Global Ties U.S.

What Global Ties U.S. does

Global Ties U.S., founded in 1961 and headquartered in Washington, DC, is a nonprofit organization that leads a nationwide network of 70+ (some sources cite 80+) community-based nonprofit member organizations spanning all 50 U.S. states. The organization coordinates the domestic implementation of international exchange and public diplomacy programs for the U.S. Department of State, most prominently the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), alongside specialized initiatives such as the Law Enforcement and Security Exchange Program (LESEP) supporting U.S.-Mexico security cooperation. Its principal stakeholders are the U.S. Department of State (as primary funder and program sponsor), the 70+ community-based member organizations (as local delivery partners), the 500,000+ U.S. ExchangeAlumni it engages through programming, and the international leaders who visit the United States under State Department auspices. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Jacqueline Miller and led day-to-day by President and CEO Katherine A. Brown, Ph.D.

The organization's core portfolio includes IVLP, the Emerging Leaders Program (a year-long professional development initiative with 250+ alumni since its 2011 launch), Career Connections seminars in multiple cities, the International Alumni Program, the Culture Box educational resource, and the Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund. It also convenes an Annual National Meeting (450+ attendees), Diplomacy Begins Here Regional Summits, and the Global Ties Forum Series. There is no proprietary software platform or technology product; the operational 'technology' is the human coordination of people-to-people exchange across a distributed national network, supplemented by a member portal, newsletter infrastructure, and standard event-management tooling. Services are not fee-based; members and program participants access resources through membership and event registration.

Global Ties U.S. operates as a non-revenue-generating membership nonprofit. Primary funding is provided through U.S. Department of State grants to implement international exchange programs, supplemented by charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations, plus event sponsorship from corporate partners such as Amazon, Microsoft, Indeed, Gallup, Capital Communications Group, and Foreign Policy (FP). The organization reports a 12:1 return on federal funding (every $1 in federal grants generates $12 in community impact), positioning itself as a high-leverage vehicle for U.S. public diplomacy. Go-to-market is conducted through direct Capitol Hill advocacy, regional summits, annual convenings, and member-services engagement rather than commercial sales.

Name

Global Ties U.S.

Legal name

Global Ties U.S.

Website

https://globaltiesus.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Global Ties U.S. is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit founded in 1961 that leads a nationwide network of 70+ community-based nonprofit organizations implementing the U.S. State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program and other citizen diplomacy initiatives across all 50 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Exchange Programs

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Professional Organizations (81392), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Inbound Exchange Hosting & Visiting Student Administration (EDAIABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Erasmus+ and Government-Sponsored Exchange Partnerships (EDAIABAJ), Bilateral Exchange Agreements (Reciprocal Student Mobility) (EDAIABAA)

Keywords

• International exchange programs
• Citizen diplomacy
• Professional development
• Public diplomacy
• Community-based nonprofit network

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, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Government Funding: Primary revenue from U.S. Department of State funding to implement exchange programs including IVLP and other international professional exchange initiatives
2. Donations and Contributions: Charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations supporting citizen diplomacy programs

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Global Ties U.S. is a nonprofit organization that leads a nationwide network of 70+ community-based nonprofit organizations implementing international exchange programs on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. Its flagship offering is the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), complemented by professional development programs (Emerging Leaders, Career Connections), law enforcement exchanges (LESEP), alumni engagement programs, and educational resources such as the Culture Box Program.

Product overview

Global Ties U.S. is a nonprofit organization that serves as the national leader in citizen diplomacy, operating a network of 80+ community-based nonprofit organizations across all 50 U.S. states. The organization implements international exchange programs centered around the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), the U.S. Department of State's flagship professional exchange program. The portfolio includes professional development programs for young professionals (Emerging Leaders Program), career networking events (Career Connections), law enforcement exchanges (LESEP), international alumni engagement, and educational resources (Culture Box Program). The organization also convenes annual National Meetings and Regional Summits, and operates the Global Ties Forum Series for public diplomacy dialogue. These programs are sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP)

Quantifiable outcome

• Every $1 in federal funding generates $12 in impact for local U.S. communities
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

