United Refuge

What United Refuge does

United Refuge is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization operating under the fiscal sponsorship of Far Away Projects (a 501(c)(3)) that supports frontline disaster workers and community-based organizations (CBOs) through mutual aid, logistics, and capacity-building services. Its mission is explicitly anti-top-down: rather than delivering aid directly, the organization provides technical, logistical, and administrative support to existing actors and channels donor funds to frontline responders. Its core offerings are the Community Refuge Project — a climate-disaster response initiative built around a four-pillar framework (Inform, Connect, Act, Organize) — and the CBO Incubator Program, which is in development.

The underlying technology is light: online platforms (website, LinkedIn, community tools) connect interested individuals with the organization's work and with each other, and a 'Think | Do' methodology combines desk research with stakeholder interviews to map ongoing relief efforts and identify leverage points. There is no proprietary software, no AI/ML capability, and no commercial product. The organization employs 1–10 people across co-founder, board, and operational roles (Special Projects Lead, Research & Publication Manager, Project Administration/Climate Lead, IT Manager, Project Coordinator). Operational geographies span Ukraine, Bangladesh, Uganda, Greece, and the United States, with the most developed programmatic footprint being a network of 30+ community service organizations supporting front-line humanitarian assistance in Ukraine.

The business model is donation-based: revenue is generated entirely through charitable contributions collected via Donorbox, with no commercial pricing, no subscription tiers, and no disclosed funding rounds. Governance rests with a Board of Directors and co-founder team. Customer segments are split between at-risk communities (displaced persons, refugees, climate-affected populations) as ultimate beneficiaries and frontline workers/CBOs as the operational counterparties that the organization directly serves.

Name

United Refuge

Legal name

United Refuge

Website

https://unitedrefuge.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

United Refuge is a U.S.-based nonprofit that supports frontline disaster workers and community-based organizations with mutual aid, logistics, and capacity-building services, operating across Ukraine, Bangladesh, Uganda, Greece, and the United States through the Community Refuge Project and the in-development CBO Incubator Program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disaster Recovery, Reconstruction & Resilience Programs (BPAGAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Emergency Shelter, Camp Coordination & Camp Management (CCCM) (BPADADAB), Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI), Migration, Refugees & Forced Displacement Assistance (BPADABAL)

Keywords

• Disaster relief services
• Humanitarian aid coordination
• Mutual aid support
• Community resilience programs
• CBO capacity building

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: United Refuge operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (through fiscal sponsor Far Away Projects) and generates revenue primarily through donations. The organization states it will identify funds to support the work of frontline responders and facilitate direct distribution of aid to local responders.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

United Refuge supports frontline disaster workers and community-based organizations (CBOs) through mutual aid coordination, technical, logistical, and administrative support services. It identifies and channels funds to frontline responders, distributes aid directly to local actors, and delivers programs such as the Community Refuge Project that combine information dissemination, connection-building, action, and grassroots organizing to build community resilience against climate disasters.

Product overview

United Refuge operates as a disaster relief non-profit organization offering a portfolio of programs focused on empowering at-risk communities through innovation in mutual aid. The core offerings include the Community Refuge Project, which uses a four-pillar approach (Inform, Connect, Act, Organize) to address climate disasters, and the CBO Incubator Program designed to build capacity within community-based organizations. These programs are complemented by technical, logistical, and administrative support services for existing humanitarian actors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Community Refuge Project: A project focused on resilience and climate action, employing a four pillar approach (Inform, Connect, Act, Organize) to help communities navigate climate disasters.
• CBO Incubator Program

Products and services

• Community Refuge Project A climate disaster response initiative that uses a four-pillar approach (Inform, Connect, Act, Organize) to build community resilience before, during, and after climate disasters. It develops and shares refuge plans, connects individuals through online platforms, facilitates real-world events, and supports grassroots organizing. It is targeted at at-risk communities, frontline workers, and community-based organizations responding to climate-related displacement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Managed support for network of 30+ community service organizations providing humanitarian assistance in front-line areas of Ukraine

Named customers4 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

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• NetHope: Consortium of humanitarian and international development organizations using technology to improve disaster response and capacity building; comparable in its capacity-building and coordination role across humanitarian CBOs.

Broad incumbents

• UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency): Global UN agency mandated to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees; comparable in refugee support focus including Rohingya, Afghan, and Ukrainian displaced populations served by United Refuge.
• Direct Relief: Humanitarian aid organization providing medical assistance and disaster relief resources worldwide; comparable in emergency aid distribution and disaster response operations.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Large established humanitarian organization providing emergency aid, refugee resettlement, and post-crisis support globally; a broader incumbent operating in the same humanitarian assistance and refugee support space.
• Mercy Corps: Global humanitarian and development organization responding to emergencies and supporting community-led recovery; comparable in mission and community-based approach but with substantially larger scale.

Direct peers

• Team Rubicon: Veteran-led disaster response nonprofit that mobilizes volunteers for post-disaster operations; directly comparable to United Refuge in mobilizing frontline responders and operating across multiple disaster contexts. (Note: UR team member Irene Pak has volunteered with Team Rubicon.)
• World Central Kitchen: Nonprofit focused on providing meals in response to disasters and humanitarian crises; comparable in community-led rapid response model and direct frontline service delivery.
• All Hands and Hearts: Disaster relief nonprofit providing direct response and recovery programs, including community rebuilding, to communities affected by natural disasters; comparable in mission to deliver community-driven disaster recovery.
• Global Empowerment Mission (GEM): Disaster relief and humanitarian aid nonprofit that distributes supplies and supports communities after natural disasters; comparable in mutual aid style direct distribution and rapid deployment.
• ShelterBox: International disaster relief charity providing emergency shelter and essential aid to families displaced by disasters and conflict; directly aligned with United Refuge's shelter and settlement coordination work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-refuge

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 United Refuge