International March of the Living

What International March of the Living does

The International March of the Living is a New York-based 501-C3 nonprofit organization, founded in 1988, that operates the largest annual Jewish educational program for Holocaust remembrance. Its core offering is the annual 3-kilometer march from Auschwitz to Birkenau on Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), delivered through three age-segmented program tracks — Youth (ages 15-18), Young Professionals (ages 19-36), and Adults (ages 19+) — with an optional Israel extension for select programs. The organization reaches approximately 10,000 in-person participants annually drawn from 52 country and regional delegations, and has accumulated more than 300,000 alumni since inception.

The organization generates revenue primarily through one-time program registration fees (e.g., $2,975 for the Young Professional Poland land-only program) and donations, with both online and delegation-based registration channels. Distribution is delegation-driven: 52 country/regional delegations handle local recruitment, logistics, and post-program engagement, supported by mission partnerships with KKL-JNF, Karen Hayesod, and the Jewish Agency for Israel, and an educational partnership with the iCenter.

Beyond the core march, the organization operates supplementary products including a Survivor Database for testimony preservation, a Digital Archive Project (molarchiveproject.com), an Alumni Network and Alumni Book Club for ongoing engagement, and a 2026 Educational Handbook. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors (Chairman Dr. Shmuel Rosenman; President Phyllis Greenberg Heideman) and led by CEO Scott Saunders MBE, with a staff of 101–250 employees based at its international office at 2 West 45th Street, New York.

Name

International March of the Living

Legal name

International March of the Living

Website

https://www.motl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The International March of the Living is a New York-based 501-C3 nonprofit, founded in 1988, that runs annual Holocaust education programs bringing approximately 10,000 participants from 52 countries to march from Auschwitz to Birkenau on Yom HaShoah, serving youth, young professionals, and adults.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Holocaust Education and Remembrance Programs

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Historical Sites (71212), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (81331)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee, Migration & Displacement Support (BPAGABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI), Refugee, Crisis & Humanitarian Education Partnerships (EiE) (EDADALAG)

Keywords

• Holocaust education programs
• Experiential learning travel
• Religious heritage tours
• Remembrance ceremonies
• Nonprofit educational missions

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Registration Fees: Participants pay registration fees to join the March of the Living programs. The Young Professional program is priced at $2,975 for Poland land-only, with optional Israel extension at $475. Single supplements and various other fees apply.
2. Donations: The organization accepts donations to support survivors, students, and educators participating in the annual journey. The website features a prominent donate button.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The International March of the Living is a nonprofit organization that runs an annual educational journey bringing together ~10,000 participants from 52 countries to Poland and Israel to study the Holocaust and examine the roots of prejudice, intolerance, and hatred. The cornerstone is the 3-kilometer march from Auschwitz to Birkenau on Yom HaShoah, delivered through three age-segmented program tracks (Youth 15-18, Young Professionals 19-36, Adults 19+), supported by survivor testimony and digital archival resources.

