What International Service Learning does

International Service Learning (ISL) is a US-based international educational non-governmental organization founded in 1994 and headquartered in Kellogg, Idaho. The organization designs and delivers short-duration volunteer service-learning programs in 11 countries across Latin America, Asia, and Africa, sending US and Canadian students, faculty-led university groups, gap-year candidates, high school students, and licensed healthcare professionals to provide community and medical services under the supervision of locally licensed professionals. Its portfolio spans roughly 19 program verticals, with Global Health as the flagship and specialized offerings in dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, optometry, veterinary, nutrition, education, ecology, and community enrichment, plus differentiated products such as Gap Year, High School, Hike for Humanity, Sports Without Borders, and Custom Programs for groups of up to 40.

The business model is consumer-paid experiential education. ISL charges per-trip program fees ranging from approximately $1,895 (Cambodia) to $3,295 (Peru), which bundle lodging, ground transportation, two meals per day, training, and medical supplies. A $200 non-refundable deposit is required at registration with full balance due 30 days before departure. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the ISL website, supplemented by placement specialists who follow up on inquiry forms, and direct-to-institution through more than 500 US and Canadian university partnerships in which faculty advisors integrate ISL trips into curricula. Scholarships ($100–$1,000) and an internal crowdfunding platform reduce access friction. ISL holds ANCC accreditation to deliver 30 CEUs to nurses and physical therapists, and is accredited or a member of IVPA, the Forum on Education Abroad, IIE Generation Study Abroad, CUGH, NAAHP, and NSNA. The organization employs 11–50 staff at its US basecamp and maintains in-country offices and locally licensed clinical supervisors across its network.

Name

International Service Learning

Legal name

International Service Learning

Website

https://islonline.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

International Service Learning is a US nonprofit founded in 1994 that runs fee-based volunteer service-learning programs in 11 countries for healthcare students, university groups, gap-year candidates, and licensed professionals seeking clinical hours and continuing education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Volunteer Service-Learning Programs

NAICS

Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Service Learning Program Design, Accreditation & Evaluation (EDAIAGAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

In-Country Placement, Homestay & On-Ground Coordination Services (EDAIAGAM), Unpaid/Volunteer-Linked Work Placement Programs (EDAIAFAE), Public Health & Medical Volunteering Programs (EDAIAGAC)

Keywords

• International volunteer programs
• Service learning programs
• Global health volunteer
• Study abroad volunteer
• Medical mission trips

Headquarters

HQ city

Kellogg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Volunteer Program Fees: ISL generates revenue primarily through fees charged to individual volunteers and student groups who participate in international service-learning programs. Program fees vary by destination and duration (e.g., Belize Global Health at $2,995, India at $2,295–$2,595, Panama at $2,195–$2,295). Fees cover lodging, transportation, two meals per day, training, and medical supplies. Individual volunteers and group leaders pay these fees directly.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

International Service Learning is a non-profit NGO that organizes paid volunteer service-learning trips for students, gap year applicants, and licensed healthcare professionals across 11 countries. Programs deliver supervised clinical, community, and ecological service in partnership with local ministries of health and locally licensed professionals, with lodging, ground transportation, training, and meals bundled into the program fee.

Product overview

International Service Learning (ISL) offers a comprehensive portfolio of volunteer service-learning programs spanning 11 countries across three continents. The core offering consists of interdisciplinary Global Health programs supplemented by specialized vertical programs including Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Veterinary, Community Enrichment, Ecology, Education, Sports Without Borders, and Well Child International. Additional offerings include High School programs, Gap Year programs for pre-med students, Nutrition programs, and Custom Programs for groups. All programs emphasize sustainable development through partnerships with local professionals and communities, with add-on Continuing Education (CEU) credits available for nursing and physical therapy professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ISL: International Service Learning

