Federation EIL, the Worldwide Network of the Experiment in International Living

What Federation EIL, the Worldwide Network of the Experiment in International Living does

Federation EIL is a non-profit global membership federation, established in 1954 under Dutch law and headquartered in Washington DC, that coordinates a network of 11+ independent member organizations delivering intercultural exchange programs across North America, Europe, Asia, and South America. The federation provides three core functions: (1) setting and enforcing quality standards across the member network, (2) operating the IE Certification (IEC) — a B2B certification program covering five practice areas (Responsible Practice, Safety and Security, Program Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Homestays) that serves as an industry seal of approval, and (3) coordinating strategic partnerships, advocacy (including UN ECOSOC consultative status since 1978 and Council of Europe status since 1981), and annual General Assemblies. The underlying technology is a relatively lightweight web platform (federationeil.org plus iecquality.org) for member coordination and certification marketing, with no AI/ML capabilities, proprietary API, or mobile app evidenced.

Member organizations — including Experiment eV. (Germany), CEI France, EIL Ireland, AIPC Pandora (Spain), EIL UK, EIL Japan, EIL Ecuador, Experiment Italia, PEI Mexico, and World Learning/The Experiment (US) — independently operate the federation's programs, which include homestays, study abroad, youth leadership, language training, volunteer programs, professional internships, and educational tours. These programs collectively engage approximately 26,000 participants annually, supported by a 70,000+ alumni network. Revenue mechanics are diversified across three streams: membership dues from member organizations (subscription/recurring), IEC certification licensing fees from third-party exchange providers, and program fees collected locally by each member organization (not consolidated into Federation EIL's revenue). The federation is self-governed by its membership via a small Executive Board elected every three years; current officers include Cecilia Gámez (President), Carola Flor (Vice-President), Hiro Suzuki (Vice-President), and Christina Thomas (FEIL Chair). No external parent company, institutional investors, or venture capital ownership is indicated. Recent strategic activity includes a 2025 strategic partnership with AFS Intercultural Programs, ongoing corporate-sponsored programs (Ford Driving Dreams with Ford Philanthropy/Spain since 2019), and a 2025 return to Ghana via AFS Ghana collaboration.

Name

Federation EIL, the Worldwide Network of the Experiment in International Living

Legal name

Federation EIL

Website

https://federationeil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Federation EIL is a non-profit membership federation coordinating 11+ independent organizations delivering intercultural exchange programs — homestays, study abroad, language training, and youth leadership — to roughly 26,000 participants annually across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Educational Exchange Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Educational Services (611), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Study Abroad Provider Networks, Consortia & Membership Organizations (EDAIAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

International/Transnational Accreditation & Recognition Bodies (EDADACAG)

Keywords

• Intercultural exchange programs
• International educational exchange
• Homestay programs
• Exchange quality certification
• Youth study abroad

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington, D.C.

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Federation EIL operates as a self-governed membership organization. Member organizations pay dues to be part of the federation network, which provides quality standards, certification, advocacy, and coordination services.
2. IEC Certification Fees: The Intercultural Exchange Certification (IEC) offered by Federation EIL generates revenue from organizations seeking quality certification and seal of approval status in the exchange industry.
3. Program Fees (through member organizations): Individual member organizations charge fees for exchange programs including student exchanges, homestays, educational tours, language courses, volunteer programs, and professional internships. Federation EIL coordinates but member organizations collect program fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Federation EIL is the worldwide federation of independent non-profit member organizations that deliver intercultural exchange programs, including homestays, study abroad, language training, volunteer programs, youth leadership initiatives, and educational tours. The federation itself provides the IE (Intercultural Exchange) Certification, a quality-assurance framework covering five practice areas (Responsible Practice, Safety and Security, Program Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Homestays), and coordinates strategic partnerships, advocacy, and standards across the global member network.

Product overview

Federation EIL is a global network of international exchange organizations offering a portfolio of programs focused on intercultural learning and exchange. The core offerings include the IE Certification (a quality assurance certification for the intercultural exchange industry), the Explore Programme (scholarship-based international learning), and various member programs including homestays, educational tours, youth leadership, language training, volunteer programs, and professional internships. Member organizations operate across multiple countries including Ireland, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, Mexico, Ecuador, Italy, and the United States, serving approximately 26,000 participants annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IEC Certification (Intercultural Exchange Certification): A certification program establishing principles and standards to strengthen organizations, build trust among partners, funders and participants, and promote more impactful exchanges. It covers five practice areas: Responsible Practice, Safety and Security, Program Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Homestays.

Products and services

• IE Certification (Intercultural Exchange Certification)

Quantifiable outcome

• 26,000+ participants annually across global network
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, minor and historical.

