B5

What B5 does

B5 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization headquartered in Kennewick, Washington, that delivers English-language, literacy, citizenship, and youth programs to refugees and immigrants in the Tri-Cities area. Founded in 2009 as Family Learning Center under Family of Faith Church, it incorporated as a Washington nonprofit in 2013, became an independent 501(c)(3) in 2014, and rebranded to B5 in 2022, drawing its name from the apartment unit where it was originally based. Programs are delivered in person at a purpose-built Community Learning Center opened in May 2024, with additional adult English classes run jointly with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties. The portfolio includes daytime, evening, and women's-only adult English classes; citizenship preparation; digital literacy; adult literacy for non-Roman-script speakers; K-8 after-school and summer programs; a high-school homework and college/career-readiness program; a Ukrainian-specific after-school program; Pashto heritage-language classes; and kindergarten-readiness workshops.

Name

B5

Legal name

B5 Learning Center

Website

https://thriveatb5.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

B5 is a Kennewick, WA-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering adult English, citizenship, literacy, and youth programs to refugees and immigrants in Washington's Tri-Cities region, serving more than 2,000 newcomers from 15+ countries since 2009.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee and Immigrant Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Language Schools (611630), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Newcomer & Refugee Student Support Programs (EDAJAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Citizenship Test Preparation (Civics & Interview) (EDAAADAA), Alternative Education & Dropout Prevention / Re-Engagement Programs (EDANAJAF)

Keywords

• Adult English classes
• Refugee education services
• Citizenship test preparation
• After-school youth programs
• Community-based nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Kennewick

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: B5 relies primarily on donations from individuals, foundations, and community members. Donations support general operations, specific programs, and capital campaigns. Monthly giving programs are available for recurring support.
2. In-Kind Donations: B5 accepts goods and services through Amazon Wish List and in-kind donations of items that support programs and families served.
3. Planned Giving / Legacy Society: B5 accepts planned gifts including wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, gifts of real estate, retirement plans, IRA gifts, and charitable annuities. This creates a sustainable funding stream for long-term organizational stability.
4. Capital Campaign Investments: B5 raised $2.1M through the Bridges to New Beginnings Capital Campaign for the new Community Learning Center, with investments from private donors, foundations, and public partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

B5 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization that provides adult English language classes (daytime, evening, and women-only formats), U.S. citizenship preparation, digital literacy training, and youth programs (K-8 after-school, high school tutoring, Ready for Kindergarten workshops, Ukrainian refugee after-school, and Pashto heritage language instruction) to refugees and immigrants in the Tri-Cities region of Washington State. Programs are delivered in person at the B5 Community Learning Center and at partner sites, and are funded through donations, grants, and capital campaign contributions.

Product overview

B5 is a nonprofit educational organization serving the Tri-Cities refugee and immigrant community. It offers a portfolio of educational programs including adult English language classes (daytime, evening, and women's-only formats), citizenship preparation, digital literacy training, and youth programs (K-8 after-school, high school, Ukrainian refugee support, and Ready for Kindergarten workshops). The organization also provides heritage language instruction and adult literacy tutoring. Programs are delivered at the new B5 Community Learning Center and the Boys and Girls Club, with volunteer-driven instruction supported by professional staff.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult English Classes (Daytime) Daytime English language instruction for adult refugees and immigrants seeking employment, including a digital literacy component, delivered in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Benton and Franklin Counties.
• Evening English Class Evening English classes held 5:30-8:00 PM Monday-Thursday for adults unable to attend daytime programs due to work schedules; covers reading, writing, speaking, and listening with a quarterly fee.
• Women's English Class Women-only English instruction held 9:00-10:30 AM Monday-Thursday for women facing cultural or logistical barriers to mixed-gender classes, with free on-site childcare for preschool children.
• Citizenship Class Weekly preparation course held 5:30-6:30 PM Wednesday helping refugees apply for U.S. citizenship after five years of residency, including practice for the citizenship knowledge test and interview; $35 student book fee.
• K-8 After School Program After-school homework help, reading practice, and enrichment activities for refugee and immigrant students in grades K-8 (3:00-5:00 PM weekdays), including a summer program (12:00-4:00 PM).
• High School Program Evening homework assistance (5:00-7:00 PM weekdays) for high school students with one-on-one volunteer tutors, plus soft-skills training for employment, driver's ed support, job applications, and college preparation.
• Refugee School Impact Program Additional youth support services delivered in partnership with School's Out Washington to help refugee students succeed academically and socially.
• Ready for Kindergarten! Workshops Three-times-yearly workshops for parents of children ages 0-5, delivered in partnership with Kennewick School District and The Children's Reading Foundation, teaching age-appropriate skills in simple English.
• Digital Literacy Level 1 Computer skills instruction integrated with English language learning for emerging English speakers who have never used a computer.
• Pashto Language Class Heritage language instruction teaching Afghan children to read and write Pashto, their native language, supporting literacy development in both native and second languages.
• Adult Literacy Instruction Teaching adults with low or no literacy skills to read, including those who never learned to read in their native language or have difficulty with Roman alphabet scripts.
• Ukrainian After School Program After-school program specifically serving Ukrainian refugee youth in the Tri-Cities community.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 2,000 newcomers helped since founding (more than 2,500 mentioned in Executive Director's bio)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and founding.

