International Friendship Ministries

What International Friendship Ministries does

International Friendship Ministries (IFM) is a private Christian nonprofit organization founded in 1981 in Columbia, SC by Dr. Raj Aluri, an international student from India, to link local residents with international students and scholars studying in the United States. Its primary customer is the foreign-born student population at the University of South Carolina and other US campuses, with a documented reach across students from more than 150 countries and 750+ institutions since inception. IFM delivers a vertically integrated set of free community programs centered on weekly Friday Night Dinners at 1727 Pendleton Street, conversational English classes, the American Friendship Partner matching program, an annual Welcome Banquet at First Presbyterian Church, holiday Special Dinners, and a hospitality tour program with homestays across destinations such as Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Dollywood, and Washington DC. Sub-brands include the Agape English Language Institute (AELI), a DHS-approved ESL school in Columbia and Greenville, SC, and the Columbia International Festival, an annual event drawing roughly 20,000 attendees.

The organization's underlying technology stack is minimal and consumer-grade: a Wix-hosted website (ifmusa.org), Google Forms for tour/furniture/parking registration and volunteer applications, and Zoom for weekly virtual meetings. It has no proprietary software, no API, no mobile app, and no disclosed data assets. The operating model is volunteer-driven through local church partnerships (Columbia Evangelical Church, First Presbyterian, St. Luke's, Sandhills Community Church, Grace Chapel), with paid headcount of approximately 9. Revenue is generated through three streams: charitable donations solicited via the website and at events; cost-recovery tour registration fees ranging from $4 (Congaree National Park) to $250 (Orlando); and parking permits near the USC campus priced at $420 per semester or $800 for the 2026-2027 school year. IFM owns its headquarters building at 610 Pickens Street, purchased in July 2001 and located three blocks from the USC student center. The organization has operated satellite ministries in Orlando, FL (2001) and Bloomington, IN (2003), and maintains a weekly Friday Night Zoom gathering serving participants across multiple continents.

Name

International Friendship Ministries

Legal name

International Friendship Ministries

Website

https://ifmusa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

International Friendship Ministries is a private Christian nonprofit founded in 1981 in Columbia, SC, serving international students and scholars (primarily at the University of South Carolina) through free weekly dinners, English classes, friendship matching, tours, and church-based community programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Student Ministry Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Peer Mentorship, Buddy & Host-Family Matching Programs (EDAIAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Student Wellbeing & Counseling for International Students (Non-Clinical Support) (EDAIAKAF), Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI)

Keywords

• International student ministry
• ESL instruction services
• Cultural exchange programs
• Community hospitality services
• Intercultural friendship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: IFM operates as a community organization supported by emotional, spiritual, and charitable donations from the community. Donations are solicited via the website and at events.
2. Tour fees: IFM charges registration fees for tours ranging from $4 (Congaree National Park) to $250 (Orlando, FL), which cover transportation, housing arrangements with host families, and some meals. Fees are partial cost recovery, not full pricing.
3. Parking permits: IFM partners with parking lots near USC campus, selling permits at $420 per semester or $800 for the 2026-2027 school year. Revenue supports IFM operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

International Friendship Ministries (IFM) is a Christian nonprofit organization that supports international students through weekly Friday night dinners, English language classes, hospitality tours of the local community, friendship matching with local volunteers, and welcome banquets for new arrivals. The organization operates primarily in Columbia, South Carolina, where it has run these community-based programs since its founding in 1981.

Product overview

International Friendship Ministries (IFM) operates as a private Christian organization offering a unified suite of programs and services designed to serve international students through sincere friendship and practical assistance. The core offerings include weekly Friday Night Dinners with free meals and English classes, the American Friendship Partner matching program, annual Welcome Banquets, and a hospitality tours program featuring homestays across various U.S. destinations. Supporting services include USC parking partnerships and related sub-brands such as the Agape English Language Institute for formal ESL instruction and the Columbia International Festival for cultural celebration. The organization functions as a single, integrated ministry rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture, with all programs interconnected through local church partnerships and volunteer support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Agape English Language Institute for Internationals (AELI): English-as-a-Second Language institute providing instruction to internationals in Columbia and Greenville, South Carolina. Founded in 1993 by Dr. Raj Aluri.