• AFS Intercultural ProgramscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2025Strategic partnership to advance shared mission of fostering intercultural understanding, global citizenship, and educational exchanges. Collaboration focuses on: 1) Advocacy and awareness for intercultural education; 2) Joint study abroad programs, virtual exchanges, and capacity-building; 3) Country-specific collaborations in Germany, Spain, UK where AFS students are hosted by EIL, and Ireland where EIL and AFS operate as one organization.
• Ford PhilanthropyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Ford Driving Dreams program led by Ford Philanthropy, implemented by AIPC Pandora (EIL Spain). Since 2019, the program has empowered 3,700+ young people aged 14-18 and inspired 500+ social impact projects through hackathons in Madrid and Valencia, using design thinking methodology.
• Ford SpainflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Ford Driving Dreams program co-funded by Ford Spain and implemented by AIPC Pandora (EIL Spain member). In 2026, the 7th edition engaged 500+ young people with three winning projects receiving seed funding and mentoring.
• World Learning/SITcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederation EIL originated from The Experiment in International Living founded in 1932. World Learning oversees education, development, and exchange programs spanning 150+ countries. The Experiment President Gordon Boyce helped train first Peace Corps volunteers. World Learning celebrates 90th anniversary in 2022.
• AFS GhanaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEIL Ireland Explore program partners with AFS Ghana to provide intercultural learning opportunities. In 2025, three participants traveled to Ghana, marking return of Explore participants to Africa for first time since pre-pandemic, strengthening global partnerships.
• CEI FrancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMember organization of Federation EIL since 1947. CEI France organizes educational trips and holidays for children and young adults aged 6 to 30, focusing on language courses, cultural experiences, integration into working environments and travel. Programs include Junior summer programs, High school programs, Educational tours, and +18 programs.
• AIPC Pandora (EIL Spain)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNon-profit member organization with 16+ years of experience promoting Global Citizenship. Organizes international education programs based on volunteer activities, experiential learning, cultural exchanges and professional internships in 57+ countries.
• EIL UKcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK member charity based in Malvern, Worcestershire. Welcomes hundreds of international visitors annually and prepares volunteers to travel abroad. Global programmes teaching that by living together we learn to live together.
• Experiment eV. (EIL Germany)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman member organization running programs for 85+ years with 1,000+ members/volunteers and 35 staff in Bonn. Supports 2,000+ participants yearly in high school year, volunteering abroad, group exchanges and homestays.
• EIL JapancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJapanese member founded in 1956, approved by Cabinet Office as public interest incorporated association since 2013. Offers student exchange, individual homestay programs, and Japanese language programs.
• EIL IrelandcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIrish not-for-profit providing intercultural learning through study abroad, youth leadership, language training, travel awards, and cultural immersion for 2,500+ people annually. Celebrated 50 years in Ireland in 2014; 61st national member of AFS Global Network in 2018.
• EIL EcuadorcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEcuadorian member celebrating 40 years in 2017 constructing culture of peace. Non-profit offering intercultural exchange, volunteer programs and language instruction to Ecuadorians and international participants.
• Experiment ItaliacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian member founded in 1953 with central office in Asti and coordinators throughout Italy. Creates collaboration between different parts of territory offering programs for young students and adults.
• PEI - Programas Educativos Interculturales (Mexico)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMexican non-profit founded 2006 by volunteers continuing project started in Mexico in 1950 by Dr. Donald Watt and Bárbara B. de Gómez. Creates opportunities for global learning experiences.
• The Experiment in International Living (US)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS member and most experienced provider of summer abroad programs for high school students. For 85+ years, immersive programs enable participants to explore world through cultural experiences and homestays.
• Sargent Shriver / Peace CorpshistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerSargent Shriver, first director of Peace Corps and EIL alumnus, called on The Experiment to train earliest Peace Corps Volunteers from 1961-1971. These experiences helped develop founding principles of Peace Corps.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• EF Education First: For-profit global education company with significant cultural exchange, study abroad, and language travel programs. Competes for similar participants but with substantially larger marketing budget, broader geographic reach, and commercial scale.
• Rotary International Youth Exchange: Major international service organization running a long-running youth exchange program across 200+ countries and regions. Comparable in offering high-school-aged cultural exchange with homestays, with similar nonprofit governance and global network distribution.
• World Learning / SIT: Federation EIL's historical sister organization (originating from The Experiment in International Living in 1932). Operates broader higher education and development programs across 150+ countries including study abroad, graduate degrees, and Peace Corps training, with overlapping mission and shared institutional history.

Emerging players

• AIESEC: Global youth-led nonprofit running international volunteer and internship exchanges in 100+ countries. Comparable target audience (18-30 young adults seeking intercultural experience) and global network model, though with a stronger volunteer/professional development focus.

Direct peers

• AFS Intercultural Programs: The largest direct competitor and now strategic partner. AFS operates a similar global network of exchange programs across 90+ countries, including high school exchanges, homestays, and intercultural learning, with comparable UN consultative status and overlapping member organizations in several countries.
• Nacel International: International student exchange nonprofit offering high school, language, and homestay programs across 30+ countries. Directly comparable niche (youth exchange with host families) and similar nonprofit, member-network distribution model.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): US-based nonprofit operating one of the largest study abroad and intercultural exchange portfolios globally. Directly comparable in offering high school, college, and custom programs with homestays and cultural immersion, competing for similar participants and university partnerships.
• Youth For Understanding (YFU): International nonprofit exchange organization running student exchange programs in 60+ countries. Directly comparable to EIL member organizations in scope (high school year/semester exchanges, homestays) and mission-driven nonprofit structure.

Others

• Peace Corps: US government international volunteer service. Federation EIL's founding members trained the earliest Peace Corps volunteers (1961-1971). Comparable in volunteer-based intercultural exchange mission though serving adult volunteers rather than youth exchange participants.
• Council of Europe (Youth Department): Intergovernmental body coordinating European youth policy and intercultural programs. Federation EIL holds consultative status with the Council (since 1981). Operates in adjacent policy and program space, including Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps, which compete for the same youth mobility audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FederationEIL
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/FederationEIL
• Facebookfacebook.com/FederationEIL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/federation-eil-the-worldwide-network-of-the-experiment-in-international-living
• Instagraminstagram.com/FederationEIL

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Federation EIL, the Worldwide Network of the Experiment in International Living