Alliance for International Exchange

What Alliance for International Exchange does

The Alliance for International Exchange is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit membership association founded in 1993 that serves as the collective public policy voice for the U.S. educational and cultural exchange community. It represents more than 90 U.S.-based member organizations that implement international exchange programs funded primarily by the Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), including BridgeUSA, Fulbright, Gilman, IVLP, FLEX, and the Mandela Washington Fellowship. Its core activities are federal advocacy, grassroots mobilization of exchange professionals and alumni, and convening the exchange community through an annual conference and Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill. Recent work includes defeating amendments that would have eliminated exchange funding and helping secure $667 million in FY26 ECA appropriations despite a proposed 93% Administration cut.

The Alliance does not offer a commercial technology product or software platform; its operational stack consists of advocacy tools such as the VoterVoice grassroots letter platform, an Alliance Commentary blog, email campaigns, social media, and in-person events. Its primary revenue stream is membership dues paid by its 90+ member organizations, making it a subscription-recurring nonprofit model rather than a transactional or grant-funded entity. Governance is via a Board of Directors composed of representatives from member organizations; the executive team is led by Executive Director Mark Overmann and Assistant Director and Head of Advocacy and Government Relations Adrienne Jacobs (joined 2024). The organization is privately held with no parent company, no funding rounds, and no disclosed revenue figure.

Name

Alliance for International Exchange

Legal name

Alliance for International Exchange

Website

https://alliance-exchange.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Alliance for International Exchange is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit membership association representing 90+ U.S. organizations that implement international educational and cultural exchange programs, serving as their unified public policy voice before Congress and federal agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Policy Advocacy Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Short-Term Exchange & Visiting Student Programs (EDAIABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bilateral Exchange Agreements (Reciprocal Student Mobility) (EDAIABAA)

Keywords

• Public policy advocacy
• International exchange programs
• Membership association services
• Educational exchange advocacy
• Cultural exchange policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The Alliance operates as a membership organization with more than 90 U.S.-based members who implement international exchange programs. Revenue is derived from membership dues paid by these organizations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Alliance for International Exchange is a nonprofit membership association that serves as the collective public policy voice for more than 90 U.S.-based organizations implementing international educational and cultural exchange programs. Its core work involves advocating before Congress and federal agencies to protect funding for programs such as BridgeUSA, Fulbright, Gilman, and IVLP, while providing member organizations with policy guidance, networking, and grassroots advocacy infrastructure.

Product overview

The Alliance for International Exchange is a membership-based advocacy organization that serves as the collective public policy voice for the U.S. educational and cultural exchange community. It does not offer a commercial technology product or software-as-a-service offering. Its core activities include advocacy for international exchange programs, organizing events and programming such as the Annual Conference and Advocacy Day, providing resources for members, operating the Congressional International Exchanges Caucus, and publishing thought leadership through Alliance Commentary. The organization represents more than 90 U.S.-based member organizations that implement international exchange programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Alliance Membership Membership-based offering for U.S.-based organizations that implement international educational and cultural exchange programs, providing collective advocacy representation before Congress and federal agencies, policy expertise, networking, and grassroots campaign infrastructure.
• Annual Conference An annual gathering of more than 250 exchange community leaders for professional development, networking, and advocacy preparation, including the McCarry Leadership Awards.
• Advocacy Day An annual Capitol Hill event where Alliance members meet directly with Congressional offices to advocate for the protection and expansion of international exchange program funding.
• Congressional International Exchanges Caucus The Alliance serves as the inaugural endorsing organization of the bipartisan Congressional International Exchanges Caucus, launched to bolster engagement and support for exchange programs within Congress.

Quantifiable outcome

• Defeated 3 House amendments threatening exchange program funding with 2,456 grassroots letters to 391 Representatives in 3 days
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Congressional International Exchanges CaucuscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2026Alliance serves as inaugural endorsing organization of the bipartisan Congressional International Exchanges Caucus, launched by Senators John Boozman and Cory Booker and Representatives Jeff Van Drew and Ami Bera. The Caucus aims to bolster engagement and support for exchange programs within Congress.
• NAFSA: Association of International EducatorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance partners with NAFSA on advocacy campaigns including the ECA funding freeze response and international student policy initiatives. Joint letter-writing campaigns and coordinated Congressional engagement.
• The Forum on Education AbroadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner association in advocacy coalition responding to ECA funding freeze and other policy challenges facing the exchange community.
• U.S. for Success CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance is a founding member and steering committee member of the U.S. for Success Coalition, which advocates for international students and scholars.
• Americans for Cultural ExchangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance revamped and reintroduced the Americans for Cultural Exchange coalition to support BridgeUSA programs through engagement of host employers, schools, and local chambers.
• U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Alliance advocates for and supports ECA programs and funding. ECA is the federal bureau that administers international exchange programs under the State Department.
• AIFSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisionary Sponsor of the 2025 Alliance Annual Conference.
• InterExchangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisionary Sponsor of the 2025 Alliance Annual Conference.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• NAFSA: Association of International Educators: Largest U.S.-based association of international educators and administrators; a core advocacy partner of the Alliance on ECA funding and international student policy. It is a direct peer as a membership/advocacy organization serving the same exchange community.
• American Councils for International Education: Implements FLEX, YES, NSLI-Y and other ECA-funded exchange programs and is an Alliance member. Comparable because it both runs exchange programs and engages in policy advocacy, mirroring the dual role the Alliance coordinates for its members.
• The Forum on Education Abroad: U.S.-based membership association for education abroad programs; a coalition partner of the Alliance in defending ECA funding. Comparable as a standards-setting and advocacy body for the same exchange-provider ecosystem.
• AFS-USA: High school and youth exchange organization; current Alliance Board Chair organization and member. Comparable as a peer exchange implementer that relies on Alliance-led advocacy for federal funding support.

Broad incumbents

• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): Major U.S.-based exchange program operator (study abroad, work abroad, internship programs) and Alliance ecosystem participant. Comparable as a large implementing organization whose policy interests the Alliance represents.
• IREX: Implements the Mandela Washington Fellowship and other large ECA-funded exchange programs; an Alliance member. Comparable as a substantial exchange implementer with its own policy voice that nonetheless relies on Alliance-led sector advocacy.
• Institute of International Education (IIE): A large, established organization operating the Fulbright Program and a range of international academic exchanges with significant policy influence. Comparable as a major exchange implementer and thought leader operating alongside the Alliance's member base.

Emerging players

• Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA): Membership association for senior international education leaders at U.S. colleges and universities. Comparable as a smaller, focused advocacy and professional network serving an overlapping international education community.
• World Learning: Operates the Fulbright Classroom Exchanges and other ECA-funded programs. Comparable as a mid-sized exchange implementer in the Alliance's member network whose funding is tied to the same ECA appropriations.

Others

• AACRAO: American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, a higher-education membership association that engages in related advocacy on international student admissions, visas, and credentials. Comparable as an adjacent membership/advocacy organization in the international education policy ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AllianceExchnge
• Facebookfacebook.com/AllianceIntlExchange
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alliance-for-international-exchange

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alliance for International Exchange