What Greenheart Exchange does

Greenheart Exchange is a U.S. non-profit cultural exchange organization founded in 1985 (originally as Center for Cultural Interchange) and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It operates as a division of Greenheart International and is designated by the U.S. Department of State as a J-1 visa sponsor under the BridgeUSA program, administering cultural exchange across five program categories: High School Exchange, Summer Work and Travel, Career Advancement Program (Intern/Trainee), Teach USA, and Short-Term Group Homestay. The organization serves four primary U.S. counterparties—host families, K-12 schools and districts, seasonal hospitality businesses, and corporate intern hosts—while sourcing international participants from 100+ countries, having facilitated cultural exchange for 185,238+ participants since founding and partnered with 14,714 U.S. host families.

Name

Greenheart Exchange

Legal name

Greenheart Exchange

Website

https://greenheartexchange.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Greenheart Exchange is a U.S. non-profit, federally designated J-1 visa sponsor that facilitates cultural exchange programs—high school, work and travel, intern/trainee, and teaching—for international participants placed with American host families, schools, and businesses across five program categories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Exchange Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Study Abroad Provider Networks, Consortia & Membership Organizations (EDAIAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

On-Ground Orientation, Travel, Transfers & Logistics Support (EDAIAHAL), Study Abroad Program Operators (THAKAGAD)

Keywords

• Cultural exchange programs
• J-1 visa sponsorship
• International student exchange
• Work and travel
• Teach abroad programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. J-1 Visa Sponsorship Program Fees: Greenheart Exchange generates revenue by charging program fees to international participants for J-1 visa sponsorship services. These fees cover DS-2019 form processing, medical insurance, orientation, and ongoing support. The company charges different fee structures for self-placed versus full-placement options.
2. Teach USA Program Fees: The Teach USA program charges program fees ranging from $2,700 (Self-Placed Direct) to $4,000 (Full Program Direct), plus additional fees for renewals, SEVIS, visa applications, and dependent sponsorship. Participants pay these fees for J-1 visa sponsorship and host school placement services.
3. Summer Work Travel Program Fees: Work and Travel program participants pay fees that include job placement, DS-2019 form, medical insurance, virtual orientation, and 24-hour emergency support. Housing and airfare are not included in program fees.
4. Ambassador Scholarship Fund: A scholarship program funded by partnerships with embassies (such as the U.S. Mission to Greece) and private entities. The Ambassador Fund for Summer Work Travel is a public diplomacy program that reimburses participants' program costs upon successful completion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Greenheart Exchange is a U.S. Department of State-designated J-1 visa sponsor that facilitates cultural exchange programs in the United States. It places international high school students with American host families, recruits international teachers for U.S. K-12 schools through Teach USA, places international university students in seasonal U.S. jobs via Summer Work and Travel, and hosts international interns and trainees at U.S. businesses through the Career Advancement Program. The organization also operates supporting offerings including the Ambassador Scholarship Fund and the Greenheart Club participant portal.

Product overview

Greenheart Exchange operates as a cultural exchange organization facilitating J-1 visa programs in the United States since 1985. Their product portfolio centers on five core exchange program categories: High School Exchange (placing international students with host families), Professional Exchange (encompassing Summer Work and Travel, Career Advancement Program for Interns/Trainees, and Teach USA for international teachers), and Short-Term Group Programs. These are supported by membership benefits through the Greenheart Club (volunteer tracking and leadership development), scholarship opportunities including the Ambassador Scholarship Fund and FLEX/YES Grants, and annual conferences like the Greenheart Global Leaders Conference. The organization also provides the Greenheart Online (GEO) participant portal for program management and communications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Teach USA: Program connecting international teachers with U.S. host schools on J-1 visas
• Ambassador Scholarship Fund
• Greenheart Club
• Career Advancement Program (CAP)
• Greenheart Global Leaders Conference

