Via International
Via International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1975 that runs community development programs — youth arts, border immersion travel, migrant shelter, and women's empowerment — across the San Diego–Tijuana border region, funded by donations, grants, and program fees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1975
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Via International does
Via International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 95-2961670) founded in 1975 in Tijuana, Mexico, and now headquartered at 1955 Julian Ave. in San Diego's historic Logan Heights neighborhood. The organization operates a portfolio of community development programs centered on the San Diego–Tijuana border region, including Somos La Voz (free youth art and music programming for Chicano and Mexican youth aged 12–26), Via GO Travel (border immersion experiences for schools, universities, faith communities, and professional groups), Via Migrante and Comunidad de Luz (migrant shelter and support in Tijuana), Pan y Paz (women's culinary healing initiative), Promotora Training (grassroots leadership development), Border Curious (civic-leader immersion), and microfinance programs in partnership with Los Niños de Baja California. The organization employs approximately 15 staff and is governed by a board chaired by Roxane Helstrom.
Via International does not operate proprietary technology platforms; its delivery model is built on direct community engagement, institutional partnerships, and live programming. The asset-based community development methodology emphasizes long-standing local relationships and promotora (community leader) training rather than software-enabled scale. The technology footprint is limited to a Wix-hosted website, standard social media accounts (Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube), email newsletters, and a blog — there is no API, mobile app, or disclosed AI/ML capability.
The business model is a hybrid nonprofit structure. Revenue is generated through (1) charitable contributions, with a formalized recurring "50 Circle" monthly giving program that the organization actively markets, and (2) program fees from border immersion travel programs (Via GO, Border Curious) sold to educational institutions, faith groups, nonprofits, and professional cohorts. Grants from institutional funders — including Prebys Foundation, California Arts Council, San Diego Cultural Affairs, and Alliance for California Traditional Arts — supplement program operations. Pricing for travel programs is tailored to institutional needs and is not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, relying on trusted referral networks and event-based engagement (e.g., Fandango Fronterizo) rather than paid acquisition.
Via International firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Via International
- Legal name
- Via International
- Website
- https://viainternational.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1975
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Via International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1975 that runs community development programs — youth arts, border immersion travel, migrant shelter, and women's empowerment — across the San Diego–Tijuana border region, funded by donations, grants, and program fees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Via International industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development Services
- NAICS
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Student & Youth Educational Tours (THAKAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Language Immersion & Cultural Exchange Programs (THAKAGAE), Service Learning, Volunteer & Community Engagement Trips (THAKAGAF), Short-Term Secondary Immersion & Cultural Exchange Trips (EDAIAHAD)
Keywords
Where Via International is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Via International business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Via International operates as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 95-2961670) that relies on charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and organizations. The organization promotes monthly giving through its '50 Circle' program where recurring donors provide steady, reliable support for community-led programs.
- Border Immersion Travel Programs: Via GO Travel creates transformative educational experiences connecting people across the U.S.-Mexico border. Programs are tailored for schools, universities, faith communities, nonprofits, and professional groups, generating revenue through program fees.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Via International product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Via International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that builds cross-border community between San Diego and Tijuana through a portfolio of programs: free youth art and music classes (Somos La Voz), educational border immersion travel experiences (Via GO), migrant shelter and humanitarian services (Via Migrante / Comunidad de Luz), women's empowerment through culinary healing (Pan y Paz) and microfinance, and grassroots leadership training via promotora programs. Revenue is generated from individual donations, foundation and government grants, and institutional program fees paid by schools, universities, faith communities, and professional groups booking border immersion trips.
Product overview
Via International operates a portfolio of community development programs centered on cross-border collaboration between San Diego and Tijuana. The organization offers youth arts and music programming through Somos La Voz, educational border immersion travel experiences via Via GO and Border Curious, migrant support services through Via Migrante and Comunidad de Luz, women's empowerment through Pan y Paz and microfinance programs, and promotora leadership training. These programs collectively advance Via's mission of sustainable development through asset-based community engagement.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Somos La Voz: A youth art and music program offering FREE and culturally-responsive art and music programming led by teaching artists to Chicano and Mexican youth aged 12-26 in San Diego. Classes culminate in live youth-led pop-up events/performances that are open to the public.
- Via GO Travel
- Via Migrante
- Pan y Paz
- Comunidad de Luz
- Border Curious
Products and services
- Somos La Voz Free, culturally-responsive art and music program led by teaching artists for Chicano and Mexican youth aged 12-26 in San Diego, with classes culminating in public pop-up performances and cultural events.
- Via GO Border Immersion Travel Tailored multi-day border immersion travel experiences in San Diego and Tijuana that connect schools, universities, faith communities, nonprofits, and professional groups with community leaders, grassroots organizations, activists, artists, and newly arrived migrants.
- Via Migrante Migrant shelter and humanitarian support program for women, children, and families in the San Diego-Tijuana border region, including operation of the Comunidad de Luz migrant shelter for women and children in Tijuana in partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego.
- Pan y Paz Women's empowerment and culinary healing initiative that provides fresh-baked bread and is set to expand into youth detention centers across San Diego County, supporting women leaders in building community.