• World Relief Tri-CitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRefugee resettlement agency that refers refugees to B5 for educational services. Historical partner going back to B5's founding in 2009.
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin CountiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerB5 collaborates with the Boys and Girls Club to offer adult English classes at their Kennewick Club location.
• Educational Service District 123coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership supporting B5's programs and educational initiatives for refugees and immigrants.
• Kennewick School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting B5's youth programs, after-school services, and Ready for Kindergarten workshops. B5 works with school-age students from K-12.
• DSHS (Washington State Department of Social and Health Services)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency providing funding and referrals for refugee support services. B5 receives some federal/state funds through DSHS to support refugee programs.
• School's Out WashingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports B5's Refugee School Impact Program and after-school programming for refugee youth.
• The Children's Reading FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing resources and programs for B5's Ready for Kindergarten workshops and literacy initiatives.
• ProLiteracycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization supporting adult literacy. Provides resources and expertise for B5's adult literacy programs.
• Washington State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSU Master Gardeners partner providing gardening education and programs at B5.
• Rotary Clubs of Kennewick and RichlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerService organization supporting B5's community initiatives and programs.
• Soroptimist International of Pasco-KennewickcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's service organization that hosts events at B5, honors women in B5's English programs, and supports B5's mission.
• Elite ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuilt the new B5 Community Learning Center as part of the capital campaign. Named in capital campaign as Welcoming-level investor.
• Family of Faith ChurchfoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal founding church ministry where B5 began as a church ministry in 2009. Founding-level investor in capital campaign. Welcomed first Karen refugee families in 2008.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• World Relief: National Christian refugee resettlement and education organization with a Tri-Cities affiliate that is one of B5's core referral partners. Operates similar ESL, citizenship, and refugee integration programs nationally.
• Lutheran Community Services Northwest: Regional social services organization serving Washington, Oregon, and Idaho with refugee resettlement, adult ESL, citizenship preparation, and after-school youth programs — directly comparable services and beneficiary populations to B5.
• Refugee Women's Alliance (ReWA): Seattle-based refugee and immigrant services organization offering ESL, citizenship classes, after-school youth programs, and women's-specific support — closely matches B5's programming mix including women's-only English classes.
• Catholic Charities Eastern Washington: Regional Catholic Charities affiliate serving Eastern Washington with refugee resettlement, English language classes, immigration legal services, and family support — a direct regional peer to B5 operating in the same general service area.
• Literacy Source: Seattle-area nonprofit providing adult literacy, ESL, and citizenship tutoring to immigrants and refugees — directly comparable in mission (adult literacy for newcomers) and volunteer-driven delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• International Rescue Committee: Large national and international refugee resettlement and education organization operating across the US; offers ESL, employment, and youth programming at a scale and geographic breadth B5 does not match, but with overlapping refugee education focus.
• HIAS: Jewish refugee resettlement agency providing reception, integration, ESL, and citizenship services nationwide; operates at a broader scale than B5 but with overlapping newcomer education and resettlement mission.
• Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC): National refugee resettlement agency operating through affiliate sites; provides ESL, employment, and integration services to refugees and immigrants — overlapping beneficiary populations including East African newcomers similar to B5's Somali and Sudanese participants.
• Catholic Charities USA: National umbrella organization for Catholic Charities agencies, many of which (including in Washington) provide refugee resettlement, ESL, and immigration services comparable to B5's offerings.

Regional players

• Jewish Family Service: Regional social services organization offering refugee and immigrant services including ESL, citizenship support, and case management — comparable program mix to B5 though serving the Puget Sound region rather than Tri-Cities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thriveatb5

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 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 B5