Refugee and Immigrant Association

What Refugee and Immigrant Association does

The Refugee and Immigrant Association (RIA) is a community-based nonprofit organization headquartered at 533 Southgate Avenue in Iowa City, Iowa. Formally incorporated in 2013 by a group of former refugees who had been providing informal support since 2009, RIA delivers wraparound integration services to refugee and immigrant families across Johnson County (Iowa City) and Linn County (Cedar Rapids), Iowa. Its core programmatic offerings include the Academic Improvement Program (school navigation, tutoring, college readiness), the Resettlement and Economic Empowerment Program (housing support and job readiness), the Refugee Women Empowerment Program (an 8-week cohort-based leadership curriculum), and the Health & Mental Wellness Program (culturally sensitive health education and emotional support). The organization claims an 85% program success rate and reports having empowered more than 500 families since 2009.

RIA does not sell a product or operate a technology platform; there is no proprietary software, mobile app, API, or AI/ML capability identified across the data. Service delivery is entirely in-person through its Iowa City community center and partner venues (e.g., Johnson County Community Center, Coralville Public Library). The technology footprint is minimal: a content website (refugeeimmigrant.org), a Facebook page, email newsletter, and a single staff member (Eugene Kirima) overseeing "digital services." Service capacity is correspondingly small, with 1–10 employees total and cohort sizes of 15–20 women per empowerment cycle.

Revenue is sourced from voluntary monetary donations (via PayPal and other channels), in-kind donations (furniture, electronics, household items, vehicles), and — by inference — grants and partner contributions (e.g., United Way of East Central Iowa). All programmatic services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries, and there is no fee-based pricing model. Distribution is direct-to-beneficiary at the community center, complemented by event-based outreach (World Refugee Day with 300+ attendees, Annual Recognition Dinner, Building Bridges seminars) and referrals from local schools, employers, healthcare providers, and government agencies. The customer base consists entirely of refugee and immigrant households; there are no enterprise or institutional customers.

Name

Refugee and Immigrant Association

Legal name

Refugee and Immigrant Association

Website

https://refugeeimmigrant.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Refugee and Immigrant Association is a nonprofit founded in 2013 by former refugees, delivering free education, housing, workforce, women's empowerment, and wellness programs to refugee and immigrant families in Johnson and Linn Counties, Iowa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee and Immigrant Community Support Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Educational Support Services (611710), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI), Immigrant & Refugee Workforce Integration Programs (EDAAAOAJ), Immigrant & Refugee Community Education (Integration/Navigation) (EDAAAFAH), Immigrant & Refugee Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAG), Refugee/Migrant Health & Resettlement Health Units (HLAJAAAJ)

Keywords

• Refugee resettlement services
• Immigrant integration support
• Workforce development training
• Women empowerment programs
• Community education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Iowa City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Monetary Donations: The organization accepts financial contributions through PayPal and other channels. Donations support essential costs including school supplies, transportation for students, and resources for families adjusting to life in a new country. These are voluntary contributions from individuals, corporations, and potentially grant-making organizations.
2. In-Kind Donations: The organization accepts household items (furniture, electronics, kitchenware, linens, clothing) and vehicle donations. These in-kind contributions are distributed directly to newly arrived refugee families to help them establish stable households.
3. Program Services (Free to Beneficiaries): Core programs including education, workforce development, women's empowerment, and health services are provided free of charge to refugee and immigrant families. The organization does not generate revenue from these services but relies on external funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Refugee and Immigrant Association (RIA) is a nonprofit organization that delivers free, direct-service community programs supporting refugee and immigrant families in Iowa City and the surrounding Johnson and Linn Counties. Its core offerings include the Academic Improvement Program for refugee youth, the Resettlement and Economic Empowerment Program providing housing and employment assistance, the Refugee Women Empowerment Program, and the Health & Mental Wellness Program. All programs are provided free of charge to beneficiaries and are funded through donations, grants, and volunteer support.

