Youth for Understanding Danmark

Name

Youth for Understanding Danmark

Legal name

Youth for Understanding Danmark

Website

https://yfu.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tommerup St.

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Exchange Program Fees: Fees charged for exchange programs vary by destination country and program duration. Prices range from 67,300 kr (e.g., Estonia, Latvia, Czech Republic, Turkey, Hungary) to 195,925 kr (Australia 9 months). Programs include all visa arrangements, travel insurance (Gouda), school placement, host family matching, and support services.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees: 75 kr for members up to 29 years, 150 kr for members 30+, and 225 kr for family membership covering all family members at same address. Membership is required for exchange student applicants.
3. Travel Insurance Commissions: YFU Danmark acts as insurance intermediary for Gouda Rejseforsikring, receiving commissions on travel insurance sales to exchange students and members. Provision is passed to members in form of discounts (20-25% for members).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

YFU Danmark is a self-governing non-profit association that arranges school-year intercultural exchange programs for Danish teenagers (ages 14-18) to approximately 27 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and Oceania, with program fees ranging from 67,300 DKK (e.g. Estonia, Latvia) to 195,925 DKK (Australia 9 months) and durations of 5-11 months. The offer also includes a host family matching service placing incoming international students with Danish families, an annual membership program (75-225 DKK), partner-branded travel insurance through Gouda, and consumer financing through Sparekassen Danmark. All exchanges are supported by a volunteer-driven regional network across six Danish regions and YFU International's approximately 50-country partner network.

Product overview

YFU Danmark is a non-profit intercultural exchange organization offering a unified portfolio of exchange programs sending Danish students abroad, hosting international students in Denmark, and providing membership benefits. The core offering consists of exchange programs to 27 countries (ranging from 5-11 months), a host family matching service for international students, and annual membership with access to events, courses, and partner discounts on travel insurance (Gouda) and financing (Sparekassen Danmark). The programs are priced comprehensively with inclusive packages covering travel, insurance, school placement, and support services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Exchange Programs (Udvekslingsprogrammer) School-year intercultural exchange programs sending Danish students aged 14-18 to over 25 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and Oceania for durations of 5 to 11 months, with destination-specific pricing and comprehensive support.
• Host Family Program (Værtsfamilie) Program matching incoming international exchange students with Danish host families for a school year, providing meals, a bedroom and a cultural immersion experience. Host families volunteer and are not compensated under the standard model.
• Membership Program (Medlemskab) Annual membership providing access to YFU activities, courses, events and partner discounts (e.g., 20-25% on Gouda travel insurance and 15% on Danske Lægers Vaccinations Service). Priced at 75 DKK (under 30), 150 DKK (30+) and 225 DKK (family).
• Inclusive Package (Inklusivpris) All-inclusive service bundle attached to every exchange program covering introductory meeting, language test, preparation weekend, visa/permit, travel, Gouda travel insurance, school placement, host family matching, YFU network support, and post-return evaluation weekend.
• Exchange Program Pricing 2027/28 Published destination-specific price list for YFU Danmark's 2027/28 exchange programs, ranging from 67,300 DKK (e.g., Estonia, Latvia, Czech Republic, Turkey, Hungary) to 195,925 DKK (Australia Semester+, 9 months).
• Gouda Travel Insurance (Gouda Rejseforsikring) Travel insurance partnership with Gouda Rejseforsikring providing unlimited medical coverage and repatriation for exchange students. YFU members receive a 25% discount on youth travel insurance and 20% on annual travel insurance.
• Financing through Sparekassen Danmark Loan partnership with Sparekassen Danmark enabling families to finance exchange programs over up to 24 months with monthly payments (example: 90,000 DKK loan at 12.4% APR = 4,225 DKK/month).

Quantifiable outcome

• Since 1961, YFU Danmark has sent over 10,000 Danish exchange students abroad and received over 5,000 international students
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gouda RejseforsikringcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerYFU Danmark uses Gouda Rejseforsikring as their travel insurance provider for all exchange students, offering unlimited medical coverage and home transport. Members receive 20-25% discounts on youth travel insurance and annual travel insurance when purchased through the secretariat. YFU acts as insurance intermediary, receiving commissions passed on to members as lower prices.
• Danske Lægers Vaccinations ServiceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYFU members receive 15% discount on vaccinations through Danske Lægers Vaccinations Service when using the organization's referral/membership benefit.
• YFU InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYFU International is the global umbrella organization for YFU with ~50 member countries. YFU International uses Fileflow system to exchange student information between member countries. YFU Danmark transfers data about exchange students to YFU International and destination/receiving countries. Global standards ensure consistent quality and support across all YFU programs.
• Canada AEI (Atlantic Education International Inc.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanada AEI is an organization established by the province of New Brunswick for international student exchange. YFU collaborates with Canada AEI for exchange programs in New Brunswick, Canada. AEI has exclusive authority for exchange in New Brunswick and coordinates with YFU organizations worldwide. Host families in the Canadian program receive monthly compensation, which differs from YFU's standard no-compensation principle.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• AFS Intercultural Programs: AFS is one of the largest international youth exchange organizations globally, founded in 1947. It operates in over 50 countries and runs year-long high school exchange programs directly comparable to YFU's offerings with similar host family matching and academic placement services.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): CIEE is a major nonprofit organization running high school study abroad programs and other international educational exchanges. It operates comparable year-long high school exchange programs to YFU, with similar fee structures, host family matching, and destination country coverage.
• YFU USA: YFU USA is the U.S. sister organization of YFU International, running the same youth exchange model as YFU Danmark. Both organizations share the YFU International network infrastructure, standards, and exchange program framework, making it the most direct comparable peer.
• Rotary Youth Exchange: Rotary Youth Exchange is a long-standing international high school exchange program run by Rotary International clubs worldwide. It offers year-long and short-term exchanges for high school students, directly competing with YFU in many of the same destination markets.
• World Learning: World Learning operates The Experiment in International Living, a high school summer abroad program founded in 1932, and the School for International Training (SIT). The Experiment offers cultural immersion experiences similar to YFU's exchange model with comparable program structure.
• Nacel Open Door: Nacel Open Door is an international student exchange organization offering high school programs to multiple destinations. It operates a comparable business model to YFU with host family matching, year-long exchanges, and academic placement services.
• ASSIST (American Institute for Foreign Study): ASSIST is an international student exchange organization running high school study abroad programs in multiple countries. It offers comparable programs to YFU with similar host family matching and academic placement services for high school students.

Broad incumbents

• EF Education First: EF is a much larger global education company offering language learning, study abroad, cultural exchange, and academic programs. While broader in scope than YFU, EF operates in adjacent international education markets and represents a scaled incumbent in the exchange space.

Regional players

• Experiment e.V. Experiment e.V. is a German-based international exchange organization offering high school exchange programs primarily in the German market. It is a regional peer in the European international youth exchange space with a comparable nonprofit model.

Emerging players

• Global Citizen Year: Global Citizen Year is an emerging organization offering gap year programs for high school graduates focused on social impact and cultural immersion. While its model (gap year vs. high school exchange) differs from YFU, it targets similar students seeking international experience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/yfu
• Facebookfacebook.com/yfudanmark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yfu

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Youth for Understanding Danmark