Council of American Overseas Research Centers

What Council of American Overseas Research Centers does

The Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) is a Washington, DC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1981 and in full operation since 1986. It functions as a federated network of 26 American Overseas Research Centers operating in 29 countries across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Latin America, with documented geographic restrictions in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Burma, and Yemen. CAORC's mission is to support US scholars conducting research on issues of national importance by providing in-country logistical support, research affiliations, and access to archives and field sites through its overseas member centers.

CAORC's core products are fellowship and professional development programs. The Multi-Country Research Fellowship (since 1993, funded by the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs) supports transnational research for ABD doctoral candidates and scholars with PhD/terminal degrees. The CAORC-NEH Research Fellowship (since 2016, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities) provides $5,000/month awards for 4-6 consecutive months of humanities research. Professional development is delivered through FLITE (a tuition-based certificate program at $4,500 per participant, in partnership with College of the Canyons) and the Overseas Faculty Development Seminars (OFDS), which include fully funded and tuition-based variants in Mexico, India, Brazil, Senegal, and Bangladesh. CAORC also runs the Kaplan Responsive Preservation Initiative (RPI), funded by the J.M. Kaplan Fund (and co-funded by ALIPH for Yemen), to support cultural heritage preservation in conflict zones.

CAORC's revenue model is grant-driven: primary funding comes from the US Department of State, with additional support from the Smithsonian Institution, Library of Congress, and private foundations including the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and J.M. Kaplan Fund. Tuition-based programs (FLITE and select OFDS) generate modest earned income, and general donations support operations. The organization operates with a lean staff (six named roles) and emphasizes low administrative expenses and no indirect cost rate as a differentiator. There is no proprietary technology product — the underlying platform is a Wix-hosted public website and the SM Apply online grants portal.

Name

Council of American Overseas Research Centers

Legal name

Council of American Overseas Research Centers

Website

https://caorc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) is a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a network of 26 American Overseas Research Centers across 29 countries, administering fellowship and faculty development programs for American scholars. Funding comes primarily from US federal grants and private foundations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Federal Government Grants: Primary funding from U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for fellowship and faculty development programs. Additional federal support from Smithsonian Institution and Library of Congress.
2. Foundation Grants: Funding from private foundations including Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and J.M. Kaplan Fund. J.M. Kaplan Fund specifically supports the Responsive Preservation Initiative for cultural heritage preservation.
3. Program Fees: Tuition-based programs such as FLITE ($4,500 per participant) and CAORC-ARENET Culinary Faculty Development Seminar ($4,500 USD per participant). Some programs offer financial support for community college faculty.
4. Donations: General donations to support program development and new initiatives, plus the Mary Ellen Lane Fund for emergencies and opportunities. CAORC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CAORC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that coordinates a network of 26 American Overseas Research Centers in 29 countries to support American scholars conducting research abroad. Its core offerings are international research fellowships (Multi-Country Research Fellowship and CAORC-NEH Research Fellowship), faculty development programs (FLITE professional certificate and Overseas Faculty Development Seminars), and cultural heritage preservation initiatives (Kaplan Responsive Preservation Initiative). Programs are delivered through in-country logistical and research support provided by member centers.

Product overview

CAORC is a network of American overseas research centers offering a portfolio of fellowship programs and professional development services for US scholars and faculty. The core offerings include the Multi-Country Research Fellowship for transnational research (since 1993) and the CAORC-NEH Research Fellowship for humanities research with a single overseas center as base. Professional development is delivered through FLITE (a certificate program combining online coursework, mentored projects, and overseas seminars) and the broader Overseas Faculty Development Seminars program offering region-specific seminars (Bangladesh, Senegal, India, Brazil, Mexico). Additional programs include the Kaplan Responsive Preservation Initiative for cultural heritage in conflict zones, and open-access teaching resources. CAORC also coordinates with 26-28 member Overseas Research Centers across 29 countries that provide in-country support for American scholars.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Multi-Country Research Fellowship: Fellowship enabling US scholars to carry out transnational research in countries across the network of American Overseas Research Centers
• CAORC-NEH Research Fellowship
• FLITE - Faculty Leadership for International Training and Exchange
• Overseas Faculty Development Seminars (OFDS)
• Kaplan Responsive Preservation Initiative (RPI)
• Mary Ellen Lane Travel Award
• Alumni Ambassador Program
• Teaching and Educational Resources

