Wise Foundation

What Wise Foundation does

WISE Foundation is a U.S.-based non-profit cultural exchange organization founded in 1988 and headquartered in Dyersburg, Tennessee. The company operates as a designated J-1 visa sponsor and delivers a portfolio of nine international exchange programs — including the High School Academic Year Program, Agricultural Training, Internship and Training, Volunteer Program, Work and Travel, Study Abroad for U.S. Students, Outbound Study Tours, Farm and Ranchstay, and a Homestay Program — that place international students, young professionals, and adults with American host families, seasonal employers, and universities. WISE bundles medical insurance coverage (underwritten by Berkley Accident and Health) into participant enrollment and supports each participant through visa sponsorship, housing assistance, and 24-hour emergency support.

The organization maintains a network of overseas partner organizations across Europe, South America, Asia, Africa, Central America, the Caribbean, and Oceania that recruit participants in their home countries, alongside contracted U.S. university partnerships with UC Davis, UC Irvine, and a cluster of community colleges in Northern and Southern California. WISE runs regional offices in Lake Forest, CA (serving UC Irvine and Orange County), Davis, CA (serving UC Davis), and Marietta, GA (Atlanta office), in addition to its Tennessee headquarters. The business model is service-fee based: participants pay placement fees (e.g., $225 for 4-week homestay programs and $325 for 5-10 week programs, with $100 continuation fees for extensions) and host families receive nightly fees paid by students. GTM motion is hybrid, combining a referral/affiliate channel via overseas partners, direct-to-consumer self-serve application downloads from the website, and institutional partnerships with universities and seasonal employers.

Operationally, WISE is a lean organization (1-10 employees stated) running a high-touch, relationship-driven service model rather than a technology platform. The organization does not develop proprietary software, APIs, or AI/ML capabilities, and its core technology is described as "Not applicable" — value creation rests on regulatory designation, partner network depth, host family screening, and 35 years of operating history rather than on software or data assets.

Name

Wise Foundation

Legal name

WISE Foundation

Website

https://wise.wisefoundation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WISE Foundation is a U.S. non-profit cultural exchange organization founded in 1988 that places international students, young professionals, and adults in J-1 visa programs, homestays, and Work and Travel seasonal jobs across the United States via overseas partner agencies and university contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Exchange Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Work Exchange & Farmstay Programs (WWOOF/HelpX-Style) (EDAIAGAK)

Keywords

• Cultural exchange programs
• J-1 visa sponsorship
• International student exchange
• Homestay placement services
• Work and travel programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Dyersburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Cultural Exchange Program Fees: WISE Foundation generates revenue through fees charged to participants for placement in cultural exchange programs including J-1 visa sponsorship programs, homestay arrangements, work and travel placements, and study abroad services. The organization operates as a non-profit entity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

WISE Foundation is a non-profit cultural exchange organization that administers J-1 visa-sponsored international exchange programs for high school students, university students, young professionals, and adults. Programs include High School Academic Year, Agricultural Training, Internship and Training, Volunteer, Work and Travel, Homestay, Farm/Ranchstay, Outbound Study Tours, and Study Abroad. Bundled services include visa sponsorship, host family placement, job placement, health insurance coverage, and ongoing participant support.

Product overview

WISE Foundation is a non-profit cultural exchange organization offering a portfolio of international exchange programs for young people, students, and professionals. The core offering is a set of J-1 visa-sponsored programs including the High School Academic Year Program, Agricultural Training, Internship and Training, Work and Travel, and Volunteer Programs, all of which provide participants with homestay accommodations, visa sponsorship, insurance, and ongoing support. Complementary programs include Study Abroad for U.S. Students, Outbound Study Tours, and Farm/Ranchstay experiences. The Homestay Program (including Individual Homestay and University/College & ESL Homestay) serves as a foundational service across most programs, providing participants with host family accommodations. WISE Insurance is bundled with all program participation. The organization operates offices in multiple U.S. states including Tennessee (national headquarters), Georgia (Atlanta), and California (Southern and Northern California offices).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WISE Insurance: Insurance services provided to program participants

