organizations offering short-term programs across many of the same countries as Global Volunteers (Peru, Nepal, Tanzania, Vietnam, etc.). Directly comparable on product type, volunteer duration, and target customer.
• Volunteer Forever: Marketplace and review site for volunteer abroad programs, listing many of the same destinations as Global Volunteers. Comparable as a discovery/booking channel for the same individual-volunteer customer.
• GoEco: Volunteer abroad platform offering short-term programs in wildlife conservation, community development, and teaching across multiple destinations. Comparable on product mix, pricing band, and individual volunteer target customer.
• Projects Abroad: International volunteer and intern placement organization with programs in over 30 countries spanning service, teaching, and community development. Closely comparable offering and pricing structure, including service-learning for high school and college students.

Others

• VolunteerMatch: Largest US online directory connecting volunteers with nonprofit opportunities. Not a direct competitor for international placements, but a key channel/adjacent player for how individuals discover volunteer opportunities like Global Volunteers' domestic USA programs.

Emerging players

• Global Citizen Year: Gap-year service-learning program placing high school graduates in international community settings. Overlaps with Global Volunteers' high school / gap year and service-learning credit offerings for student segments.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GloblVolunteers
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/GlobalVolunteers
• Facebookfacebook.com/GlobalVolunteers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/global-volunteers
• Instagraminstagram.com/globalvolunteers

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 Global Volunteers