17 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Sarah B. Rogers, Under Secretary of State for Public DiplomacyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Keynote speaker at Global Ties U.S. 2026 National Meeting; leads U.S. Department of State's efforts to expand and strengthen relations between U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries; oversees Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs which houses IVLP.
• U.S. Department of StatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary federal partner providing funding and program oversight for international exchange programs including IVLP. The Office of International Visitors (OIV) at the Department of State works closely with Global Ties U.S. and its network members to implement exchange programs nationwide.
• American Councils for International EducationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNational Program Agency that coordinates and implements exchange programs, working closely with Community-Based Members to create tailored experiences for IVLP participants.
• Cultural VistascoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNational Program Agency implementing international exchange programs and working with community-based members for program delivery.
• CRDF GlobalcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNational Program Agency for exchange program implementation with community-based network members.
• FHI 360coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNational Program Agency implementing IVLP and related exchange programs in partnership with community-based members.
• Institute of International EducationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNational Program Agency for international education and exchange program implementation with community-based network members.
• Meridian International CentercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNational Program Agency implementing exchange programs and working with community-based members across the Global Ties Network.
• Mississippi Consortium for International DevelopmentcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNational Program Agency implementing international development and exchange programs with community-based network members.
• World LearningcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNational Program Agency implementing IVLP and exchange programs, including hosting the annual CBM Staff Exchange.
• Embassy of KuwaitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted reception at 2026 National Meeting featuring IVLP alumni reflections.
• GallupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvening reception host at 2025 National Meeting.
• Capital Communications GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for 2025 National Meeting.
• Foreign Policy (FP)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia Partner for 2025 National Meeting.
• AmazonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated as speaker/panelist at Career Connections Seattle seminar on Advancing American Tech Excellence.
• MicrosoftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated as panelist at Career Connections Seattle focusing on AI and future of work.
• Indeed Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted Career Connections Seattle opening session at Seattle offices.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Meridian International Center: Meridian is a National Program Agency that implements international exchange programs and works directly with Community-Based Members across the Global Ties Network. It is a direct peer in citizen diplomacy hosting, professional exchange programming, and federal grant-funded operations.
• Institute of International Education (IIE): IIE is one of the largest U.S. organizations managing international academic and professional exchanges, including the Fulbright Program. It is also a National Program Agency working alongside Global Ties U.S. in the IVLP ecosystem, making it a direct peer in operating federally sponsored exchange programs.
• IREX: IREX is an international development and exchange organization implementing State Department and USAID-funded programs, including professional and youth exchanges. It is a direct peer in federally funded exchange operations with a comparable nonprofit model and global footprint.
• American Councils for International Education: American Councils is a National Program Agency that coordinates and implements exchange programs working with Community-Based Members. It is a direct peer in operating federally sponsored cultural and professional exchanges with overlapping funder relationships and member-network touchpoints.
• Partners of the Americas: Partners of the Americas operates a chapter-based network across the Americas implementing people-to-people exchanges with U.S. State Department and USAID support. It is a direct peer in chapter-driven citizen diplomacy and federally funded international exchange programming.
• CRDF Global: CRDF Global is a National Program Agency for international development and science exchange programming, working with community-based network members. It is a direct peer in operating federally funded exchanges with comparable program models and member-network touchpoints.
• World Learning: World Learning is a National Program Agency that implements IVLP and similar State Department-funded exchanges, including hosting the CBM Staff Exchange for the Global Ties Network. It is a direct peer in both mission (citizen diplomacy) and operating model (federally funded exchange implementation).
• Cultural Vistas: Cultural Vistas is a National Program Agency implementing international exchange and professional internship programs in partnership with community-based network members. It is a direct peer in the IVLP/implementation ecosystem with a comparable federal-funding-driven revenue model.

Broad incumbents

• NAFSA: Association of International Educators: NAFSA is the largest professional association in the international education and exchange field, representing thousands of professionals and institutions. It is a broader incumbent that convenes the same stakeholder ecosystem (exchange implementers, member organizations, and federally funded programs) that Global Ties U.S. serves.
• FHI 360: FHI 360 is a large international development organization that implements IVLP and related exchange programs alongside Community-Based Members. It is a broader incumbent with global development programming; the international exchange division is directly comparable to Global Ties U.S.'s scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GlobalTiesUS

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 Global Ties U.S.