Global Ties U.S.
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1961
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
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.
Global Ties U.S. firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Global Ties U.S. industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Global Ties U.S. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Global Ties U.S. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Federal Government Funding: Primary revenue from U.S. Department of State funding to implement exchange programs including IVLP and other international professional exchange initiatives
- Donations and Contributions: Charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations supporting citizen diplomacy programs
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Global Ties U.S. product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Global Ties U.S.
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Global Ties U.S. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Global Ties U.S. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Sarah B. Rogers, Under Secretary of State for Public DiplomacyflagshipKeynote 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 StatecorePrimary 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 EducationcoreNational Program Agency that coordinates and implements exchange programs, working closely with Community-Based Members to create tailored experiences for IVLP participants.
- Cultural VistascoreNational Program Agency implementing international exchange programs and working with community-based members for program delivery.
- CRDF GlobalcoreNational Program Agency for exchange program implementation with community-based network members.
- FHI 360coreNational Program Agency implementing IVLP and related exchange programs in partnership with community-based members.
- Institute of International EducationcoreNational Program Agency for international education and exchange program implementation with community-based network members.
- Meridian International CentercoreNational Program Agency implementing exchange programs and working with community-based members across the Global Ties Network.
- Mississippi Consortium for International DevelopmentcoreNational Program Agency implementing international development and exchange programs with community-based network members.
- World LearningcoreNational Program Agency implementing IVLP and exchange programs, including hosting the annual CBM Staff Exchange.
- Embassy of KuwaitminorHosted reception at 2026 National Meeting featuring IVLP alumni reflections.
- GallupminorEvening reception host at 2025 National Meeting.
- Capital Communications GroupminorPresenting sponsor for 2025 National Meeting.
- Foreign Policy (FP)minorMedia Partner for 2025 National Meeting.
- AmazonminorParticipated as speaker/panelist at Career Connections Seattle seminar on Advancing American Tech Excellence.
- MicrosoftminorParticipated as panelist at Career Connections Seattle focusing on AI and future of work.
- Indeed Inc.minorHosted Career Connections Seattle opening session at Seattle offices.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Global Ties U.S. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Global Ties U.S. social profiles
Digital presenceGlobal Ties U.S. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Global Ties U.S. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Global Ties U.S. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Global Ties U.S. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Global Ties U.S.
What does Global Ties U.S. do?
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.
Is Global Ties U.S. a public or private company?
Global Ties U.S. is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Global Ties U.S. founded?
Global Ties U.S. was founded in 1961. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Global Ties U.S. based?
Global Ties U.S. is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Global Ties U.S. make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Federal Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations and Contributions.
Who are Global Ties U.S.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Meridian International Center, Institute of International Education (IIE), IREX, American Councils for International Education, Partners of the Americas, CRDF Global, World Learning and Cultural Vistas. Broad incumbents are NAFSA: Association of International Educators and FHI 360.
Does Global Ties U.S. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Global Ties U.S..
What industry is Global Ties U.S. in?
Global Ties U.S.'s product category is International Exchange Programs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAIABAK, Inbound Exchange Hosting & Visiting Student Administration, with a secondary code of EDAIABAJ, Erasmus+ and Government-Sponsored Exchange Partnerships. Its NAICS code is 813 and its SIC code is 9721.