AFS Intercultura España

What AFS Intercultura España does

AFS Intercultura España is a Madrid-headquartered non-profit association (CIF G28674760, asociación sin ánimo de lucro), founded in 1953 and operating as the Spanish chapter of the global AFS Intercultural Programs network. Its core business is organizing immersive study-abroad exchange programs for Spanish students aged 14-18 (and young adults), with destinations spanning more than 35 countries across Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Programs come in annual (~10-12 months), semester, trimester, and summer intensive formats, priced between approximately €4,190 and €17,190 depending on destination and duration, and bundle host family placement, local school enrollment, orientations, insurance, and 24/7 support. The organization also runs host-family recruitment for inbound international students, a local volunteer network (Estructuras Locales), an annual scholarship convocatoria (Becas), and an educational B2B offering (Itinerario Educativo) for schools and teachers.

Monetization is hybrid. The primary revenue stream is one-time participant program fees; secondary streams are recurring annual "socio" memberships (minimum €40, fully directed to the scholarship fund) and private grants/donations including bequests. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the website (application.afs.org/spain), supplemented by free online and in-person informational sessions delivered by trained volunteers, and channel partnership through the global AFS network of 60 offices for in-destination program delivery.

The underlying technology consists of a proprietary online learning platform ("Red de aprendizaje online") that pre-departs and during-program students use for global connection, alongside the Learning Student Journey / Superpoderes AFS curriculum and CSIS-co-developed social innovation content. No AI/ML tooling, native mobile app, public API, or SDK is present in the disclosure. Management team, ownership, headcount, and revenue are not publicly disclosed; the organization operates as a private non-profit association without external venture or PE backing.

Name

AFS Intercultura España

Legal name

AFS INTERCULTURA ESPAÑA

Website

https://afs-intercultura.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AFS Intercultura España is a Madrid-based non-profit association and Spanish chapter of the global AFS Intercultural Programs network, running study-abroad exchanges for students aged 14-18 in more than 35 countries, supported by a volunteer and host-family ecosystem, scholarships, and membership donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Cultural Exchange Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Secondary School Exchange Programs (Academic Year/Semester) (EDAIAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Short-Term Secondary Immersion & Cultural Exchange Trips (EDAIAHAD), International Student Onboarding & Pre-Departure Orientation Services (EDAIACAG), Hybrid, Multi-Location & Multi-Country Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAE)

Keywords

• Cultural exchange programs
• Study abroad programs
• High school exchange
• Intercultural education
• Host family programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Program fees from participants: The primary revenue stream comes from program fees paid by participants and their families. These fees cover program management, international travel, host family placement, insurance, orientations, school enrollment, and ongoing support. Prices range from approximately €4,190 to €17,190 depending on destination and program duration.
2. Annual membership fees (Socios): Annual membership fees from supporters (socios) of AFS Intercultura. The minimum annual contribution is €40. These fees contribute entirely to the scholarship fund (Fondo de Becas) to support students with fewer economic resources.
3. Donations and grants: Private grants and donations from individuals and organizations that support AFS's mission of intercultural education and inclusion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AFS Intercultura España organizes intercultural student exchange programs of varying durations (annual, semester, trimester, summer intensive) for Spanish students aged 14-18 to study at high schools in 35+ countries while living with vetted host families. Programs include pre-departure orientations, host family placement, school enrollment, ongoing volunteer support, insurance, and an integrated educational curriculum (Learning Student Journey / Superpoderes AFS) that develops global citizenship competencies. The organization also runs host family placement, volunteer, scholarship, and membership programs to support and sustain the exchange ecosystem.