Products and services

• High School Program (Academic Year Program) An academic and cross-cultural experience for high school students aged 15-17, who live with an American host family and attend a local high school for either a semester (5 months) or full academic year (10 months).
• Agricultural Internship and Training J-1 Program J-1 visa agricultural training program that allows international agriculturalists to pursue training in agri-business to improve their knowledge and skills.
• Internship and Training J-1 Program A structured J-1 visa program offering young professionals an opportunity to expand their careers through a learning environment in the United States.
• Volunteer Program A program for people aged 18 and older from around the world to explore American culture by participating in various volunteer projects organized by not-for-profit organizations throughout the United States, with durations of 2 to 8 weeks.
• Work and Travel J-1 Program J-1 visa sponsorship program enabling university students from around the world to work in seasonal positions, live in, and learn about the United States during their summer break. Includes visa sponsorship, job placement, housing assistance, and ongoing personal support.
• Study Abroad for U.S. Students A program for American college and university students to spend their summer holidays working in the United States, placed in locations such as amusement parks, resorts, tourist destinations, and ski resorts.
• Outbound Study Tours International study and cultural exchange tours for Americans, including themed tours such as Australia Agriculture and Study Tour, Cuban Agriculture and Study Tour, Ireland Equine and Cultural Tour, Ireland Horticulturists Tour, and Switzerland Agricultural Study Tour.
• Farm and Ranchstay Program A program where international participants spend approximately 4 to 6 weeks with a farm or ranch family, participating in day-to-day activities of American farm and ranch life. Available for participants aged 16 to 25, with no previous farm or ranch experience required.
• Homestay Program A comprehensive homestay program offering individuals and groups the opportunity to experience daily life in an American family while improving English skills. Includes Individual Homestay, University/College and ESL Homestay, and group homestay options, with locations across California, Washington, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Florida, and other states.
• WISE Insurance Medical insurance coverage provided to all WISE program participants during their program dates. Insurance is underwritten by Berkley Life and Health Insurance Company (Policy #BTA L10100237 001), with claims administered by Cambridge Administrators. Coverage includes network provider access through myfirsthealth.com.
• University/College & ESL Homestay Services Homestay placement services for international students attending universities and colleges, including UC Irvine, UC Davis, and community colleges in Northern and Southern California. Services include placement with screened host families, ongoing support, and English language immersion.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tens of thousands of international students have traveled to the United States through WISE programs

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Overseas Partner OrganizationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWISE Foundation works with partner organizations across Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa to recruit participants for cultural exchange programs. These overseas partners process applications and coordinate with WISE for program placement in the United States.
• University of California IrvinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWISE provides homestay placement services for international students attending UC Irvine's programs, including the Intensive English Language Program. WISE contracts with the university to provide these services.
• University of California DaviscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWISE contracts with UC Davis University Extension to provide homestay placement services for students in the Intensive English Language Program and other academic programs at UC Davis.
• Berkley Accident and Health (Insurance Provider)minorOthersWISE participants are covered by insurance policies underwritten by Berkley Accident and Health (Policy #BTA L10100237 001). Claims administration is handled by Cambridge Administrators.
• Cambridge AdministratorsminorOthersClaims administrator for WISE participant health insurance. Located at 5832 South 142nd Street, Suite A, Omaha, Nebraska 68137. Available 24 hours/7 days a week for claims processing.
• Irvine Valley CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWISE provides homestay services for students attending Irvine Valley College in Southern California, integrating accommodation with academic programs.
• Orange Coast CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWISE provides homestay services for international students attending Orange Coast College, one of the largest community colleges in the Orange County region.
• Saddleback CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWISE provides homestay services for students attending Saddleback College in the Southern California region.
• Sacramento City CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWISE provides homestay services for international students attending Sacramento City College in Northern California.
• American River CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWISE provides homestay services for international students attending American River College in the Sacramento area.
• Woodland Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWISE provides homestay services for international students attending Woodland Community College in the Sacramento region.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nacel Open Door: International student exchange organization operating high school and short-term homestay programs between the US and multiple countries. Direct overlap with WISE's homestay and high school exchange offerings.
• World Learning: Non-profit organization operating the Experiment in International Living and other J-1 cultural exchange programs. A non-profit peer with similar mission and program structure to WISE.
• Greenheart Exchange: Non-profit organization designated for J-1 cultural exchange programs including Work & Travel, Au Pair, high school, and environmental programs. Closely comparable nonprofit peer to WISE in mission and program mix.
• AIFS (American Institute for Foreign Study): Major study abroad and cultural exchange provider offering J-1 work and travel, internship, and au pair programs. Comparable to WISE in international cultural exchange service offerings.
• Cultural Homestay International (CHI): Non-profit cultural exchange organization that places international students and visitors with American host families. Matches WISE's homestay placement services and university ESL homestay offerings.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): One of the largest US-designated J-1 visa sponsors offering work, travel, internship, study abroad, and high school exchange programs. Operates in the same cultural exchange category as WISE with overlapping program types and target participants.
• InterExchange: Designated US J-1 sponsor offering Work & Travel, Au Pair, and Career Training programs for international participants. Directly comparable to WISE on J-1 sponsorship and seasonal work placement.
• Intrax (Geovisions / AYUSA): Designated J-1 sponsor providing Work & Travel, internship, and au pair programs, plus inbound high school exchange. Competes directly with WISE in J-1 sponsorship categories.
• International Student Exchange (ISE): Non-profit organization coordinating high school and exchange visitor programs with American host families. Overlaps with WISE's homestay placement and high school academic year program.
• Asse International: Non-profit international student exchange organization offering high school exchange, homestay, and J-1 secondary school programs. Direct competitor in student homestay placement services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WISEworktravel
• Facebookfacebook.com/WISEFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/pub/wise-foundation/4a/20b/374
• Instagraminstagram.com/wiseworktravel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wise Foundation