What Refugee Development Center does

Refugee Development Center (RDC) is a Lansing, Michigan-based nonprofit organization founded in 2002 that delivers free education, engagement, and support services to refugees and newcomers resettling in mid-Michigan. Its program portfolio centers on a six-level ESOL English-language curriculum and includes K-12 academic tutoring (SOAR), youth mentoring for ages 15-24, a summer learning camp (GLOBE), citizenship preparation, digital and financial literacy, early-childhood literacy (EFEL), health and housing navigation, a driving simulation program, wellness groups such as a Women's Sewing Circle and yoga, the One & All inclusive entrepreneurship track with LEAP, and resource-distribution programs including Veggie Box and the THRIVE Closet. Services are delivered through a single Newcomer Center hub at 5509 S. Pennsylvania Ave., augmented by virtual classes and home visits, and the website is localized into 10 languages (English, Arabic, Spanish, Farsi, French, Burmese, Nepali, Kinyarwanda, Somali, Swahili).

RDC does not operate proprietary technology systems; its competitive posture rests on a 60+ partner ecosystem spanning Michigan State University, Lansing Community College, Lansing School District, Ingham County Health Department, Capital Area Housing Partnership, Allen Neighborhood Center, St. Vincent Catholic Charities, Capital Area United Way, and the Office of Global Michigan, supported by a Cultural Broker Team covering 15+ languages. The organization is governed by a board chaired by John "Jack" E. Roberts and led operationally by Executive Director Erika Brown-Binion, with day-to-day program direction split across an Assistant Director, an Outreach Director, a Family Engagement and Data Director, and an English Language Program Director.

The business model is donation-funded: all services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries, and revenue is assembled from general-fund donations, a crisis fund, recurring monthly subscriptions, stock and planned-giving gifts, and in-kind donations (welcome kits via an Amazon Wish List). There is no disclosed pricing to beneficiaries, no public financial reporting in the provided source material, and no traditional equity funding; the entity is a 501(c)-style nonprofit with no parent company or subsidiaries, serving a regional rather than national catchment in mid-Michigan.

Name

Refugee Development Center

Legal name

Refugee Development Center

Website

https://refugeedevelopmentcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Refugee Development Center is a Lansing, Michigan-based nonprofit founded in 2002 that delivers free English-language, tutoring, mentoring, citizenship, wellness, and wraparound resettlement services to refugees and newcomers across mid-Michigan, supported by a 60+ partner ecosystem and a multilingual staff covering 15+ languages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee and Immigrant Community Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI), Immigrant & Refugee Workforce Integration Programs (EDAAAOAJ), Immigrant & Refugee Community Education (Integration/Navigation) (EDAAAFAH), Newcomer & Refugee Student Support Programs (EDAJAGAH), Refugee & Migrant Integration Enterprises (Livelihoods, Services) (BPAGALAN)

Keywords

• Refugee resettlement services
• English language instruction
• Newcomer community support
• Immigrant education programs
• Cultural integration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lansing

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. General Fund Donations: Tax-deductible donations to support ongoing programs including English classes, tutoring, mentoring, home visits, women's sewing circle, soccer for newcomers, family literacy, and more.
2. Crisis Fund Donations: Emergency funding to support newcomer families in crisis with basic needs including housing, food, clothing, utility assistance, and other immediate needs.
3. Monthly Subscriptions: Recurring monthly donations from supporters committed to ongoing improvement of newcomers' lives in Lansing.
4. Stock/Asset Gifts: Donations of stock, property, or planned giving that includes the Refugee Development Center.
5. In-Kind Donations: Welcome kits and material donations for newcomer families, managed through Amazon Wish List.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Refugee Development Center is a nonprofit organization that delivers free educational, engagement, and support programs to refugees and newcomers in mid-Michigan. Core offerings include six-level English language instruction (ESOL), K-12 tutoring (SOAR), youth mentoring, citizenship preparation, early childhood literacy (EFEL), wellness groups, entrepreneurship training (One & All), housing and health navigation, and a driving simulation program, all delivered in-person at the Lansing Newcomer Center and virtually.

