Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad

What Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad does

Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad (CIS) is a private nonprofit organization founded in 1993 in San Salvador, El Salvador, in the wake of the Peace Accords that ended the country's civil war. The organization operates an integrated portfolio of community development programs targeted at marginalized Salvadoran communities where education often ends after sixth grade. Core programs include Youth Scholarships and Leadership Development (supporting 500+ students annually), Clean Water and Environment (filters and systems reaching 3,000+ families across 40+ communities in partnership with Clean Water for the World), Dignified Housing (100 homes completed in Paso Puente with Homes from the Heart and the Salvadoran Ministry of Housing), and a Women's Entrepreneurship and Empowerment School using a 9-session training cycle and long-term accompaniment model.

CIS generates revenue through six streams: tax-deductible donations (the dominant inflow) routed through its US fiscal sponsor Los Olivos CIS, the Mélida Anaya Montes Language School (Spanish/English instruction at $15/hour online and in-person, with 275 students served in 2019), a fair-trade handicraft e-commerce store selling goods from nearly 100 artisans in 17 workshops, volunteer program fees ($100 plus $80-90/week accommodation), international delegation fees ($575-$950 per participant for 5-14 day visits), and international election observation mission fees. Distribution is delivered via local scholarship committees and promoters embedded in communities, while international engagement runs through 52 solidarity partners (US/Canadian/European congregations, universities, NGOs) plus six domestic partners including CONAMYPE, INSAFORP, and FUNDASAL.

The organization is led by Executive Director Leslie Jean Schuld, supported by 16 employees, and has maintained continuous operations for over 30 years, including through pandemic-era laptop distribution (50+ units) and post-disaster response (Tropical Storm Pilar, June 2024). It is currently navigating El Salvador's Foreign Agents Law (Legislative Decree #308, May 2025), which imposes a potential 30% tax on international donations and has required CIS to register as a foreign agent.

Name

Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad

Legal name

Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad

Website

https://cis-elsalvador.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad (CIS) is a 1993-founded Salvadoran nonprofit delivering youth scholarships, clean water, dignified housing, women's entrepreneurship, and human rights programs to 40+ underserved communities, funded through donations, a language school, and fair-trade handicrafts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Access & Quality (International Development) (BPAGABAE), Community Development & Social Impact Programs (EDAIAGAA), Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI)

Keywords

• Community development programs
• Youth education scholarships
• Fair trade handicrafts
• Language school services
• Women's economic empowerment

Headquarters

HQ city

San Salvador

HQ country

El Salvador

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: CIS relies heavily on donations from international partners, churches, foundations, and individuals to fund its programs including scholarships, clean water, housing, and women's empowerment. Major donors include US congregations, universities, and organizations listed as solidarity partners.
2. Language School: Revenue from teaching Spanish to international students and English to Salvadoran adults. Classes offered online and in-person at $15/hour for adults, with specialized pricing for children's lessons.
3. Handicraft Sales (Fair Trade): Online store selling handmade Salvadoran crafts including holiday cards, ornaments, face masks, coffee, jewelry, garments, wallets, bags, backpacks, hammocks, household items, wooden puzzles, and religious decorations. Supports nearly 100 artisans in 17 workshops.
4. Volunteer Program Fees: Volunteers pay program fees ($100) and cover their own travel, accommodation, and living expenses. Some volunteers subsidize the program through fundraising.
5. Delegation Fees: Delegation participants pay fees ranging from $575-$950 covering transportation, meals, accommodation, guide, and interpreter services for 5-14 day visits to El Salvador communities.
6. Election Observation Mission: International observers pay program fees ($575-$900) for training, meals, transportation, and accommodation during election observation missions in El Salvador.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CIS delivers an integrated portfolio of community development programs in El Salvador — youth scholarships, clean water access, women's entrepreneurship, dignified housing, and human rights advocacy — funded primarily by international donations and grants. Alongside these social programs, it runs two earned-revenue lines: the Mélida Anaya Montes Language School (Spanish and English instruction online and on-site) and a Fair Trade Online Handicraft Shop selling handmade crafts from nearly 100 Salvadoran artisans. International engagement is supported through solidarity delegations, a volunteer placement program, and election observation missions.