- Promotora Leadership Training Grassroots leadership development programs that train women and youth in the San Diego-Tijuana border region to become local leaders and build stronger, more self-reliant communities through asset-based community development.
- Border Curious Border immersion program designed for civic leaders and global citizens seeking to understand the realities of border communities and cross-border dynamics in the San Diego-Tijuana region.
- Los Niños de Baja California Microfinance Program Microfinance initiative delivered in partnership with Los Niños de Baja California that provides financial support, economic opportunities, and resources to women in Baja California.
Companies that use Via International
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Via International technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Via International partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SD Cultural AffairscoreSan Diego's city arts agency champions arts, culture and creativity city-wide to reflect San Diego's diversity and energy. Partners with Via on cultural programming.
- Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA)minorEmpowering California's living cultural traditions by supporting artists, communities and heritage. Collaborates with Via on traditional arts programming.
- Atzlan LibreminorGrassroots Chicano youth empowerment and community leadership organization in Aztlán. Community partner for Somos La Voz programming.
- Mujeres Brew HouseminorVibrant, Latina-owned brewery in Barrio Logan crafting bold beers and empowering women in craft. Venue partner for Via events including Day of the Dead celebration.
- Bread & SaltminorExperimental arts hub in San Diego's Barrio Logan supporting artists, exhibitions and community. Community partner for Via arts programming.
- Fandango FronterizocoreAnnual binational Son Jarocho festival at the Tijuana-San Diego border celebrating music and unity. Founded by Via advisor Jorge Castillo, co-presented with Via.
- Episcopal Diocese of San DiegocorePartnership to open Comunidad de Luz, a migrant shelter for women and children in Tijuana. Joint humanitarian response initiative.
- Los Niños de Baja CaliforniacorePartnership to deliver microfinance programs to women in Baja California. Collaborative economic empowerment initiative.
- Pan y PazminorWomen leaders engaged in culinary healing through baking bread, now set to provide fresh-baked bread in youth detention centers across the county.
- Nazareth UniversityminorEducational institution that partnered with Via for Alternative Breaks program, sending students on Via GO border immersion trips to San Diego and Tijuana.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Via International competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- HIAS: Large national refugee resettlement and humanitarian organization serving displaced populations; overlaps with Via Migrante's migrant shelter and empowerment work as a broader incumbent in refugee services.
- Inter-American Foundation: U.S. government agency funding community-led development across Latin America; a board member of Via works there and Via's promotora/microfinance work aligns with IAF's grantmaking priorities.
- RAICES: Texas-based nonprofit providing legal services, advocacy, and shelter for immigrants and refugees on the U.S.-Mexico border - similar humanitarian mission but at larger, Texas-focused scale.
Direct peers
- BorderLinks: BorderLinks runs educational border immersion delegations and experiential learning trips along the U.S.-Mexico border, closely mirroring Via GO's core travel program for schools, universities, and faith groups.
- Rustic Pathways: Rustic Pathways operates student/youth educational travel and service-learning programs globally, comparable to Via GO's student and youth educational tours model.
- Where There Be Dragons: Dragons designs educational gap-year and experiential travel programs with cultural immersion and community engagement, overlapping with Via's cross-border cultural exchange offerings to schools and universities.
- Global Leadership Adventures: GLA delivers youth-led educational travel and volunteer/service-learning programs to high school and university students - directly analogous to Via's border immersion trips.
Emerging players
- Bread & Salt: San Diego experimental arts hub in Barrio Logan that supports artists, exhibitions, and community programming; already a Via community partner for Somos La Voz programming.
- Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA): Funds and supports traditional arts programming in California, including folk music/dance such as Son Jarocho - a direct partner and programmatic counterpart to Somos La Voz.
Regional players
- Casa Cornelia Law Center: San Diego-based nonprofit providing legal services and support to immigrants and asylum seekers; aligns with Via Migrante/Comunidad de Luz's humanitarian work for migrant families in the same geography.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Via International social profiles
Digital presenceVia International financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Via International leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles20 records
Via International funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Via International M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Via International
What does Via International do?
Via International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that builds cross-border community between San Diego and Tijuana through a portfolio of programs: free youth art and music classes (Somos La Voz), educational border immersion travel experiences (Via GO), migrant shelter and humanitarian services (Via Migrante / Comunidad de Luz), women's empowerment through culinary healing (Pan y Paz) and microfinance, and grassroots leadership training via promotora programs. Revenue is generated from individual donations, foundation and government grants, and institutional program fees paid by schools, universities, faith communities, and professional groups booking border immersion trips.
Is Via International a public or private company?
Via International is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Via International founded?
Via International was founded in 1975. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Via International based?
Via International is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Via International make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are border Immersion Travel Programs.
Who are Via International's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are HIAS, Inter-American Foundation and RAICES. Direct peers are BorderLinks, Rustic Pathways, Where There Be Dragons and Global Leadership Adventures. Emerging players are Bread & Salt and Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA). Casa Cornelia Law Center is listed as a regional player.
Does Via International have an API?
No public API is recorded for Via International.
What industry is Via International in?
Via International's product category is Community Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAKAGAA, Student & Youth Educational Tours, with a secondary code of THAKAGAE, Language Immersion & Cultural Exchange Programs. Its NAICS code is 71 and its SIC code is 8200.