Product overview

Refugee Development Center operates as a nonprofit service organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs for refugees and newcomers in mid-Michigan. The Center's offerings include English language instruction (ESOL) at six levels, youth mentoring, K-12 tutoring (SOAR), wellness groups including Women's Sewing Circle, GLOBE Summer Camp, Welcome Neighbor housing navigation, health navigation, driving simulation, citizenship preparation, early childhood literacy (EFEL), digital literacy, financial literacy, career and college readiness, youth leadership, newcomers soccer, One & All entrepreneurship, Veggie Box produce program, Bridges parenting support, THRIVE closet resource room, and a central Newcomer Center hub. These programs are designed around three pillars: Education, Engagement, and Support, working together to help refugees integrate and thrive in their new community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• English Language Program (ESOL) Comprehensive English instruction program for speakers of other languages, offering six levels of instruction in various settings to help adults improve English skills and career opportunities.
• Youth Mentoring Program One-on-one mentoring program for young adults ages 15-24 that pairs refugee students with mentors for academic support, college preparation, and life skills development.
• Tutoring/SOAR Program Academic tutoring program called SOAR (Strengthening Opportunities for Academic Reach) for K-12 students focusing on literacy, language acquisition, STEM, curriculum support, and socio-emotional wellness.
• Wellness Groups Various wellness programs including Women's Sewing Circle (in partnership with St. Vincent Catholic Charities), driving simulation practice, yoga, music, and art programs.
• GLOBE Summer Camp Summer learning camp providing English language instruction, community exploration, and friendship-building opportunities for newcomer youth of all ages.
• Welcome Neighbor Program Step-by-step housing navigation program helping refugees with housing support, homeownership planning, financial literacy, tenant/owner rights, home visits, and family engagement.
• Health Navigation Health navigation services helping families enroll in insurance plans, access healthcare services, improve health literacy, and understand health-related documents.
• Driving Simulation Program State-of-the-art driving simulator providing practice for teens and new drivers to learn essential safe driving skills with nearly 50 miles of virtual drivable area.
• Citizenship Program Free citizenship preparation assistance including exam prep, interview practice, and individual tutoring to help eligible individuals become U.S. citizens.
• EFEL (Engaging Families in Early Literacy) Early childhood program for refugee parents and children ages 0-5 featuring songs, games, and learning activities to build foundational literacy skills.
• Digital Literacy Program Computer and digital literacy training covering computer use, email, virtual learning, and internet skills for newcomers.
• Financial Literacy Education Financial education program covering money management in the U.S., budgeting, banking, savings, credit cards, and electronic banking processes.
• Career and College Readiness Professional and career readiness program helping students with goal-setting, career navigation, job preparation skills, interview practice, and college preparation.
• Youth Leadership Institute Leadership development program for young adults to become positive change leaders in their communities through skill-building and transformative tools.
• Newcomers Soccer Program Soccer program for middle school students providing regular opportunities for academic enrichment, peer support, coaching, and friendship.
• One & All Entrepreneurship Program Inclusive entrepreneurship program in partnership with LEAP designed to increase successful entrepreneurship and small business ownership among underrepresented populations including people of color, women, persons with disabilities, immigrants, and refugees.
• Veggie Box Program Weekly fresh fruit and vegetable delivery program for newcomer families, offered in partnership with Allen Neighborhood Center.
• Newcomer Center Central facility providing comprehensive services including basic literacy support, computer access, resume writing, job applications, and college applications for refugee neighbors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving refugees from countries including Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and more
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lansing Area Economic Partnership (LEAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for One & All inclusive entrepreneurship program designed to increase successful entrepreneurship and small business ownership among underrepresented populations including people of color, women, persons with disabilities, immigrants, military veterans, and refugees.
• St. Vincent Catholic CharitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Women's Sewing Circle program - a place of healing and learning through friendship, craft, and support for refugee women experiencing isolation.
• Allen Neighborhood CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Veggie Box program providing weekly fresh produce deliveries to newcomer families.
• Capital Area Housing PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on housing resources, homeownership education, financial counseling, and tool library access for residents.
• Michigan State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with MSU College of Education, Residential College of Arts and Humanities, and Immigration Law Clinic for educational programs and legal support.
• Lansing Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership supporting career and employment services, GED preparation, and college access for refugees.
• Capital Area College Access NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for college access support, financial aid guidance, and scholarship information for newcomer students.
• Ingham County Health DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on health navigation, insurance enrollment, and healthcare access for refugee families.
• Capital Area United WaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding and community support partner for refugee services and programs.
• STVCC Refugee ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on refugee resettlement services and immigration law support.
• Lansing School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for school enrollment, educational support, and youth programming.
• ACCESSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting refugee programming.
• American Red CrossminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian partner for refugee support services.
• Capital Area Literacy CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for literacy programs and resources.
• Global Institute of LansingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGED completion program for adult refugees.
• Financial Empowerment CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree financial counseling services including budgeting, credit improvement, and affordable banking access.
• Greater Lansing Food BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood security support through Garden Project for refugee families.
• SamaritasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRefugee services partner.
• Office of Global MichigancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level partner for immigrant and refugee resources.
• Michigan Immigrant Rights CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal support and immigration resources.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Bethany Christian Services: National nonprofit with strong Michigan presence offering refugee and foster services including resettlement, case management, and youth programming across multiple U.S. states.
• US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI): National nonprofit operating refugee resettlement, education, and anti-trafficking programs. Overlaps with RDC's ESOL, employment, and youth mentoring service lines at broader geographic scale.
• Catholic Charities USA: National network of Catholic Charities agencies delivering refugee resettlement, ESOL, immigration legal services, and case management across hundreds of U.S. locations, including the broader Michigan Catholic Charities footprint.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Global humanitarian organization running refugee resettlement, employment, and education programs across the U.S. including in Michigan. Operates at much larger scale across many functions overlapping with RDC.
• Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS): National refugee resettlement and immigration services organization funded by federal contracts and philanthropy. Operates a comparable integration-services model to RDC at multi-state scale.
• Church World Service: National faith-based refugee resettlement agency providing reception, employment, and youth services to refugees across multiple U.S. sites. Competes with RDC for the same federal/state refugee-services contracts.
• HIAS: National Jewish refugee resettlement agency offering reception, integration, employment, and legal services to refugees nationwide. A larger incumbent operating in adjacent resettlement footprints.

Direct peers

• St. Vincent Catholic Charities: Lansing-based refugee resettlement and humanitarian services agency and an active RDC partner (collaborating on the Women's Sewing Circle). Operates overlapping refugee reception, resettlement, and immigration legal services in the same mid-Michigan footprint as RDC.
• Samaritas: Michigan-headquartered nonprofit providing refugee resettlement, foster care, and integration services statewide. Directly competes for refugee-services contracts and grants with RDC in the same geography.
• ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services): Michigan-based refugee and immigrant services nonprofit offering ESOL, health navigation, employment, and youth programming to newcomer populations, directly mirroring RDC's integration program mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RDCLansing
• Facebookfacebook.com/RefugeeDevelopmentCenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Refugee Development Center