Product overview

Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad (CIS) is a Salvadoran nonprofit organization founded in 1993 offering a portfolio of social justice and community development programs. The core offerings include the Mélida Anaya Montes Language School (offering Spanish and English instruction online and on-site), a Fair Trade Handicraft Shop (selling handmade Salvadoran crafts from nearly 100 artisans), and six community development programs: Youth Scholarships and Leadership Development, Clean Water and Environment, Women's Entrepreneurship (SEW), Dignified Housing, Human Rights and Emergencies, and Election Observation. Supporting programs include International Delegations and Volunteer placement. These programs work together to provide education, economic empowerment, environmental health, housing, and civic participation opportunities to marginalized Salvadoran communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CIS Language School / Mélida Anaya Montes Language School: Language school offering Spanish and English classes, both online and in-person
• CIS Handicraft Shop / Solidarity Crafts
• Women's Empowerment School (Escuela de Empoderamiento)
• Los Olivos CIS

Products and services

• Mélida Anaya Montes Language School

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 students receive scholarships annually; 64 university students receive subsidized housing
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Peace CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026Peace Corps volunteer partnered with CIS and community leaders in Cantón El Tanque, Santa Ana, to address water contamination. Conducted water analysis with University of Santa Ana and delivered 60 eco-friendly water filters.
• St. Elizabeth Catholic Church (Kansas City)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2026Faith-based partner providing ongoing support for Salvadoran communities. Donated musical instruments (baritones, trumpets, saxophone, cymbals, drums) to Tonacatepeque school and supported educational therapy classroom with materials.
• CONAMYPEminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025National Commission for Micro and Small Enterprise partnered with CIS to provide specialized food handling training for women entrepreneurs in Embutidos El Espino microbusiness.
• Sanitary Registry SuperintendencyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Government agency coordinating with CONAMYPE and CIS to certify women entrepreneurs in food handling and preparation under strict hygiene standards.
• FUNDASALminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2024Partner working with CIS and Homes from the Heart to explore permanent housing solutions on Holy Spirit Island following Tropical Storm Pilar flooding in June 2024.
• Homes from the HeartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing development partner collaborating with CIS and Salvadoran Ministry of Housing to build dignified homes in Paso Puente community. Completed 100 homes by 2022. Raises funds ($4,000 per home) and provides construction support.
• Salvadoran Ministry of HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner contributing $3,500 per home plus infrastructure (potable water, sewage, roads) for dignified housing project in Paso Puente. First government investment in urban shanty towns.
• Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual AdorationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based partner supporting dignified housing project and broader community development work in El Salvador.
• Clean Water for the WorldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing UV light chamber water purification technology. Has helped CIS provide clean water systems to over 3,000 families in 40+ communities. Systems purify up to 300 gallons per hour for communities of 600 persons.
• Instituto Salvadoreño de Formación Profesional (INSAFORP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment technical training institute collaborating with CIS on professional development programs.
• Centro de Desarrollo de Micro y Pequeñas Empresas (CDMYPE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness development center partnering with CIS to support micro and small enterprise development programs.
• Comisión Nacional de la Micro y Pequeña Empresa (CONAMYPE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational commission for micro and small enterprises collaborating on women's empowerment and entrepreneurship programs.
• Plataforma Global El SalvadorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal platform network partnering with CIS for development initiatives.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• WaterAid: WaterAid is a major international NGO focused on clean water access, sanitation, and hygiene in low-income communities globally—directly paralleling CIS's Clean Water and Environment program reaching 3,000+ families with UV purification systems.
• Mercy Corps: Mercy Corps is a major global humanitarian organization working on poverty alleviation, water access, youth empowerment, and economic development in fragile contexts—comparable to CIS's integrated multi-sector approach but at vastly greater institutional scale.
• Habitat for Humanity El Salvador: Habitat for Humanity operates a global housing program with active presence in El Salvador building dignified homes for low-income families—directly comparable to CIS's Paso Puente housing initiative but with broader institutional scale and government relationships.
• Pro Mujer: Pro Mujer provides financial services, entrepreneurship training, and health programs to low-income women across Latin America—closely matching CIS's Women's Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Program with its microbusiness development, training cycles, and accompaniment model.
• FINCA International: FINCA operates a global microfinance network serving low-income entrepreneurs through village banking methodology—sharing CIS's poverty alleviation and women's economic empowerment focus but with a larger financial services platform.

Direct peers

• Friends of El Salvador: Friends of El Salvador is a US-based solidarity organization supporting community-led development in El Salvador through scholarships and partnerships—sharing CIS's donor base, geographic focus, and scholarship/community development orientation.
• Tostan: Tostan runs community-led development programs across West Africa emphasizing education, health, and economic empowerment through long-term community accompaniment—closely paralleling CIS's integrated multi-program model and 9-year accompaniment approach.
• CISPES (Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador): CISPES is a US-based solidarity organization building political and economic support for Salvadoran social movements through delegations, education, and advocacy—closely matching CIS's solidarity/delegation/donor cultivation model in the same country.
• SHARE El Salvador (Salvadoran Humanitarian Aid and Research Education): SHARE is a foundation supporting development projects in El Salvador with a comparable solidarity-model mission focused on education, health, and economic development for underserved Salvadoran communities—directly comparable to CIS's grassroots community development approach.

Regional players

• Esperanza International Foundation: Esperanza runs education, health, and economic development programs in the Dominican Republic with similar integrated community development methodology—regionally comparable as a Latin American/Caribbean solidarity organization with similar multi-program structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CIS-El-Salvador
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centro-de-intercambio-y-solidaridad

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 Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad