World Affairs Council of Atlanta

What World Affairs Council of Atlanta does

The World Affairs Council of Atlanta is a non-partisan, non-profit civic organization founded in 2010 and based in Atlanta, Georgia. It convenes diplomats, policy experts, and business leaders for programming on international affairs, and operates as part of a national network of World Affairs Councils. Its core products are a calendar of public events and virtual dialogues, a cohort-based Global Leadership Fellows (GLF) program for emerging leaders, a news and insights blog, and an email newsletter subscription.

The organization is institutionally hosted by Georgia State University, which provides office infrastructure, an academic email domain ([email protected]), and the Qualtrics platform used for GLF applications. Its founding corporate council members — Coca-Cola and UPS — anchor a corporate sponsorship base alongside GSU. Distribution runs through a Wix-hosted website, a Constant Contact newsletter, and social channels on YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter, and Flickr. Recent activity (June–July 2026) included Atlanta-Spain World Cup programming with the Metro Atlanta Chamber, the Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Embassy of Spain, a board chair transition, and a virtual program on African youth and democracy with former U.S. Ambassador Michelle Gavin.

The business model is a non-profit membership and grant-supported structure with four primary revenue streams: individual memberships, corporate memberships, event registrations (including free public programming), and the Global Leadership Fellows program. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is event-driven, with direct membership and program sales through the website and partner channels, and segment focus split between corporate executives, emerging leaders, and the general Atlanta community. Leadership comprises Council President Rickey Bevington, Director Jackie Davis, Program Manager of Global Leadership Development Elena Fernandez, and a board chaired (as of July 1, 2026) by Asma Farid of BroadPeak Capital, succeeding Jim Reed of YKK Corporation of America.

Name

World Affairs Council of Atlanta

Legal name

World Affairs Council of Atlanta

Website

https://wacatlanta.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The World Affairs Council of Atlanta is a non-partisan Atlanta-based non-profit that convenes diplomats, policy experts, and business leaders for global affairs programming, serving corporate executives, emerging leaders through its Global Leadership Fellows program, and the broader Atlanta community via events and content.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Affairs Education

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHACAA

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

SECONDARYMPAGAGAK

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Conventions & Conferences (Business Events)

SECONDARYMPAAADAE

Public Affairs & Government Relations

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Advertising, Marketing & PR Services/Public Relations & Communications Agencies

Keywords

• International affairs education
• Global leadership development
• Public diplomacy programming
• Membership events
• Community convening

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Memberships: Annual membership fees for individuals seeking access to events, networking, and global affairs programming
2. Corporate Memberships: Corporate partnerships providing organizational access to programming and leadership development
3. Event Registrations: Revenue from event participation, including both in-person and virtual programming
4. Global Leadership Fellows Program: Fellowship program with application process for emerging leaders seeking global leadership development

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The World Affairs Council of Atlanta is a non-partisan nonprofit that convenes Atlanta's community around international affairs through individual and corporate memberships, public speaker events and virtual dialogues on global policy topics, and the Global Leadership Fellows cohort program for emerging leaders. It generates revenue primarily through membership fees, event registrations, corporate sponsorships, and grants, and distributes content through a website, newsletter, and social media channels.

Product overview

The World Affairs Council of Atlanta offers a suite of educational programs centered on global affairs and international relations. Its primary offerings include the Global Leadership Fellows Program, a structured leadership development initiative with application requirements, and regular public events featuring virtual dialogues and webinars with experts on geopolitics, diplomacy, and international policy. Additional offerings include a newsletter subscription service and a digital blog platform providing news and insights.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Global Leadership Fellows (GLF): A flagship leadership development program focused on global affairs and international leadership skills for professionals.

Products and services

• Global Leadership Fellows Program A cohort-based leadership development program designed to cultivate global leadership skills among professionals, featuring application requirements and mentorship components; targeted at emerging leaders and young professionals.
• Events and Virtual Dialogues Public programs featuring expert speakers on global affairs topics including international relations, geopolitics, diplomacy, and regional issues, offered both virtually and in-person; targeted at members and the Atlanta community.
• Individual and Corporate Memberships Annual membership tiers for individuals and corporations that provide access to events, networking, global affairs programming, and leadership development opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Leadership transition completed with recognition of Jim Reed's service as board chair and welcoming of Asma Farid as incoming chair

Named customers3 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

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered founding, program, venue and community.

• Coca ColafoundingOthersFounding Council Member providing corporate leadership and support to the organization. Coca Cola represents one of three founding corporate sponsors that established the Council's operational foundation.
• UPSfoundingOthersFounding Council Member providing corporate leadership and support. UPS contributes global logistics expertise and international business perspective as a founding sponsor.
• Georgia State UniversityfoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding Council Member and institutional host. GSU provides office infrastructure, academic credibility, and hosts the Global Leadership Fellows application through its Qualtrics platform. The university's email domain (gsu.edu) indicates operational hosting.
• Metro Atlanta ChamberprogramGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborating organization for World Cup-related programming and economic opportunity events, working together to showcase Atlanta on the global stage.
• Spain-U.S. Chamber of CommerceprogramGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization for Atlanta-Spain World Cup programming, contributing to diplomatic and business relationship building between cities.
• Embassy of SpainprogramGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborated on Atlanta and Spain World Cup programming to strengthen bilateral relations and cultural exchange.
• Georgia TechvenueStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for events such as the Ambassador David Satterfield program at Georgia Tech, Room 132-134, indicating partnership for event hosting and academic collaboration.
• Atlanta Community Food BankcommunityOthersVolunteer partnership for community service events like 'Think Globally, Serve Locally' programming, combining global affairs education with local community impact.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• World Affairs Council of Charlotte: Another Southeast city-based member of the World Affairs Councils network, offering comparable speaker series, young professionals programming, and corporate memberships.
• Foreign Policy Association: Nonpartisan civic organization that educates the public on global issues through events, publications, and programming; highly comparable in mission and audience to the Atlanta Council.
• Meridian International Center: Diplomatic exchange and global leadership nonprofit in Washington, DC that convenes ambassadors, business leaders, and emerging leaders — directly comparable audience and programs.
• Chicago Council on Global Affairs: Larger city-based global affairs council with a similar mix of speaker events, leadership programs, and corporate membership; directly comparable in mission, programming, and revenue model.
• Pacific Council on International Policy: Los Angeles-based nonpartisan council convening business, policy, and academic leaders on global affairs; structurally similar nonprofit membership model.

Emerging players

• International Affairs Forum: Smaller nonpartisan civic organization focused on international affairs speaker programming; partial overlap in audience and event-driven revenue model.

Broad incumbents

• World Affairs Councils of America: National umbrella network that the Atlanta Council belongs to; coordinates programming, fundraising, and standards across more than 90 affiliated councils, making it the closest broad-incumbent comparable.
• Council on Foreign Relations: Premier national foreign-policy membership organization with programs, publications, and convenings that overlap with the Atlanta Council's offering but at vastly larger scale and prestige.

Others

• British-American Business: Transatlantic business and policy membership network offering executive programs and convenings; adjacent in that it blends corporate networking with global affairs, similar to WAC Atlanta's corporate membership value prop.

Regional players

• WorldBoston: Boston-area council running Global Affairs Forums, scholarly programs, and young professional initiatives; nearly identical programming mix to the Atlanta Council.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WACATL
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@WorldAffairsATL
• Facebookfacebook.com/WACAtlanta
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wacatl
• Instagraminstagram.com/worldaffairsatl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 World Affairs Council of Atlanta