The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc

What The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc does

The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. (The ILC) is a Massachusetts-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1992 by Diane Portnoy that delivers free English language, citizenship preparation, digital literacy, and family literacy programs to immigrant and refugee adults in Greater Boston. Operating from a five-floor headquarters at 442 Main Street in Malden, the ILC runs a year-round ESOL program across five instructional levels, supplemented by specialized classes for students with limited formal education, a senior conversation class, and entrepreneurship training through the New Biz Malden program. The organization has served nearly 13,000 students from 122 countries and 94 Greater Boston communities since inception, with 830 students served in Fiscal Year 2025 and a student body that is 59 percent female with a median age of 39. Approximately 38 dedicated professionals, all teachers and most staff holding bachelor's degrees or higher, deliver the programs.

The ILC operates three divisions: the English Language Program serving Greater Boston residents directly; the Public Education Institute, which produces curriculum, research, and educator resources; and the Institute for Immigration Research, a 2012 joint venture with George Mason University that produces objective immigration data and analysis including the Immigration Data on Demand service. A second customer segment, K-12 and adult educators nationwide, is served through free downloadable lesson plans, a searchable Teacher Resource Hub, the Teaching U.S. Immigration Series, Common Core-aligned curricula, on-demand webinars, and Professional Development Points courses.

Revenue is generated through a mix of government grants, primarily from the Massachusetts Department of Education (approximately 25 percent of the annual budget), private donations, and fundraising events including the annual Barry M. Portnoy Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards Benefit. The annual operating budget is approximately $3 million. All student-facing programs are offered at no cost, with program awareness driven by community outreach, word-of-mouth referrals, and a digital presence across the ILC website, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and email newsletters.

Name

The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc

Legal name

The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc.

Website

https://ilctr.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Immigrant Learning Center is a Malden, Massachusetts-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1992 that delivers free English language, citizenship preparation, and digital literacy programs to immigrant and refugee adults in Greater Boston, while also producing educator resources and immigration research through a joint venture with George Mason University.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult English Language and Citizenship Education

NAICS

Language Schools (61163), Language Schools (611630), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Immigrant/Integration Language Programs (ESL/ESOL, Civics-Integrated) (EDAMAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

ESL Literacy & Foundational English (Pre-beginner/Alphabetics) (EDAAACAB), English for Citizenship (ESL/Civics Integrated) (EDAAADAC), Citizenship Test Preparation (Civics & Interview) (EDAAADAA), English Learner (EL/ESL/ELL) & Bilingual Education Programs (EDAJAGAB), Immigrant & Refugee Workforce Integration Programs (EDAAAOAJ), Immigrant & Refugee Community Education (Integration/Navigation) (EDAAAFAH)

Keywords

• Adult English language education
• ESOL classes for immigrants
• Citizenship test preparation
• Immigrant literacy programs
• Educator professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Malden

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: Government grants from MA Dept. of Education and other sources, totaling roughly 25 percent of the annual budget.
2. Private Donations and Fundraising: Private sector donations and fundraising events including the annual Barry M. Portnoy Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards Benefit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Immigrant Learning Center delivers free, year-round ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes across five proficiency levels to immigrant and refugee adults in Greater Boston, with 10-15 hours of weekly instruction. Complementary offerings include U.S. citizenship preparation, digital literacy, family literacy, a specialized literacy program for students with limited prior schooling, and pathways support such as the Next Steps class and the New Biz Malden entrepreneurship program.

Product overview

The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. is a non-profit educational organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs for immigrants and refugees. Its core offerings include the English Language Program (ESOL) with five levels of instruction, the Digital Literacy Program, Citizenship Class, Literacy Program, Next Steps Class, Family Literacy Program, and Support Services. The organization operates three divisions: the English Language Program providing free year-round English classes; the Public Education Institute informing Americans about immigration; and the Institute for Immigration Research (a joint venture with George Mason University) producing immigration research. Additional programs include the New Biz Malden entrepreneurship program, the Teacher Resource Hub with searchable educator resources, the Teaching U.S. Immigration Series curriculum, Community Across Cultures Book Guides, Professional Development Courses for educators, the Teen Perspectives Contest, Youth Board, and Student Portal. The organization serves students ages 16 and older from Greater Boston communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• English Language Program: Free, year-round ESOL classes to help immigrant and refugee adults in Greater Boston become successful workers, parents and community members.
• Public Education Institute
• Institute for Immigration Research