Products and services

• Multi-Country Research Fellowship A fellowship enabling US scholars to carry out transnational research in countries across the network of American Overseas Research Centers as well as other countries. Supports advanced research in humanities, social sciences, and allied natural sciences for doctoral candidates (ABD) and scholars with PhD or terminal degrees. Funding provided by US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
• CAORC-NEH Research Fellowship A fellowship enabling scholars to carry out advanced research in humanities with an Overseas Research Center as base. Awards of $5,000 per month for 4-6 consecutive months. Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities under Fellowship Programs at Independent Research Institutions (FPIRI).
• FLITE (Faculty Leadership for International Training and Exchange) A professional certificate program for US college faculty and administrators combining a 10-week online course, mentored institutional project development, and a 10-12 day overseas Faculty Development Seminar at an American Overseas Research Center. Delivered in partnership with College of the Canyons. Tuition-based program at $4,500 per participant.
• Overseas Faculty Development Seminars (OFDS) Short-term academic programs conducted abroad in partnership with CAORC member centers that combine site-based learning, expert-led discussions, and direct engagement with local institutions and communities. Includes fully funded seminars, customized partner programs, open enrollment programs, and FLITE.
• Kaplan Responsive Preservation Initiative (RPI) Cultural heritage preservation initiative funding rapid response to protect cultural heritage properties in conflict zones through documentation, preventive measures, and post-conflict stabilization. Leverages CAORC member center presence in MENA region. Funded through the J.M. Kaplan Fund, with co-funding from ALIPH for the Yemen program.

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• American Institute of Iranian Studies (AIIrS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember center of CAORC network, governed by CAORC Executive Committee with Chair Anne Betteridge serving as President of AIIrS
• American Institute of Bangladesh Studies (AIBS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember center; Vice Chair Ali Riaz represents AIBS on CAORC Executive Committee
• West African Research Association (WARA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner through West Africa Research Center (WARC); Leonardo Villalón and Ismael Montana serve as Executive Committee members representing WARA
• American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember center of CAORC network
• American Center for Mongolian Studies (ACMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember center; Paula DePriest serves as Executive Committee Member-at-Large
• Cyprus American Archaeological Research Institute (CAARI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember center; Ann-Marie Knoblauch serves as Secretary on CAORC Executive Committee
• College of the CanyonscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner for FLITE program; Dr. Jia-Yi Cheng-Levine serves as Dean of International Affairs & Global Engagement; Dr. Tim Honadel serves as Director of International Services and Programs; Dr. Brent Riffel serves as faculty coordinator
• American Institute of Indian Studies (AIIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember center; Sumathi Ramaswamy serves on CAORC Board of Directors; partner for Faculty Development Seminars in India
• Americas Research Network (ARENET)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember center in Mexico; Octaviana Trujillo serves on CAORC Board; partners for Mexico OFDS programs; Greta de León serves as Executive Director
• Center for Khmer Studies (CKS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember center in Cambodia; Eve Zucker serves on CAORC Board; hosts FLITE Cambodia seminar
• American Institute for Indonesian Studies (AIFIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember center; Robert Hefner serves on CAORC Board of Directors
• 1890 Center of Excellence in Land, Water, and Resource Management (COE-LWRM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner consortium for Faculty Development Seminars in India and Brazil; member institutions include Alabama A&M, Florida A&M, Fort Valley State, Langston, Lincoln, Prairie View A&M, Southern, Tennessee State, and UMES

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• World Learning: World Learning runs The Experiment in International Living and School for International Training, offering faculty and student programs abroad with a development-and-exchange focus. Its faculty training and exchange programming overlaps with CAORC's Overseas Faculty Development Seminars in mission, funder base, and audience.
• Social Science Research Council (SSRC): SSRC is a nonprofit that funds and administers international scholarly research fellowships and workshops for social scientists and humanists. Like CAORC, it relies on a mix of foundation and federal support and serves U.S.-based scholars conducting overseas research, making it a mission-aligned direct peer.
• American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS): ACLS is a national nonprofit that supports humanities and social-science scholarship through fellowships, research programs, and international exchange. It shares CAORC's scholar-fellowship model, humanities focus, and reliance on foundation and NEH funding streams.
• Institute of International Education (IIE): IIE is the leading U.S. nonprofit administering international academic exchange, including the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and the Scholar Rescue Fund. Like CAORC, it channels federal and foundation funding to support American scholars conducting research and study abroad, making it the closest direct peer in mission and funding profile.
• American Councils for International Education: American Councils operates fellowship and training programs that place American scholars, students, and professionals overseas, with deep regional infrastructure across Eurasia, the Middle East, and South Asia. It directly competes with CAORC for State Department cultural-exchange funding and for in-country research support.
• Council for International Exchange of Scholars (Fulbright Scholar): CIES administers the Fulbright Scholar Program, the flagship U.S. government-funded academic exchange. It serves the same persona (U.S. faculty and researchers), competes for the same Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs dollars, and provides overseas research and teaching opportunities comparable to CAORC's fellowships.

Emerging players

• National Humanities Center: The National Humanities Center is a residential institute that supports humanities scholarship with a fellowship model. While not a global network like CAORC, it targets the same humanities-scholar persona, draws on overlapping NEH and foundation funding, and represents an alternate pathway for scholars that CAORC indirectly competes with.

Broad incumbents

• CRDF Global: CRDF Global is a nonprofit that advances international scientific collaboration and researcher mobility with State Department and NSF funding. It overlaps with CAORC on the research-mobility and federally-funded international-exchange side, but its portfolio is broader and more science-focused.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/caorc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCAC7nz6zzzWWa4RFBjP6HDg
• Facebookfacebook.com/caorc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/council-of-american-overseas-research-centers
• Instagraminstagram.com/caorc_council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Council of American Overseas Research Centers