Welcoming The Stranger
Welcoming The Stranger is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 that provides free English, computer skills, and citizenship test preparation classes to adult immigrants and refugees across 8 Pennsylvania and 3 New Jersey counties, delivered via volunteer-led in-person and online instruction.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersLanghorne, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Welcoming The Stranger does
Welcoming The Stranger is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1999 and headquartered in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. It provides free educational classes in English as a Second Language (ESL), computer skills, and United States citizenship exam preparation to adult immigrants and refugees aged 18 and older. The organization serves a regional catchment spanning Bucks, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties in Pennsylvania, and Burlington, Hunterdon, and Mercer Counties in New Jersey. Since founding, the organization has taught more than 6,000 students from 115 countries.
The organization's core product surface consists of three free educational offerings: multi-level ESL instruction, computer skills training (ranging from basic internet/email use to Microsoft Office and resume creation), and citizenship test preparation. Delivery is hybrid — in-person classes at 9 community locations plus virtual instruction via the Google for Education platform. Each class typically meets once weekly for 1.5–2 hours, with a volunteer lead teacher plus assistant teachers and class sizes of 1–10 (online) or 10–30 (in-person). The curriculum is supplemented by a referral ecosystem for non-educational needs including jobs/career development, childcare, housing, food support, legal/immigrant rights services, healthcare, and social services. Instruction is entirely volunteer-driven; the organization itself operates with approximately 7 staff members under Executive Director Patricia Lorenz.
The business model is a traditional community nonprofit funding stack: individual donations, grants from area foundations, contributions from religious and civic organizations, and event-based fundraising (anchored by the annual International Dinner with tiered Platinum/Gold/Silver/Sustaining sponsorships). All programs are provided free of charge to students. The organization is independently incorporated as an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) and has no parent company or subsidiaries. Notable recognitions include the 2019 Atlantic Renewal Award ($40,000 over two years, selected from 9,300 nominations) and the 2023 Bucks County YWCA Salute to Women Who Make a Difference honor for Executive Director Patricia Lorenz.
Welcoming The Stranger firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Welcoming The Stranger
- Legal name
- Welcoming the Stranger
- Website
- https://welcomingthestranger.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Welcoming The Stranger is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 that provides free English, computer skills, and citizenship test preparation classes to adult immigrants and refugees across 8 Pennsylvania and 3 New Jersey counties, delivered via volunteer-led in-person and online instruction.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Welcoming The Stranger industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Adult Immigrant and Refugee Education
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611), Language Schools (611630)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI)
Keywords
Where Welcoming The Stranger is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Langhorne
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
Welcoming The Stranger business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Financial support from individuals who share the vision of welcoming immigrants and refugees
- Foundation Grants: Grants from area foundations supporting immigrant and refugee integration programs
- Religious and Civic Organization Support: Funding from places of worship and civic groups
- Event Fundraising: International Dinner and other events serve as fundraising opportunities with sponsors at various levels (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Sustaining)
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Free | Free educational programs for adult immigrants and refugees |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Welcoming The Stranger product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Welcoming The Stranger is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free classes in English as a Second Language (ESL), computer skills, and U.S. citizenship exam preparation to adult immigrants and refugees ages 18 and older. Instruction is delivered by volunteer teachers both online via Google for Education and in-person at multiple community sites across Bucks and Montgomery Counties in Pennsylvania and Hunterdon County in New Jersey. All programs and wraparound support referrals are provided at no cost to students.
Product overview
Welcoming the Stranger is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization that operates as a single, unified program providing free education services to adult immigrants and refugees. The organization offers three core educational products: English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes, Computer Skills Training, and Citizenship Test Preparation. All programs are offered free of charge to students and are available both online and in-person across Bucks, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties in Pennsylvania, and Burlington, Hunterdon, and Mercer Counties in New Jersey. The organization was founded in 1999 and has taught more than 6,000 students from 115 different countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes Free English language instruction offered at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, available both online via Google for Education and in-person at multiple Pennsylvania and New Jersey community locations. Targeted at adult immigrants and refugees ages 18 and older living in Bucks, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties in PA and Burlington, Hunterdon, and Mercer Counties in NJ.