Products and services

• Weekly Friday Night Dinners Recurring weekly community dinners held on Friday evenings that bring international students together with local host families and volunteers for fellowship, shared meals, and conversation. Open to international students in the Columbia, SC area.
• English Language Classes English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction provided to international students to help them build conversational and academic English skills. Intended for international students whose first language is not English.
• Hospitality Tours Guided excursions to local attractions and cultural sites in and around Columbia, SC, intended to orient international students to American life and the surrounding region.
• Friendship Matching Program that pairs international students with local volunteer individuals or families for ongoing one-on-one cross-cultural friendship and mentorship relationships.
• Welcome Banquets Special banquet events held for newly arrived international students to introduce them to the IFM community, local volunteers, and other international students.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reached thousands of international students from more than 150 countries across 750+ campuses
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, major and minor.

• Columbia Evangelical ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFM's primary venue partner since January 1983. The church's Education Building hosts IFM's weekly dinners and English classes, strategically located next to the USC campus. The church still hosts IFM's weekly dinners.
• Columbia International FestivalflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerA ten-year vision of Dr. Raj Aluri that became reality in 1996. Now one of the largest indoor cultural events in the southeastern US, attracting ~20,000 people annually. Brings international communities together to showcase music, culture, food, and performing arts.
• Agape English Language Institute (AELI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Dr. Raj Aluri in 1993 to provide ESL instruction. As a DHS-approved school, AELI serves internationals in Columbia and Greenville, SC. Listed as a related site supporting IFM's mission.
• Local Churches (St. Luke's, Sandhills Community Church, Grace Chapel, First Presbyterian Church)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple churches partner with IFM for tour homestays, event venues, worship services, and volunteer support. These partnerships enable IFM's ministry to be carried out through local churches.
• Aluri RentalsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIFM partners with Aluri Rentals (owned by Dr. Aluri's family) to advertise parking lots at 1721 Pendleton St and 1600 Park Circle. Separate entity providing parking services to international students.
• International Students, Inc.minorOthersListed on IFM's Helpful Sites page as a resource for international students. Not an active partnership but a referral relationship.
• University of South CarolinamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerIFM is located near USC campus (three blocks from student center) and serves USC international students. IFM holds welcome receptions at USC Russell House and maintains proximity to serve the campus community.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• International Students, Inc. Faith-based nonprofit serving international students and scholars on US campuses through friendship, hospitality, and Bible study programs; the most directly comparable mission-aligned peer to IFM.
• Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ): Large US campus ministry with dedicated international student outreach programs pairing students with American mentors and hosting weekly dinners, Bible studies, and trips.
• FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students): Catholic campus missionary organization that pairs students with mentors and runs community dinners, similar in fellowship/dinner pairing mechanics to IFM though faith-tradition differs.
• The Navigators: Faith-based organization with a longstanding international student ministry on US campuses through mentorship and small-group Bible studies.
• BSF International (Bible Study Fellowship): Interdenominational Bible study fellowship that attracts internationals seeking English-language Bible study and community in the US, comparable in programming format to IFM's Friday night offerings.
• InterVarsity Christian Fellowship: Campus-based Christian ministry with chapters at hundreds of US universities running small groups, dinners, and outreach aimed at international and domestic students.

Broad incumbents

• World Relief: Faith-based nonprofit with international student and refugee resettlement programs offering mentorship, English classes, and community support; comparable in programmatic mix though broader in scope.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): Larger established international education organization running study-abroad and exchange programs; overlaps in serving international students in the US but with a more commercial, exchange-focused model.

Emerging players

• Welcome.US: Nonprofit that mobilizes Americans to support newcomers (refugees, immigrants, and international arrivals) through mentorship and community engagement; overlaps with IFM's hospitality mission but serves a broader population beyond students.
• Young Life College: Faith-based youth/campus organization that runs dinners, trips, and mentorship programs near US college campuses; comparable volunteer-driven hospitality model though targeted more broadly.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-friendship-ministries

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 International Friendship Ministries