Product overview

AFS Intercultura España is a non-profit cultural exchange organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of study abroad programs spanning more than 30 destinations across five continents. The core offering consists of programs of varying durations—annual full-year (8-12 months), semester (4-6 months), trimester (3 months), and summer intensive (4-8 weeks)—targeting students aged 14-18 and young adults. Each program includes host family placement, local school enrollment, pre-departure and ongoing orientations, comprehensive insurance, and 24/7 support. The portfolio integrates educational frameworks through the Itinerario Educativo (Learning Student Journey, Superpoderes AFS competencies, and Social Innovation Content), while supplementary offerings include scholarship programs (Becas), local volunteer networks, host family programs, and global citizenship education for schools. The organization emphasizes inclusion through financial support programs and partnerships with AFS networks in 98 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Study Abroad Programs (Annual / Full Year) Full-year (8–12 month) study abroad exchange programs for students aged 14-18 that include host family placement, local school enrollment, pre-departure orientations, ongoing volunteer support, and comprehensive insurance.
• Semester Programs Half-year (4–6 month) exchange programs typically running September to February, offering immersive cultural experiences in destinations across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania.
• Trimester Programs Three-month exchange programs (typically September–November or August–November) providing shorter but intensive international study experiences for students.
• Summer Intensive Programs Multi-week summer programs (4–8 weeks) combining language learning, cultural activities, and adventure experiences in destinations across the global AFS network.
• Host Family Program (Familias Anfitrionas) Program enabling Spanish families to host international AFS students (from a few weeks to a full academic year), with selection including home visits, interviews, background checks, and training, plus ongoing volunteer support.
• Scholarship Programs (Becas) Annual scholarship program offering partial funding to help students from diverse economic backgrounds participate in exchange programs, including a standard €2,000 study grant and needs-based scholarships of 50–90%.
• Volunteer Programs (Voluntariado) Local volunteer program through which individuals support exchange students via orientations, accompaniment, community outreach, and facilitation of intercultural learning activities.
• Partner Program: Guatemala + Costa Rica Semester Combined semester program allowing students to experience two Central American cultures by living with host families in Guatemala and Costa Rica successively.
• Global Citizenship Education for Schools Educational programs, workshops, and curriculum resources for schools and teachers to develop intercultural competencies and global citizenship skills.
• AAI Asia-Pacific Scholarships Partial scholarships for Asian destinations (Malaysia, Turkey, Mongolia) offered by AFS Asia-Pacific partner organizations to reduce financial barriers for intercultural exchange.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12,000+ annual participants worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• CSIS - Center for Strategic and International Studies (University of Pennsylvania)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFS partnered with CSIS to enhance its educational program and ensure students possess knowledge and tools for positive social action in their local and global communities. CSIS content introduces skills such as mind mapping, design thinking, mindset reframing, and confidence building for students to identify problems, engage with communities, and take positive impact actions during their programs.
• AFS Global NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFS Intercultura España is part of the AFS global network present in 98 countries with 60 offices worldwide. This network enables the delivery of intercultural exchange programs across five continents and facilitates the exchange of students between countries.
• AFS Asia-Pacific (AAI Scholarship Program)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerAFS Asia-Pacific partner organizations offer partial scholarships for students interested in participating in exchange programs in various countries including Malaysia, Turkey, and Mongolia. These AAI (AFS Asia-Pacific Initiative) scholarships are designed to reduce financial barriers and make transformative intercultural experiences accessible to more students.
• Supporting Members (Socios) - Individual DonorscoreOthersIndividual members (socios) who pay annual fees contribute entirely to the scholarship fund. These members can participate in organizational decisions, attend General Assemblies, and receive updates on scholarship recipients' experiences.
• Host Families (Familias Anfitrionas)coreOthersThousands of families worldwide volunteer to host AFS students, providing accommodation, cultural immersion, and family integration. These families go through selection processes including home visits, interviews, background checks, and training. They receive no monetary compensation but gain cultural exchange experiences.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AFSESP
• Facebookfacebook.com/AfsInterculturaEspana
• Instagraminstagram.com/afsintercultura_Esp
• TikToktiktok.com/@afsintercultura?lang=es
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afs-intercultura-espana

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 AFS Intercultura España