New Immigrant Community Empowerment

What New Immigrant Community Empowerment does

New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE) is a 501(c)-equivalent nonprofit organization founded in 1999 in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York, serving vulnerable and precarious immigrant workers across workforce development, legal services, and community integration. Its flagship Pre-Apprenticeship for Life and Work program — a four-week, 30–40 hour per week in-person training — delivers ESOL instruction, OSHA 10/30, Site Safety Training, and labor/immigration legal support to cohorts of 25–30 participants, drawing funding primarily from the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration alongside state and local grants. NICE operates three physical divisions on Roosevelt Avenue: Community Connections (El Centro) as the walk-in intake hub, Workforce Development for training and certifications, and Legal Services for immigration and labor-rights support.

The organization is a certified NYC Department of Buildings provider (CP009), enabling direct issuance of construction-industry credentials that competitors typically must outsource. NICE runs an Employer Engagement function via a dedicated Business Engagement Representative that places graduates with NYC employers in construction, cleaning, and green-jobs sectors, and operates supplementary programs including ESL instruction, life-skills workshops, and transportation/referral wraparound services. A 4-Star Charity Navigator rating and GuideStar Transparency Seal reflect established governance.

NICE's revenue model is donation- and grant-driven rather than fee-based. The four primary streams are individual donations (processed via ActBlue), government grants (DOL, New York State, NYC), foundation grants, and corporate partnerships (workplace giving, Days of Service employee volunteering, in-kind donations). Fundraising channels include the Team NICE NYC Marathon 2026 charity team, annual galas, Instagram and TikTok organic content, and earned media in outlets such as The City, CBS News, USA Today, and Telemundo 47. No AI/ML capabilities are deployed; the technology stack is limited to Squarespace, ActBlue, Mailchimp, and standard online forms.

Name

New Immigrant Community Empowerment

Legal name

New Immigrant Community Empowerment

Website

https://nynice.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE) is a 1999-founded Jackson Heights, Queens nonprofit that provides workforce training, immigration and labor-rights legal services, and community support to vulnerable immigrant workers in New York City, funded primarily by U.S. DOL grants, state and local government, foundations, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Employment Services (5613), Educational Services (611), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Job Placement, Matching & Career Navigation Services (EDAAAOAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ), Immigrant & Refugee Workforce Integration Programs (EDAAAOAJ), Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF), Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI)

Keywords

• Immigrant workforce development
• Community social services
• Immigration legal assistance
• Pre-apprenticeship training
• Nonprofit community organizing

Headquarters

HQ city

Jackson Heights

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: NICE accepts donations from individual donors through its website via ActBlue platform, mail-in checks, wire transfers, and donor-advised funds. The organization promotes various donation campaigns including general donations and targeted Pre-Apprenticeship program support.
2. Government Grants: NICE receives funding from government sources including U.S. Department of Labor grants through the Employment and Training Administration, as well as state and local government funding from Governor Kathy Hochul and Queens Borough President Richards for Pre-Apprenticeship programs.
3. Foundation Grants: NICE cultivates relationships with foundations for grant funding to support organizational initiatives and programs.
4. Corporate Partnerships: NICE receives support from corporate partners through workplace giving programs, in-kind donations, fundraising events, and employee volunteer programs (Days of Service).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NICE provides integrated services for immigrant workers through a 4-week Pre-Apprenticeship for Life and Work program that combines ESOL classes, industry certifications (OSHA 10/30, Site Safety Training), legal support, and employer placement. Complementary services include immigration and labor rights legal assistance, workforce counseling, community connections/referrals, and employer engagement connecting graduates with NYC employers. All programs are delivered free of charge through community centers in Jackson Heights, Queens.

Product overview

New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE) operates as a unified nonprofit service organization offering integrated programs for immigrant empowerment. The core offerings consist of the Pre-Apprenticeship for Life and Work (PreAPLW) program as the flagship workforce development initiative, complemented by the Community Connections/El Centro as the entry point for community members, the Legal Services Division addressing immigration and labor rights, and the Workforce Development Program providing job readiness and professional certifications. Additional offerings include employer engagement services connecting graduates with job opportunities, the Team NICE Marathon fundraising initiative, and newsletter communications. These programs are designed to work holistically, supporting immigrants from initial community connection through workforce training, legal support, and employment placement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pre-Apprenticeship for Life and Work: A workforce development program designed to help immigrant workers enter and succeed in the U.S. labor market by weaving together professional and personal skills.

