Alliance for International Exchange
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
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.
Alliance for International Exchange firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Alliance for International Exchange industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Alliance for International Exchange is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Alliance for International Exchange business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- 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
Alliance for International Exchange product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Alliance for International Exchange
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Alliance for International Exchange technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Alliance for International Exchange partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Congressional International Exchanges CaucuscoreAlliance 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 EducatorscoreAlliance 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 AbroadcorePartner association in advocacy coalition responding to ECA funding freeze and other policy challenges facing the exchange community.
- U.S. for Success CoalitioncoreAlliance 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 ExchangeminorAlliance 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)coreThe Alliance advocates for and supports ECA programs and funding. ECA is the federal bureau that administers international exchange programs under the State Department.
- AIFSminorVisionary Sponsor of the 2025 Alliance Annual Conference.
- InterExchangeminorVisionary Sponsor of the 2025 Alliance Annual Conference.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Alliance for International Exchange competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Alliance for International Exchange social profiles
Digital presenceAlliance for International Exchange financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Alliance for International Exchange leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Alliance for International Exchange funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Alliance for International Exchange 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 Alliance for International Exchange
What does Alliance for International Exchange do?
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.
Is Alliance for International Exchange a public or private company?
Alliance for International Exchange is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Alliance for International Exchange founded?
Alliance for International Exchange was founded in 1993. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Alliance for International Exchange based?
Alliance for International Exchange is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Alliance for International Exchange make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership Dues.
Who are Alliance for International Exchange's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NAFSA: Association of International Educators, American Councils for International Education, The Forum on Education Abroad and AFS-USA. Broad incumbents are CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange), IREX and Institute of International Education (IIE). Emerging players are Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) and World Learning. AACRAO is listed as an others.
Does Alliance for International Exchange have an API?
No public API is recorded for Alliance for International Exchange.
What industry is Alliance for International Exchange in?
Alliance for International Exchange's product category is Public Policy Advocacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAIABAG, Short-Term Exchange & Visiting Student Programs, with a secondary code of EDAIABAA, Bilateral Exchange Agreements (Reciprocal Student Mobility). Its NAICS code is 8133 and its SIC code is 8600.