Product overview

The International March of the Living operates a single unified educational program—the annual March of the Living journey—augmented by several complementary services and resources. The core offering is the 3-kilometer march from Auschwitz to Birkenau on Yom HaShoah, offered through three age-segmented program tracks (Youth 15-18, Young Professionals 19-36, and Adults 19+). Supporting offerings include the Survivor Database for historical preservation, the Alumni Network for ongoing participant engagement, the Alumni Book Club for continued education, the Digital Archive Project for material preservation, and an Educational Handbook for participant preparation. All programs share the common educational mission of Holocaust remembrance and fighting indifference, racism, and injustice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• March of the Living Program Annual educational program that brings together teens, young adults, and adults from around the world to Poland and Israel to study the history of the Holocaust and examine the roots of prejudice, intolerance and hatred. The centerpiece is the 3-kilometer march from Auschwitz to Birkenau on Yom HaShoah.
• Youth Program (15-18) High school student program, primarily ages 15-18, with participants joining delegations from countries worldwide to march from Auschwitz to Birkenau and continuing to Israel for Yom Ha'atzmaut celebrations.
• Young Professionals Program (19-36) Subsidized program for young adults aged 19-36, featuring 3-4 star hotel accommodations, kosher meals, educational scholars, security arrangements, and participation in International March ceremonies. Optional extension to Israel available.
• Adults Program (19+) Program designed for adults aged 19 and older participating in the March of the Living journey through Poland and potentially continuing to Israel.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300,000+ alumni from 50 countries have participated since 1988
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• KKL-JNF (Keren Kayemet LeYisrael)coreMission PartnerKKL-JNF is listed as a Mission Partner of the International March of the Living, supporting the organization's educational programs and Holocaust remembrance initiatives.
• Karen HayesodcoreMission PartnerKaren Hayesod is a Mission Partner supporting the March of the Living programs and delegations.
• Jewish Agency for IsraelcoreMission PartnerThe Jewish Agency is a Mission Partner that works with the March of the Living to facilitate delegations and educational programs.
• The iCentercoreEducational PartnerThe iCenter is an Educational Partner providing educational content and resources for the March of the Living programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Yad Vashem - The World Holocaust Remembrance Center: Israel's official Holocaust memorial and education center, dedicated to remembrance, documentation, and pedagogical research of the Holocaust. Closest direct comparator in mission scope, content authority, and global educational reach, though anchored on a permanent museum campus rather than annual experiential marches.
• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: U.S. federal institution preserving Holocaust memory and educating global audiences through exhibitions, research, and teacher training. Highly comparable in Holocaust education mission, scale (similar donor-supported nonprofit structure), and ability to reach millions annually, though based in Washington, D.C. rather than operating travel programs.
• Simon Wiesenthal Center: Jewish human rights NGO operating the Museum of Tolerance and running global Holocaust education and advocacy programs. Comparable mission of Holocaust remembrance combined with contemporary anti-Semitism advocacy and youth engagement, with overlapping donor and partner ecosystems.
• Birthright Israel Foundation: Major Jewish identity travel program sending tens of thousands of young Jewish adults on subsidized trips to Israel. Highly comparable in target demographic (19-36), mission of Jewish identity reinforcement, subsidized pricing model, multi-country delegation structure, and reliance on institutional Jewish partners for funding.
• Holocaust Educational Trust: UK-based charity running the flagship "Lessons from Auschwitz" program sending students and teachers to former Nazi camps. Comparable in experiential Holocaust education for youth, school-based recruitment, and UK/European donor base, though narrower in geographic scope than MOTL.

Broad incumbents

• Jewish Agency for Israel: Long-standing international Jewish NGO running aliyah, education, and identity programs globally. Already a core Mission Partner of MOTL; broader in scope (immigration, rescue, identity) but overlapping heavily in Jewish educational travel and global Jewish community infrastructure.
• World Jewish Congress: International federation of Jewish communities and organizations engaged in advocacy, education, and combating anti-Semitism globally. Comparable in advocacy and global Jewish community coordination, with broader diplomatic remit but weaker direct overlap on experiential youth education.

Emerging players

• Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference): International organization negotiating Holocaust reparations and funding survivor welfare, education, and documentation. Comparable in Holocaust-specific mission and major-grant funding structure; less directly overlapping on the youth travel experience but a key sector peer.
• BBYO (B'nai B'rith Youth Organization): Global pluralistic Jewish teen movement serving ages 13-18 with leadership programs and identity-building experiences. Comparable in the Youth (15-18) demographic, Jewish identity reinforcement value proposition, and reliance on chapter/delegation-based recruitment; complements rather than competes with MOTL.
• Hillel International: Largest Jewish campus organization globally, serving young Jewish adults through education, travel, and identity programs. Comparable in the Young Professionals (19-36) demographic and Jewish experiential education focus, especially relevant given university-age overlap with MOTL alumni.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@motlorg
• Xx.com/MOTLorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/motlyoungadult
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/motlorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 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 International March of the Living