United Nations Association of the National Capital Area

What United Nations Association of the National Capital Area does

United Nations Association of the National Capital Area (UNA-NCA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy and education organization established in 1953 and headquartered at 2300 N Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, D.C., near Dupont Circle. It operates as the National Capital Area Chapter of UNA-USA and is a member of the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA), with a stated mission to advocate for the U.S.-UN partnership and engage the local community around the work of the United Nations. The organization serves approximately 2,000 members, volunteers, and supporters across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Northern Virginia, plus a broader audience of more than 1,000 members in the DC-Maryland-Virginia region; it claims to be the largest and most active of 120+ UNA-USA chapters. Government is its primary institutional counterparty through recurring access to the U.S. Department of State and Pan American Health Organization for flagship programming.

UNA-NCA's core programs include Global Classrooms DC (a Model UN program for grades 5-12 established in 2003, currently serving 500+ students from 30 schools annually), Global Goals at Home (an online dashboard localizing UN Sustainable Development Goals across DC, Maryland, and Virginia), the Graduate Fellows Program (founded in 1991, having engaged 500+ students with 40 international NGOs and public-sector partners), and the Young Professionals Program for individuals ages 21-40. Supporting features include Coffee Chats (virtual roundtables with UN and Congressional leaders), Spotlight on SDGs progress reports, Policy Memos and Issue Briefs, Advocacy Fellows, and the Emerging Leaders program bridging grades 6-12 through college. No proprietary technology stack is identified; the platform relies on standard web infrastructure, a Medium blog, email newsletters, and event programming rather than AI/data products.

The organization is funded through a mix of individual memberships (eight tiers from free Youth membership to $1,000 Lifetime, with standard individual tiers at $25-$500), individual donations, corporate sponsorships (UN Global Goals Achievers at $10,000+ down to Global Citizens Circle at $200-$499), foundation grants (including the Florence & Murray Schott Family Foundation), and workplace giving through the Combined Federal Campaign (Code 77667) and United Way NCA (Code 1269). Operations are lean—approximately four staff—supplemented by a larger roster of program assistants, fellows, and volunteers under President Paula Boland and Board Chair Anne Simmons-Benton. Go-to-market is community-led: members are acquired and retained through event programming, volunteer pathways, and advocacy campaigns rather than paid acquisition.

Name

United Nations Association of the National Capital Area

Legal name

United Nations Association of the National Capital Area

Website

https://unanca.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

UNA-NCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the largest chapter of UNA-USA, founded in 1953 in Washington, D.C., delivering UN-focused advocacy, education, and networking programs—including Global Classrooms DC, the Graduate Fellows Program, and Global Goals at Home—to roughly 2,000 members, volunteers, and supporters across the DC-Maryland-Virginia region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues at various levels (Standard $50, Bronze $100, Silver $250, Gold $500, Lifetime $1000, Young Professional $25, Fixed Income $25, Youth free). Dues support programs that bring the world to the community.
2. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations to support advocacy and education campaigns. EIN/Tax ID: 530257462. UNA-NCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
3. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors at various levels including UN Global Goals Achievers ($10,000+), Ambassadors Circle ($5,000-$9,999), Diplomats Circle ($1,000-$4,999), UN Advocates Circle ($500-$999), and Global Citizens Circle ($200-$499).
4. Workplace Giving Campaigns: Donations through CFC (Combined Federal Campaign) Code 77667 and United Way NCA Designation Code 1269.
5. Foundation Grants: Support from foundations including the Florence & Murray Schott Family Foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

UNA-NCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization that delivers UN-focused advocacy, education, and community engagement programs in the Washington, DC region. Its core offerings include the Global Classrooms DC Model UN program for grades 5-12, the Global Goals at Home SDG-tracking dashboard, the Graduate Fellows Program, and the Young Professionals Program, supported by advocacy publications and convenings with senior UN, Congressional, and civil society leaders.

Product overview

UNA-NCA offers a portfolio of interconnected educational and advocacy programs centered on the United Nations. The core programs include Global Classrooms DC (a Model UN program for students grades 5-12), Global Goals at Home (an online SDG tracking dashboard), the Graduate Fellows Program (for graduate students), and the Young Professionals Program (for ages 21-40). Supporting these are advocacy features such as Coffee Chats (virtual roundtables on SDGs), Spotlight on SDGs (progress reports on all 17 goals), Policy Memos and Issue Briefs (research publications), Advocacy Fellows, and Emerging Leaders programs. The organization also runs thematic committees on Human Rights, Sustainable Development, Peace and Security, International Law, Gender Issues, African Affairs, and more.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Global Classrooms DC: Model UN program that introduces students grades 5-12 to the work of the United Nations and international issues, established in 2003.
• Graduate Fellows Program
• Young Professionals Program
• Global Goals at Home