Products and services

• Pre-Apprenticeship for Life and Work (PreAPLW) A 4-week, 30-40 hour per week in-person flagship workforce development program designed to help immigrant workers enter and succeed in the U.S. labor market by weaving together professional and personal skills. The program offers ESOL and Tech classes, industry certifications (OSHA 10, OSHA 30, Site Safety Training), legal services, and facilitated employer entry for cohorts of 25-30 participants.
• Community Connections / El Centro Walk-in community center serving as the first point of contact for immigrant community members in Jackson Heights. Provides member registration, New Member Orientation, information, and referrals for health services, legal services, IDNYC, food distribution, and navigation of NYC resources.
• Legal Services Division Provides both immigration and labor rights legal services through workshops and community outreach. The immigration program offers pro-se immigration assistance for USCIS and Immigration Court proceedings. The labor rights program helps workers address issues related to wages, hours, discrimination, and other workplace violations.
• Workforce Development Program Comprehensive training, English courses, and career counseling program helping individuals overcome economic barriers and build sustainable careers. Includes job readiness counseling, industry certifications, professional licenses (OSHA 30, OSHA 10, SST), and English for Workforce Preparation classes.
• Employer Engagement Services Connects local NYC businesses and employers with trained, motivated, diverse talent from NICE's workforce development programs. Services include access to pre-screened APLW graduates, tailored candidate matching, custom training partnerships, and organized hiring events and job fairs.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Queens Community YogaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for bilingual Yoga with NICE classes. Queens Community Yoga partners with NICE to host yoga sessions as fundraising events supporting #TeamNICE26 marathon fundraising efforts. Proceeds from ticket sales support the organization's programs.
• Corporate PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNICE collaborates with a diverse range of corporations, brands, community partners, and local businesses who support the mission. Corporate partners engage through Days of Service (employee volunteering), fundraising events, in-kind donations, and workplace giving programs. Partner logos are displayed on the corporate partnerships page.
• NYC Health Services Gotham Health Center Roosevelt AveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNICE provides referrals for health insurance appointments and health services through the NYC Health Services Professional Certifications program at Gotham Health Center Roosevelt Ave location, supporting immigrant community members' health access needs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Upwardly Global: National nonprofit focused on workforce integration of immigrant and refugee professionals through job placement, career navigation, and employer engagement. Directly comparable career-navigation and employer-matching services, though serving a higher-skilled population.
• Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation: Community-based nonprofit in upper Manhattan delivering workforce training, immigration legal services, and adult education to immigrant residents. Comparable in scope (training + legal + social services) and target population to NICE.
• Centro de los Derechos del Migrante: Migrant worker-focused nonprofit providing labor rights legal support, worker education, and workforce advocacy for day laborers and low-wage workers. Directly comparable to NICE's day-laborer and labor-rights legal focus.
• Hispanic Federation: National Latino advocacy and direct-services organization running workforce development, immigration legal aid, and capacity-building grants to community-based organizations. Comparable population and overlapping workforce/legal service portfolio.
• Make the Road New York: NYC-based immigrant-led nonprofit offering workforce development, legal services (immigration, labor, housing), and adult education. Closest direct peer to NICE given overlapping mission, geography, and integrated service model serving low-wage immigrant workers.
• Asian Americans for Equality: NYC-based nonprofit serving immigrant communities with workforce development, small business support, housing, and civic engagement. Comparable immigrant-serving, multi-service nonprofit operating in the same NYC geography as NICE.

Emerging players

• RefugeeOne: Chicago-based refugee resettlement and workforce integration nonprofit providing employment services, English classes, and case management. Comparable integrated refugee workforce model, though operating in a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• International Rescue Committee: Global humanitarian nonprofit delivering refugee resettlement, employment, and integration services. Comparable in refugee/asylum-seeker workforce support, though operating at national and international scale vs. NICE's local focus.
• HIAS: Jewish-founded refugee resettlement agency providing legal, integration, and employment services. Comparable refugee/asylum-seeker support model, including workforce integration pathways for newly arrived immigrants.
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York: Large, established social services organization in NYC providing immigration legal services, workforce programs, refugee resettlement, and emergency assistance. Overlaps with NICE's mission but at much greater scale and broader service portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/nice4workers
• Xx.com/NICE4Workers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-immigrant-community-empowerment

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

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 New Immigrant Community Empowerment