Product overview

The Refugee and Immigrant Association is a nonprofit organization offering a unified portfolio of community support programs. The core offerings include the Academic Improvement Program for refugee youth education, the Resettlement and Economic Empowerment Program for housing and employment support, the Refugee Women Empowerment Program for women's leadership development, and the Health & Mental Wellness Program for community well-being. These programs work together to provide comprehensive support for refugee and immigrant integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Academic Improvement Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% Success Rate among program participants
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

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

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and significant.

• Local Organizations and SchoolscoreOthersCollaborative partnerships with local organizations, schools, employers, and community leaders to create comprehensive support network for refugees and immigrants. Includes collaborative program design, shared resource development, and community advocacy initiatives.
• Kirkwood Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey educational partner providing ESL classes, career training, and job placement services. Kirkwood's International Services supports international students and families, and hosts New American Centers with specialized programs for refugees including English language learning and cultural orientation.
• United Way of East Central IowamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity support and resources coordination partner serving both Linn County and Johnson County. Provides referrals and support services for refugee families.
• Iowa Workforce DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment workforce agency providing job placement, career services, and employment training programs. Offices in both Cedar Rapids (Linn County) and Iowa City (Johnson County) serve refugee job seekers.
• Catherine McAuley CentersignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerLinn County partner providing immigration legal assistance and advocacy services for refugees and immigrants in the Cedar Rapids area.
• Catholic CharitiessignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides immigration legal assistance (Catholic Charities Immigration Services in Coralville) and social services support to refugee and immigrant communities in Johnson County.
• Iowa Legal AidsignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree legal services provider for low-income residents including refugees, with offices in both Linn County and Johnson County to assist with immigration, housing, and other legal matters.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• HIAS: HIAS is a global Jewish nonprofit that provides refugee resettlement and integration services in the U.S. It offers education, employment, legal, and community integration programming that directly parallels RIA's mission, with a longer institutional history and national footprint.
• US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI): USCRI is a national nonprofit providing refugee resettlement, integration, and advocacy services across multiple U.S. states. It offers the same education, employment, and community integration programming as RIA but operates at significantly larger scale with federal contracts.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): The IRC is one of the largest global refugee resettlement and integration agencies, operating programs across the U.S. including education, employment, health, and housing support - directly mirroring RIA's wraparound service model but at national scale. RIA competes with and complements the IRC's resettlement efforts in Iowa.
• Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS): LIRS is a faith-based national refugee resettlement and immigration services organization. It matches RIA's mission of refugee integration through education, employment, and legal support services, with much broader geographic reach and institutional capacity.
• Catholic Charities USA: Catholic Charities is one of the largest U.S. refugee resettlement networks, and RIA already partners with its Iowa branch (Catholic Charities Immigration Services in Coralville). It provides overlapping immigration legal services, resettlement support, and social services to refugee and immigrant populations.

Regional players

• Catherine McAuley Center: Catherine McAuley Center is a Cedar Rapids (Linn County) nonprofit providing immigration legal assistance and refugee resettlement services. It is one of RIA's named partners and serves the same geographic area, making it both a partner and a direct competitor for refugee clientele in Iowa.
• Refugee Services of Texas: Refugee Services of Texas is a state-level nonprofit delivering refugee resettlement, education, employment, and integration programs - similar in scope to RIA but serving Texas. It illustrates the regional replication model that RIA could pursue in Iowa and adjacent states.

Emerging players

• Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC): ECDC provides refugee resettlement and integration services focused on African refugee communities, including employment, education, and case management. It mirrors RIA's culturally-specific, community-rooted approach with national reach through affiliate network.
• Hello Neighbor: Hello Neighbor is a smaller, refugee-focused nonprofit providing mentorship and integration support to newly arrived refugees. It shares RIA's community-driven, refugee-led approach but operates in Pittsburgh, representing an emerging peer in the refugee support niche.

Others

• United Way of East Central Iowa: United Way is one of RIA's major partners, providing referrals, community coordination, and grant funding across Linn and Johnson Counties. While not a direct service competitor, it functions as a funding intermediary and ecosystem connector - similar to how RIA positions itself locally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RIAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/refugee-and-immigrant-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Refugee and Immigrant Association