Products and services

• English Language Program (ESOL) Free, year-round ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes for immigrant and refugee adults in Greater Boston, offering intensive instruction across five levels with 10-15 hours of weekly instruction.
• Digital Literacy Program Computer instruction integrated into the ESOL curriculum using portable Chromebooks and desktop PCs, training students in computer basics, emailing, word processing, internet navigation, and critical thinking skills.
• Citizenship Class Free citizenship preparation classes helping students prepare for the U.S. citizenship exam and interview, available in-person and online with multiple class formats including English and Citizenship combined instruction.
• Literacy Program Specialized program for students with little or no formal education in their native language or with additional learning challenges, featuring smaller class sizes and individualized attention.
• Next Steps Class Advanced English proficiency class preparing students for job training and higher education after completing The ILC program.
• Family Literacy Program Workshops helping immigrant parents navigate the U.S. education system, covering topics such as reading with preschoolers and school expectations, with a lending library and occasional story hours.
• Support Services Community services advisor and education and career advisors providing counseling and referrals for continuing education, employment, well-being, and social services.
• New Biz Malden Program Free 11-week entrepreneurship program for aspiring immigrant small business owners in Malden, including business fundamentals instruction, mentorship from local business owners, computer setup, and a $500 stipend.
• Public Education Institute Institute informing Americans about immigrants and immigration in the United States through research, publications, and educational resources.
• Institute for Immigration Research Joint venture with George Mason University producing valid, reliable, and objective multidisciplinary research on immigrants and immigration to the United States, including the Immigration Data on Demand service.
• Teacher Resource Hub Searchable collection of free resources for educators supporting immigrant students, covering teaching immigration lesson plans, ESOL resources, citizenship preparation, immigrant stories, trauma and mental health, and culturally responsive teaching.
• Teaching U.S. Immigration Series Free lesson plans and tools for teachers to incorporate immigration into social studies curricula, covering topics from the American Revolution through modern times, with Common Core-aligned materials for middle through high school.
• Professional Development Courses for Educators Free professional development courses for Massachusetts educators offering PDPs (Professional Development Points), including Immigrant Student Success and Immigration Throughout U.S. History courses.
• Teen Perspectives Contest Annual contest highlighting high school student voices through original essays, videos, and artwork showcasing perspectives on U.S. immigration.
• Student Portal Password-protected portal for enrolled students to access resources and information related to their classes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 13,000 students served since 1992 from 122 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 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 and minor.

• George Mason UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Partnership to create the Institute for Immigration Research (IIR), a joint venture producing valid, reliable and objective multidisciplinary research on immigrants and immigration to the United States. Located on the George Mason University campus in Fairfax, Virginia.
• City of MaldencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the New Biz Malden program, a free 11-week entrepreneurship program for aspiring immigrant small business owners in the Malden area.
• MassHire Metro North Workforce BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in New Biz Malden program supporting newcomers in their career journeys through the joint effort with The ILC and city of Malden.
• Malden Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in New Biz Malden entrepreneurship program supporting immigrant small business owners in the Malden area.
• MassHire Metro North Career CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in New Biz Malden entrepreneurship program supporting workforce development for immigrants.
• Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Eastern Region ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLibrary of Congress program, coordinated by Waynesburg University, co-sponsors teaching resources including Justice in the Fields, Immigration and Cold War Policies, and Immigrant Women and the Industrial Revolution.
• Pioneer InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the JobMakers podcast where entrepreneurs and policy experts discuss the impact of immigrant entrepreneurs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Broad incumbents

• Welcoming America: National nonprofit operating a network of 'Welcoming' cities and counties focused on immigrant integration. Comparable in immigrant integration mission and educator/public resources, but operates at a national policy/network level rather than direct student instruction.
• World Education, Inc. National nonprofit providing adult education, ESOL, and immigrant integration resources and training. Comparable in adult ESOL curriculum development and educator professional development, but operates as a broader adult-education support organization.

Direct peers

• Jewish Vocational Service (JVS Boston): Boston-area nonprofit offering ESOL, adult education, and workforce training programs for immigrants and refugees. Closely comparable in mission, target population, and free adult language instruction model.
• International Institute of New England: Boston-based refugee resettlement and immigrant services organization providing ESOL, employment, and case management. Directly comparable to ILC as a regional nonprofit delivering free adult ESOL and integration services to the same Greater Boston immigrant population.
• La Colaborativa: Chelsea, MA-based immigrant-led nonprofit providing adult education, ESOL, workforce development, and small business support to immigrants. Highly comparable in holistic adult immigrant education approach and Greater Boston geography.
• English for New Bostonians: Coalition/fund that supports adult ESOL providers across Greater Boston. Comparable as a regional immigrant English-language intermediary serving the same target population and ecosystem.
• Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Boston: Large Boston-area social services agency operating refugee resettlement and immigrant education programs including adult ESOL and citizenship preparation. Comparable as a multi-service immigrant support organization serving overlapping Greater Boston communities.
• Roca, Inc. Massachusetts-based nonprofit providing adult education, ESOL, and workforce development targeting high-risk young adults and immigrants. Comparable in adult immigrant education, career pathways, and outcomes-focused nonprofit model.

Others

• Pioneer Institute: Boston-based public policy think tank collaborating with ILC on the JobMakers podcast. Comparable as a thought-leadership/advocacy partner in immigrant entrepreneurship, but not a direct service provider.

Regional players

• Literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts (LVM): Massachusetts-based nonprofit providing adult literacy and ESOL tutoring through volunteer tutors across the state. Comparable in adult ESOL instruction model for immigrants, but uses a volunteer-tutor model rather than staffed classroom instruction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ImmigrantLearningCtr
• Facebookfacebook.com/ImmigrantLearningCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-immigrant-learning-center-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/theimmigrantlearningcenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc