What Sister Cities International does

Sister Cities International (SCI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower under the People-to-People program to promote citizen diplomacy between U.S. and international communities. Headquartered at 1012 14th Street NW, Washington, D.C., SCI operates a membership network of 400+ U.S. cities, counties, and states connected through 1,800+ formal partnerships spanning 140+ countries, supported by 32,000+ volunteers and a small national staff.

The organization's core deliverables are a web-based membership platform (Member Portal, Membership Directory, City Connection Marketplace, and Member Toolkit) and a portfolio of programmatic offerings including the Youth Leadership Summit, Young Artists and Authors Showcase, J-1 High School Homestay (via ACES), the Annual Awards Program, Global Conversations, country-specific Roundtables, and exchange programs in arts/culture, youth/education, economic development, and community development. SCI also runs strategic initiatives such as the 7 for 70 Pacific Islands program (with the U.S. Department of State), the 500 in 5 Africa initiative, and the Haijmari Project documenting U.S.-Japan sister city origin stories. The affiliate SCI Foundation, established in 2018, manages legacy contributions and planned gifts.

SCI's revenue is derived from membership dues (undisclosed), tax-deductible donations, event/program fees (e.g., $1,995 per Youth Leadership Summit participant), corporate sponsorships, and grants (e.g., Goethe-Institut's 2026–2027 Connecting Places Grant). The organization is governed by a 24-member Board of Directors and operates as a community-led, event-driven membership body with no parent company and no disclosed financial filings beyond consolidated 2024 statements.

Name

Sister Cities International

Legal name

Sister Cities International

Website

https://sistercities.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Sister Cities International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1956 by President Eisenhower that operates a membership network of 400+ U.S. cities and 1,800+ international partnerships across 140+ countries, facilitating citizen diplomacy through cultural, educational, and economic exchanges.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Citizen Diplomacy Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Consortia & Network Exchange Programs (EDAIABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Study Abroad Provider Networks, Consortia & Membership Organizations (EDAIAAAK), Peer Mentorship, Buddy & Host-Family Matching Programs (EDAIAKAD), Student & Alumni Communities (BPAMABAK)

Keywords

• Citizen diplomacy networks
• Sister city partnerships
• International exchange programs
• Municipal membership organization
• Youth leadership programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington, District of Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Cities, counties, and states pay membership dues to join Sister Cities International and access the network, resources, and programs.
2. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations supporting the citizen diplomacy mission.
3. Youth Leadership Summit Fees: Program fee of $1,995 per participant covering lodging, cultural activities, and local transportation in Washington, D.C.
4. Sponsorship Revenue: Corporate sponsors support events like the 70th Anniversary Homecoming (sponsors include Austin, Walmart, ACVB, and others).
5. Grant Funding: Funding from partners such as the Goethe-Institut for grant programs like the 2026-2027 Sister Cities Connecting Places Grant.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Sister Cities International is a membership-based nonprofit that facilitates formal sister city partnerships between U.S. cities, counties, and states and international counterparts. Members gain access to a searchable Membership Directory, an online Member Portal, and signature exchange programs (Youth Leadership Summit, Young Artists and Authors Showcase, J-1 High School Homestay, and exchange initiatives spanning arts/culture, youth/education, economic development, and community development). SCI also administers the Annual Awards Program, member roundtables, the Global Conversations speaker series, and strategic initiatives such as 7 for 70 (Pacific Islands) and 500 in 5 (Africa).

Product overview

Sister Cities International operates as a membership-based nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of programs and services centered on facilitating international city-to-city partnerships and citizen diplomacy. The core offering includes the membership directory and online member portal, supplemented by signature youth programs (Youth Leadership Summit, Young Artists and Authors Showcase, J-1 High School Homestay), the Annual Awards Program, and exchange initiatives covering arts/culture, youth/education, economic development, and community development. Additional programs include the 7 for 70 Pacific Islands initiative, 500 in 5 Africa initiative, Haijmari Project for US-Japan partnerships, Global Conversations speaker series, and country-specific member roundtables. The organization also provides donation processing and governance/policy resources. With over 400 member communities and 1,800+ partnerships across 140+ countries, SCI connects US cities with international counterparts through formal twinning agreements and ongoing exchange programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) Annual immersive program for young leaders ages 14-18 introducing participants to international affairs through leadership development, diplomatic simulations at the National Museum of American Diplomacy and U.S. Department of State, and service projects with peers from around the world. Participants pay $1,995 covering lodging at American University, cultural activities, and local transportation in Washington, D.C.
• Young Artists and Authors Showcase (YAAS) Annual international art contest encouraging youth worldwide to express the mission of Sister Cities International through original artwork, literature, poetry, photography, and music based on annual themes. Winners are recognized at the 70th Anniversary Homecoming in Washington, D.C.
• Annual Awards Program Established in 1962 and sponsored by Reader's Digest Association from 1963, this program recognizes outstanding sister city achievements across categories including Best Overall, Innovation in Arts & Culture, Innovation in Business/Trade, Innovation in Humanitarian Assistance, Innovation in Youth and Education, Tim Quigley Volunteer of the Year, and Youth Leadership Award.
• J-1 High School Homestay Program Program enabling member cities to host international students from their sister cities for a semester or academic year of high school in the United States, creating bonds through cultural immersion and family connections. Operated in partnership with American Cultural Exchange Services (ACES), a U.S. Department of State-designated sponsoring organization ensuring compliance with federal and CSIET requirements.
• Exchange Programs SCI's exchange program portfolio organized into four focus areas: Arts and Culture (musical performances, art exhibits, cultural festivals), Youth and Education (student exchanges, virtual exchanges, sports tournaments), Economic Development (trade delegations, business connections), and Community Development (municipal learning, disaster relief, school support).
• Membership Directory Comprehensive searchable directory of sister city partnerships organized by U.S. state and country, showing partnership types (Sister City, Friendship City, Emeritus Status) and listing all partner cities across the 400+ member communities and 1,800+ partnerships in 140+ countries.
• Online Member Portal and Toolkit Member toolkit providing login access for members to access resources, toolkits, templates, roundtables, and member-only content for managing their sister city programs.
• City Connection Marketplace Platform enabling cities seeking sister city partnerships to connect with potential partners, facilitating the formation of new relationships through the member network.
• 7 for 70 Program Strategic partnership with the U.S. Department of State to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Pacific Island nations by forming seven new subnational partnerships by 2026 in celebration of SCI's 70th anniversary.
• 500 in 5 Initiative Five-year strategic initiative to connect 500 cities in Africa with U.S. cities to foster diplomatic and cultural relationships promoting peace, respect, and mutual understanding.
• The Haijmari Project US-Japan Sister Cities Origin Stories initiative documenting compelling narratives of how U.S.-Japan sister city relationships formed over 75 years, compiled into a bilingual book. Launched in partnership with Japan's Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR).
• Member Roundtables Virtual and in-person themed meetings connecting members with counterparts in specific countries or regions, including OAS, Panama, Russia, Türkiye, and other country-specific roundtables.
• Global Conversations Series Program series connecting Sister City communities with international experts to discuss topics prominent to the network, featuring past sessions with ambassadors and diplomatic leaders via webinars and virtual events.
• Online Donations Platform Online donation processing system accepting credit card and check payments, integrated with Stripe for payment processing, with options for donation attribution to Board of Directors, State Representatives, Country & Region Representatives, General, Sponsorship, Memorial Gift, Giving Tuesday, Youth Programming, or Anonymous. Minimum donation $10; contributions are tax-deductible.

Quantifiable outcome

• 32,000+ volunteers engaged in sister city activities
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• AustinsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Sponsor of the 70th Anniversary Homecoming event.
• COSA (Cultural Organizations Serving the Arts)supportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Sponsor of the 70th Anniversary Homecoming event.
• WalmartsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Corporate sponsor of the 70th Anniversary Homecoming event.
• Austin Convention Center & Visitors BureausupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Sponsor of the 70th Anniversary Homecoming event.
• Goethe-InstitutcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025SCI and Goethe-Institut jointly administer a 2026-2027 Grant Program sponsored by Goethe-Institut's Board of Directors to support sister city partnerships.
• U.S. Department of StatecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025SCI partners with the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs on the 7 for 70 program to strengthen ties between U.S. and Pacific Island nations through new subnational partnerships.
• American Cultural Exchange Services (ACES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACES is a U.S. Department of State-designated sponsoring organization that partners with SCI for the J-1 Visa High School Homestay program, ensuring compliance with federal and CSIET requirements.
• National Museum of American DiplomacysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe museum facilitates the diplomacy simulation at the U.S. Department of State during the Youth Leadership Summit, providing students with immersive diplomatic role-playing experiences.
• American UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Youth Leadership Summit participants who stay in suite-style dorms at the university campus in Washington, D.C.
• Japan's Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLAIR works with SCI on documenting US-Japan sister city relationships, with over 400+ partnerships recorded over 75 years.
• Thriving Earth ExchangesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCI partners with Thriving Earth Exchange to help communities form partnerships advancing priorities on climate, natural hazards, and natural resources.
• Caribbean Climate-Smart AcceleratorsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to advance climate initiatives through sister city relationships in the Caribbean region.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• World Affairs Councils of America: World Affairs Councils is a national network of nonprofit councils promoting civic education and international understanding across U.S. cities, directly paralleling SCI's local civic diplomacy model.
• Global Ties U.S. Global Ties is a nonprofit network coordinating citizen diplomacy exchanges and international visitor programs, directly comparable to SCI's mission of facilitating U.S. citizen engagement with international counterparts.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): CIEE is a nonprofit that operates international exchange programs for students and young professionals across dozens of countries, directly overlapping SCI's youth exchange, J-1 visa homestay, and citizen diplomacy offerings.
• World Learning (The Experiment in International Living): World Learning operates The Experiment in International Living, a youth exchange nonprofit with semester homestay and leadership programs, directly overlapping SCI's J-1 High School Homestay and Youth Leadership Summit.
• AFS Intercultural Programs: AFS is a global nonprofit running intercultural learning and student exchange programs in 60+ countries, with comparable youth homestay, leadership training, and international partnership programs to SCI's portfolio.
• Alliance for International Exchange: Alliance for International Exchange is a coalition of U.S. exchange organizations advancing citizen diplomacy policy, serving similar member organizations and government stakeholders as SCI.
• People to People International: Founded in 1956 as part of the same People-to-People program that spawned SCI, People to People International runs citizen diplomacy and cultural exchange programs with a directly parallel mission and history.

Broad incumbents

• IREX: IREX is an international nonprofit running global exchange and leadership programs in 100+ countries, with broader development mandates that overlap SCI's exchange and youth leadership offerings.
• NAFSA: Association of International Educators: NAFSA is a large membership association for international educators and exchange professionals, serving overlapping institutional customers (U.S. universities, cities) but with a broader academic rather than municipal focus.
• Rotary International: Rotary International is a large membership-based service organization with international chapters running humanitarian and youth exchange programs (Rotary Youth Exchange), comparable in membership/dues model and global reach to SCI.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SisterCitiesInt
• Facebookfacebook.com/SisterCitiesInternational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sister-cities-international
• Instagraminstagram.com/sistercitiesint

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Sister Cities International