Products and services

• Global Health Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 30 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) available for nurses and physical therapists through ISL's ANCC-accredited program
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Sociedad Amigos de los Niños (SAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAN is a non-profit organization based primarily in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, governed by a board of directors. Founded over 50 years ago by Sister María Rosa Leggol, SAN focuses on three pillars: homes, education, and health. ISL partners with SAN for healthcare service delivery, and SAN's Santa Rosa de Lima Hospital opened in 2000 provides medical care to the population in SAN's area of influence. ISL's Honduras country coordinators Marina and Luis work closely with SAN to arrange service learning opportunities.
• Local Licensed NutritionistscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISL's nutrition programs are supervised by local licensed nutritionists who train volunteers on anthropometric techniques, growth charts, and medical chart completion. Volunteers work under the direct supervision of these professionals during clinical activities.
• Enjoy Church Siem ReapcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISL partners with Enjoy Church Siem Reap in Cambodia for community service activities. Enjoy Church also provides nursing home services in Siem Reap city.
• Freedom Life CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISL partners with Freedom Life Center in Cambodia, specifically serving the Ron Ta Aek district community about 40 minutes from Siem Reap. Freedom Life Center operates children's homes.
• Angkor UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISL partners with Angkor University in Cambodia as part of its academic network, supporting educational service opportunities for volunteers.
• Local Ministries of Health (various countries)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISL operates in partnership with local ministries of health across all 11 countries of operation. ISL serves as 'the hands of local ministries of health,' reaching out to communities they are unable to assist due to resource limitations. ISL also often serves as the sole health care provider for immigrants with no access to their host country's health services.
• Local Licensed Medical ProfessionalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISL employs hundreds of locally licensed doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and other health professionals in the countries it serves. All diagnoses, treatments, and prescriptions are made exclusively by local physicians who supervise every clinical activity. ISL hires licensed doctors from certified universities, including general practitioners, pediatric surgeons, and specialists in dentistry, veterinary science, physical therapy, and optometry.
• Over 500 US and Canadian UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISL has developed long-standing partnerships with colleges and universities since 1994. Partners include institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, MIT, Johns Hopkins, and many others. These partnerships support faculty-led programs, academic credit integration, and student referrals. ISL maintains a dedicated Faculty Support page and works with study abroad offices to integrate ISL trips into curricula.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GoEco: Volunteer placement provider focused on ethical, low-cost international programs incl. medicine, conservation, and community enrichment — directly comparable offering portfolio and price band to ISL.
• Work the World: Specialist in healthcare-focused placements for nursing, medical, and allied health students in Asia, Africa, and Latin America — direct competition for ISL's clinical-hour and gap-year audiences.
• Global Volunteers: US-headquartered nonprofit running service-learning volunteer programs in developing countries, with comparable university and faith-based partnerships. Operates as a 501(c)(3) like ISL and serves similar pre-professional student segments.
• Elective Africa: Pre-health and medical student placement specialist operating in Africa and Asia; comparable program structure for medical, nursing, and gap-year students seeking clinical exposure.
• Child Family Health International (CFHI): CFHI runs global health immersion and clinical electives for students in developing countries — nearly identical model to ISL's Global Health/Nursing tracks, with similar pre-health university partnerships.
• Kaya Responsible Travel: IVHQ-adjacent responsible-volunteer placement organization with medical, dental, and public-health programs in Latin America, Africa, and Asia — directly comparable program mix and ethical-positioning narrative.
• Volunteering Solutions: Indian-headquartered volunteer placement platform offering medical, dental, and community programs in 20+ countries. Similar program structure and pricing model to ISL, though operating in different geographies.
• International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ): IVHQ places volunteers (incl. medical, dental, and community programs) in 50+ destinations with a similar fee-per-trip pricing model. Closest like-for-like in terms of program breadth, accreditation, and D2C sales motion.
• Cross-Cultural Solutions (CCS): Nonprofit international volunteer organization offering service programs in multiple developing countries, with comparable university-channel GTM and volunteer-program fee model.

Broad incumbents

• Projects Abroad: Large-scale international volunteer placement organization running medical, public health, and community programs across 30+ countries. Overlaps directly with ISL's program mix but at greater scale and broader volunteer base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/islonline
• Facebookfacebook.com/islonline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-service-learning

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 International Service Learning