- Computer Skills Training Free computer instruction covering basic skills such as internet searching, computer care, email access, and computer security, as well as advanced skills including Microsoft Office, program downloads, and resume creation. Delivered to adult immigrants and refugees online and in-person.
- Citizenship Test Preparation Free preparation classes for the U.S. Naturalization Exam, helping immigrants study citizenship questions while practicing English skills for their citizenship interview. Targeted at adult immigrants preparing for U.S. naturalization.
Quantifiable outcome
- 6,000+ students taught from 115 countries since founding in 1999
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Welcoming The Stranger
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Welcoming The Stranger technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Welcoming The Stranger partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- 1Re Max TotalminorPlatinum Event Sponsor of the 2025 International Dinner fundraiser. Contributed to the organization's annual fundraising event celebrating the global student community.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Welcoming The Stranger competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Church World Service: Faith-based nonprofit providing refugee resettlement, English language training, and integration services across multiple U.S. states — comparable mission, donor base, and service offerings to WTS.
- Literacy Volunteers of America / ProLiteracy: National adult literacy network providing volunteer-led ESL and basic literacy instruction to adults — directly comparable volunteer-driven adult ESL delivery model.
- International Rescue Committee (IRC): Major nonprofit providing refugee resettlement and integration services including ESL, employment, and citizenship preparation across the U.S. — directly comparable mission and service mix to Welcoming the Stranger, though at vastly larger national scale.
- Nationalities Service Center: Philadelphia-based immigrant and refugee services nonprofit offering ESL, legal services, citizenship prep, and integration support — closely aligned geographic and programmatic overlap with WTS in the PA/NJ corridor.
- US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI): National nonprofit delivering refugee resettlement, ESL, employment, and integration programs — directly comparable mission and service portfolio.
- HIAS: Jewish-American refugee resettlement agency offering ESL, citizenship preparation, employment, and integration support to immigrants and refugees — closely aligned programmatic focus with Welcoming the Stranger.
- Bethany Christian Services: Faith-based nonprofit providing refugee resettlement, ESL, and foster care services for immigrant and refugee families — comparable service mix and faith-affiliated funding base.
Regional players
- Jewish Family and Children's Service of Greater Philadelphia: Regional social services agency serving the Philadelphia metro area with refugee resettlement, ESL, and case management — geographic overlap with WTS in the PA/NJ region and similar target population.
- Casa de Maryland: Mid-Atlantic immigrant services and advocacy organization providing ESL, citizenship classes, legal aid, and workforce development — comparable service mix but operating primarily in Maryland rather than PA/NJ.
Broad incumbents
- Catholic Charities USA: Large national network of diocesan agencies providing immigrant and refugee services including ESL, citizenship classes, and resettlement — broader social services portfolio but with overlapping programs.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Welcoming The Stranger social profiles
Digital presenceWelcoming The Stranger financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Welcoming The Stranger leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Welcoming The Stranger funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Welcoming The Stranger 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 Welcoming The Stranger
What does Welcoming The Stranger do?
Welcoming The Stranger is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free classes in English as a Second Language (ESL), computer skills, and U.S. citizenship exam preparation to adult immigrants and refugees ages 18 and older. Instruction is delivered by volunteer teachers both online via Google for Education and in-person at multiple community sites across Bucks and Montgomery Counties in Pennsylvania and Hunterdon County in New Jersey. All programs and wraparound support referrals are provided at no cost to students.
Is Welcoming The Stranger a public or private company?
Welcoming The Stranger is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Welcoming The Stranger founded?
Welcoming The Stranger was founded in 1999. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Welcoming The Stranger based?
Welcoming The Stranger is headquartered in Langhorne, United States, in the North America region.
How does Welcoming The Stranger make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are foundation Grants, religious and Civic Organization Support and event Fundraising.
Who are Welcoming The Stranger's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Church World Service, Literacy Volunteers of America / ProLiteracy, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Nationalities Service Center, US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), HIAS and Bethany Christian Services. Regional players are Jewish Family and Children's Service of Greater Philadelphia and Casa de Maryland. Catholic Charities USA is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Welcoming The Stranger have an API?
No public API is recorded for Welcoming The Stranger.
What industry is Welcoming The Stranger in?
Welcoming The Stranger's product category is Adult Immigrant and Refugee Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAADAI, Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support). Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8200.