Products and services

• Global Classrooms DC (GCDC) Flagship Model UN education program introducing students grades 5-12 to the work of the United Nations through global education curriculum, mini-simulations, and annual conferences hosted at the U.S. Department of State and Pan-American Health Organization.
• Global Goals at Home Online dashboard that catalogues, localizes, and contextualizes progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C., enabling organizations to use geo-specific data at State, County/Ward, and Congressional District levels for CSR, ESG reporting, and impact measurement.
• Graduate Fellows Program Program offering graduate students in the DC-Maryland-Northern Virginia region weekly seminars with UN guest speakers, professional development, mentoring, and career preparation in international affairs and UN-related careers.
• Young Professionals Program Program for diverse individuals between ages 21-40 that hosts education, networking, career dinners, panels, happy hours, and advocacy events to support the mission and work of the United Nations while fostering mentoring and professional development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 students from 30 schools participate in annual Model UN conferences at U.S. Department of State and Pan American Health Organization
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

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

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UNA-USA (United Nations Association of the USA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNA-NCA is the National Capital Area Chapter of UNA-USA, the nation's largest group of UN advocates with over 200 chapters and 20,000+ members. UNA-USA manages membership and provides resources, advocacy training, and national programming support.
• World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNA-NCA is a member of WFUNA, connecting with UN Associations in over 100 countries and providing access to global UN advocacy network.
• UN FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2010, UN Foundation and UNA-USA formed a strategic alliance. UNA-NCA benefits from this partnership for programming, resources, and access to UN agencies.
• U.S. Department of StatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Spring Model UN Conference hosted at the U.S. Department of State in collaboration with the Bureau of International Organization Affairs. Former Secretaries of State have served as keynote speakers.
• Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Fall Model UN Training Conference and ongoing GCDC programming. PAHO is the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization.
• UN Environment ProgrammeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with UN Environment Programme for Spring 2021 Model UN Conference to bring students tangible learning experience on climate and air quality impacts.
• Cox CommunicationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud partner of Global Goals at Home program, supporting the localization of Sustainable Development Goals across Virginia.
• Better World CampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNA-NCA collaborates with the Better World Campaign to educate and advocate for a strong US-UN partnership alongside UNA-USA.
• International Organization for Migration (IOM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Organization for Migration supported the 2026 Global Classrooms DC Spring Model UN Conference as a partner.
• USA for UNHCRminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSA for UNHCR (UN High Commissioner for Refugees) partnered with UNA-NCA for the 2026 Spring Model UN Conference.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Atlantic Council: DC-based think tank publishing policy research and convening programs on international affairs, often including SDG-related work. Overlaps with UNA-NCA in publishing policy memos, advocacy programming, and engaging the DMV civic and policy ecosystem.

Direct peers

• UNA-USA: National parent organization of UNA-NCA and the largest UN advocacy membership group in the United States (200+ chapters, 20,000+ members). Operates the same mission set - advocacy, education, networking for the UN - across the country, with UNA-NCA functioning as its flagship National Capital Area chapter.
• National Model United Nations (NMUN): Flagship Model UN conference program operated under UNA-USA, simulating UN bodies for college students. Direct overlap in the Model UN student-engagement market that GCDC also targets at the K-12 level.
• Better World Campaign: Sister advocacy organization of UNA-USA explicitly partnered with UNA-NCA to 'educate and advocate for a strong US-UN partnership.' Shares overlapping mission, programmatic focus, and DC presence focused on UN funding and Congressional engagement.
• U.S. Global Leadership Coalition: DC-based coalition of businesses, NGOs, and policy leaders that advocates for US funding of diplomacy and international institutions. Highly comparable in advocacy mission around US-UN partnership and corporate/member engagement model.

Broad incumbents

• Council on Foreign Relations: National membership organization in New York/DC focused on foreign policy education, expert convening, and policy publications. Compares structurally through its membership-based civic education model and engagement of professionals and students in international affairs.
• United Nations Foundation: Strategic alliance partner of UNA-USA since 2010 and a major force in UN advocacy and SDG programming globally. Comparable in mission focus but operates at much larger scale, providing resources and programmatic support that anchor UNA-NCA's SDG and advocacy work.
• InterAction: Largest alliance of US-based international NGOs (200+ members), headquartered in DC. Comparable as a DC-based convening and advocacy umbrella for organizations engaged in international development and humanitarian issues.
• World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA): Global federation of UN associations in 100+ countries, of which UNA-NCA is a member through UNA-USA. Same fundamental mission of UN advocacy and civic education, but operating at the international rather than regional scale.

Regional players

• World Affairs Council of Washington, DC: DC-area nonprofit providing global affairs programming, speaker events, and student Model UN/civics education. Operates an analogous chapter-style civic education and networking model inside the same DMV footprint, sometimes directly competing for the same schools and donors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/unanca
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/United-Nations-Association-of-the-National-Capital-Area-UNA-NCA/33199148661
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/una-nca
• Instagraminstagram.com/una.nca

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about United Nations Association of the National Capital Area