REFUGEES HELPING REFUGEES INC

What REFUGEES HELPING REFUGEES INC does

Refugees Helping Refugees Inc (RHR) is a Rochester, New York-based nonprofit organization founded in 2010 that provides direct social services to refugees settling in Western New York. The organization operates two core programs: ESOL Classes delivered across three proficiency levels by certified ESOL teachers, and Case Management services that facilitate advocacy, communication, and referrals between refugee clients, partner organizations, and government agencies. RHR's stated mission is to foster growth, self-determination, and self-reliance by positioning refugees as agents of their own advancement rather than passive aid recipients. The organization reports serving 500+ refugees cumulatively over 15+ years of operation.

RHR is largely volunteer-run, supported by a base of 100+ active volunteers, with limited paid staff capacity constrained by what the organization characterizes as limited grant funding. The technology footprint is minimal and intentionally so: operations rely on standard third-party SaaS tools — Zeffy for donation processing, Google Forms for volunteer recruitment, and Google Maps for location visibility — with no proprietary platform or technical product. There are no disclosed patents, AI/ML capabilities, or technology-development initiatives; RHR is positioned and operates as a community-based social services provider, not a technology company.

The revenue model is grant-and-donation-based, with all services delivered free of charge to clients. RHR pursues a community-led go-to-market approach, reaching clients through word-of-mouth referrals within the Western New York refugee community and through partnerships with referral agencies, while recruiting volunteers via online sign-up forms and social media channels (Facebook, Instagram). Geographic scope is concentrated in Western New York with no disclosed expansion intent, and there is no indication of external investment, parent ownership, or governance structure beyond a typical volunteer-led nonprofit model.

Name

REFUGEES HELPING REFUGEES INC

Legal name

Refugees Helping Refugees Inc

Website

https://rhrroc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Refugees Helping Refugees Inc is a volunteer-driven Rochester, NY nonprofit founded in 2010 that delivers free ESOL instruction and case management services to refugees settling in Western New York, funded through grants and individual donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee Resettlement Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Language Schools (611630), Educational Support Services (611710), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Immigrant/Integration Language Programs (ESL/ESOL, Civics-Integrated) (EDAMAFAK), Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI), Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI)

Keywords

• Refugee support services
• English language classes
• Case management services
• Nonprofit community services
• Immigrant assistance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: The organization receives limited funding from grants for operational and programming costs. This supports ESOL classes, case management, and other refugee services.
2. Donations: Individual donations through online platforms (Zeffy) support the organization's operational and programming costs. The organization accepts donations via its website.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Refugees Helping Refugees provides free ESOL Classes at three proficiency levels taught by certified teachers, along with Case Management services that include advocacy, communication, and referrals between refugee clients, partner organizations, and government agencies. All programs are delivered in person to refugees in Western New York and are intended to help clients achieve self-sufficiency as new Americans.

Product overview

Refugees Helping Refugees (RHR) is a nonprofit organization serving refugees in Western New York, offering a single unified service model centered on two core programs: ESOL Classes and Case Management. These programs work together to help refugees achieve self-sufficiency as new Americans, with ESOL providing language education and Case Management providing holistic advocacy and referral services. The organization is largely volunteer-run and operates with limited paid staff.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ESOL Classes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights1 record

Broad incumbents

• US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI): National refugee resettlement and integration network operating matched programs (ESOL, employment, case management) through affiliate agencies — overlapping RHR's core offerings across multiple US geographies.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): One of the largest US refugee resettlement and integration operators, running resettlement, ESOL, case management, and employment programs across dozens of US cities — overlapping RHR's core services at much greater scale.
• HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society): National Jewish-founded refugee resettlement and integration agency providing case management, legal services, and integration support across multiple US sites; comparable service mix to RHR at national scale.
• World Relief: Christian-affiliated national refugee resettlement agency with offices across the US delivering refugee case management, ESOL, employment, and community integration services directly comparable to RHR's program mix.

Emerging players

• RefugeeOne: Chicago-based refugee resettlement and integration nonprofit providing case management, ESOL, and employment services to a comparable client base, but at a single urban site — useful scale/structure peer for RHR.
• Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC): Refugee resettlement agency with affiliate network across the US operating case management, ESOL, and community integration programs serving African newcomer populations similar to a portion of RHR's client base.

Direct peers

• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester: Regional Catholic Charities affiliate in Rochester that runs refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, and ESOL programs for the same client population as RHR in Western New York.
• Journey's End Refugee Services: Buffalo, NY-based refugee resettlement and ESOL provider serving the same Western New York geography as RHR, offering nearly identical ESOL, case management, and community integration services. The most directly comparable local peer.

Others

• Literacy Rochester: Local Rochester adult literacy and ESOL provider; not a refugee-focused organization, but offers an overlapping language-instruction service line that draws from a related learner pool in Western NY.

Regional players

• Asylee Women Enterprise (AWE): Buffalo, NY-based nonprofit providing case management and economic empowerment services to refugee and asylee women — adjacent service category and overlapping Western NY geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RefugeesHelpingRefugees
• Instagraminstagram.com/refugeeshelpingrefugees
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/refugees-helping-refugees

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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