Products and services

• High School Exchange Program Places international high school students with American host families for semester or academic-year programs, enrolling them in U.S. high schools while facilitating cultural exchange through home stays. Designed for international students aged 15-18 from 60+ countries and volunteer American host families.
• Summer Work and Travel Program J-1 visa sponsorship program allowing international university students to work in seasonal U.S. positions (hotels, resorts, restaurants, amusement parks, retail, national parks) for up to 4 months plus a 30-day travel period, with fees covering job placement, DS-2019 form, medical insurance, virtual orientation, and 24-hour emergency support. Targets international university students and U.S. seasonal employers.
• Career Advancement Program (Intern/Trainee) Facilitates international university students, recent graduates, and young professionals to intern or train at U.S. businesses through structured J-1 visa programs with DS-7002 Training/Internship Placement Plans in fields including business, hospitality, arts, communications, agriculture, sciences, and industrial engineering. Designed for international participants seeking U.S. professional development and U.S. host organizations needing international talent.
• Teach USA Program Connects qualified international K-12 teachers with accredited U.S. host schools for 1-3 year placements under J-1 visas, extendable up to 5 years total, with specializations including STEM, world languages, and Special Education. Program fees for AY 2026-2027 are $2,700 (Self-Placed Direct) to $4,000 (Full Program Direct), with annual renewals, SEVIS fees, dependent sponsorship fees, and host school change fees. Targets international teachers and U.S. K-12 schools/districts.
• Group Homestay Program Short-term high school exchange program where groups of international students travel together to the United States and live with American host families, combining study with cultural immersion experiences. Designed for international student groups and American host families.
• Ambassador Scholarship Fund Scholarship program for Summer Work Travel participants, funded through embassy partnerships and private entities, covering program costs and providing living allowances for selected Ambassador Scholars. The U.S. Mission to Greece grant covers domestic U.S. travel ($200/participant) and airfare for visa interviews (up to $400/participant). Designed for international university students who would otherwise be unable to self-fund participation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 185,238 cultural exchange opportunities facilitated since 1985
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET)coreOthersGreenheart Exchange holds full listing status with CSIET, indicating compliance with standards for international educational travel. CSIET listing is a key requirement for operating high school exchange programs.
• U.S. Department of State - BridgeUSAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreenheart Exchange is a designated J-1 visa sponsor under the U.S. Department of State's BridgeUSA program. They sponsor participants in Teacher, Secondary School, Intern, Trainee, and Summer Work Travel categories, following Department of State regulations.
• WYSE Travel ConfederationminorOthersMember of the World Youth Student and Educational Travel Confederation, a global organization for the youth and student travel industry.
• Alliance for International ExchangeminorOthersMember of the Alliance for International Exchange, an alliance of organizations promoting cultural exchange programs.
• U.S. Chamber of CommerceminorOthersMember of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the largest business trade association in the United States.
• IAAPAminorOthersMember of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, connecting with seasonal hospitality employers.
• IE International Education SA (IE Intercambio)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSending partner based in Brazil that recruits teachers for Greenheart's Teach USA program. Potential fees range from $1,395-$1,795 USD.
• TEACH IN THE USA, LLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSending partner recruiting teachers from Ghana, Philippines, Kenya, United Kingdom, Jamaica and other countries. No fees charged to participants.
• SnowbirdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUtah ski resort operating 18 Food & Beverage outlets that hosts J-1 Culinary Interns through Greenheart's Career Advancement Program. Snowbird has found international interns to be motivated and eager to learn, incorporating their cultural perspectives into menus and recipes.
• Hershey Entertainment & ResortscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPennsylvania hospitality company that hosts Work and Travel participants and has an ongoing service partnership with the Salvation Army in Harrisburg for volunteer activities.
• Vail ResortscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor ski resort company operating Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, and Snowmass properties in Colorado that host Work and Travel participants. They value the program despite weather challenges and understand participants' experience matters for future seasons.
• Work and Travel LodgeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHousing provider in North Conway, New Hampshire offering activities for Work and Travel participants working at Attitash Resort.
• Americans for Cultural Exchange (A4CE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition that Greenheart participates in to advocate for BridgeUSA programs at the federal level.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• InterExchange: InterExchange is a BridgeUSA-designated nonprofit sponsor operating Work and Travel, Au Pair, and Career Training programs. It competes directly with Greenheart's Summer Work Travel and Intern/Trainee products for participants and U.S. seasonal employers.
• Cultural Vistas: Cultural Vistas is a nonprofit BridgeUSA sponsor operating Intern, Trainee, and Teacher exchange programs. It is directly comparable to Greenheart's Career Advancement Program (Intern/Trainee) and Teach USA products, particularly for corporate and educational host organizations.
• AFS Intercultural Programs: AFS is one of the longest-standing CSIET-listed BridgeUSA sponsors and a global nonprofit exchange organization operating U.S. inbound and outbound high school, semester, and year-long exchange programs. It is directly comparable to Greenheart on regulatory designation, mission-driven positioning, and high school exchange focus.
• International Student Exchange (ISE): ISE is a CSIET-listed designated BridgeUSA sponsor operating high school exchange and FLEX scholarship programs in the U.S., matching international students with volunteer American host families. It competes directly with Greenheart's High School Exchange and scholarship-funded programs.
• World Learning: World Learning administers the Fulbright and other State Department-sponsored exchange programs (including Future Leaders Exchange / FLEX), making it a peer in the J-1 sponsor and government-funded scholarship space. Its FLEX scholarship program directly overlaps with Greenheart's FLEX/YES Grants scholarship offering.
• Ayusa (Intrax): Ayusa is a BridgeUSA sponsor under parent Intrax, operating high school exchange, FLEX/YES, and inbound student placement programs with a comparable volunteer host family model. It is a direct competitor for high school exchange students, host families, and embassy-funded scholarships.
• Alliance Abroad Group (AAG): AAG is a designated J-1 visa sponsor operating Work and Travel, Intern/Trainee, and Career Advancement programs. It is a direct competitor to Greenheart's Summer Work Travel and Career Advancement Program for both participants and U.S. host employers.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): CIEE is a major U.S. Department of State-designated J-1 visa sponsor operating high school, Work and Travel, intern/trainee, and teacher exchange programs at greater scale than Greenheart. It competes head-to-head for participants, host families, host employers, and embassy-sponsored scholarships across overlapping BridgeUSA categories.
• ASSE International: ASSE International is a BridgeUSA sponsor offering high school, FLEX, Work and Travel, and short-term group exchange programs. It overlaps directly with Greenheart's High School Exchange, Group Homestay, and Summer Work Travel categories and shares a similar nonprofit/educational positioning.

Others

• Greenheart Travel: Greenheart Travel is the sister division of Greenheart Exchange under parent Greenheart International, providing outbound U.S. high school and adult travel programs. It is operationally distinct but shares brand, parent entity, and program portfolio synergy with Greenheart Exchange.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GreenheartInternational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cci-greenheart
• Instagraminstagram.com/greenheartexchange

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Greenheart Exchange