The Global Switchboard

What The Global Switchboard does

The Global Switchboard is a Pennsylvania-incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2016 and headquartered in Pittsburgh. The organization stewards a network of community members, nonprofit service providers, government agencies, healthcare systems, and academic institutions to advance human rights, social justice, and immigrant and refugee inclusion in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area and southwestern Pennsylvania region. It is led by Executive Director Holly Hickling with governance provided by an eight-member Board of Directors that includes representatives from the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, United Steelworkers, and other regional institutions.

The organization's core offerings are organized as distinct programs rather than a unified technology platform. Key initiatives include the All for All Coalition (an immigrant and refugee inclusion initiative with subcommittees on Language Access Rights and Education Rights), the Human Rights City Alliance (a grassroots human rights network), Welcome Mat Pittsburgh (an immigrant welcome program), and the State of Equitable Global Engagement in Pittsburgh benchmark report. Service offerings include one-hour Language Access Training and a Know Your Education Rights learning series for immigrant and refugee parents. Technology infrastructure is limited to standard web and email communication tools used to support community engagement, advocacy, and resource distribution.

The Global Switchboard operates a donation and grant-funded business model typical of a community-led nonprofit. It accepts one-time and recurring charitable donations and does not sell products or services at scale. Revenue is generated from individual donors and grant funding with no disclosed fee-for-service revenue model. The organization holds the Candid GuideStar Transparency Seal and distributes its mission through a website with blog content, social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram), email newsletters, community events, and earned media coverage in local outlets including WTAE, Pitt News, and PublicSource.

Name

The Global Switchboard

Legal name

The Global Switchboard

Website

https://theglobalswitchboard.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Global Switchboard is a Pittsburgh-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that convenes a regional network of community organizations, government agencies, and healthcare institutions to advance human rights, social justice, and immigrant and refugee inclusion in southwestern Pennsylvania through coalitions, training, and advocacy programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Rights Advocacy and Immigrant Inclusion Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAFAG

Immigrant & Refugee Rights Advocacy

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Civil Rights, Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations

SECONDARYBPADAHAI

Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment)

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Refugee, Migration & Displacement Services

SECONDARYEDAAADAI

Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Citizenship & Immigrant Integration Education

SECONDARYEDALANAD

Cultural Adjustment & Integration Services (intercultural programs, community connection)

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/International Student Services & Immigration Support

Keywords

• Human rights advocacy
• Immigrant refugee inclusion
• Community coalition building
• Language access training
• Nonprofit network stewardship

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, The Global Switchboard relies on charitable donations from individuals and organizations, as well as grant funding to support operations and programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Global Switchboard stewards a diverse network of people and organizations to promote human rights, social justice, and immigrant and refugee inclusion in the Pittsburgh region. It runs the All for All Coalition, Human Rights City Alliance, Welcome Mat Pittsburgh program, and provides training in language access and education rights for immigrant and refugee families. The organization also convenes the Cross-Cultural Mental Health Roundtable and publishes the State of Equitable Global Engagement benchmark report.

Product overview

The Global Switchboard is a nonprofit organization that serves as a network steward rather than a technology product company. Its offerings consist of community programs and initiatives focused on human rights, social justice, and immigrant/refugee inclusion in the Pittsburgh region. The core programs include the All for All Coalition (an immigrant inclusion initiative with language access and education rights subcommittees), the Human Rights City Alliance (a grassroots network for human rights advocacy), Welcome Mat Pittsburgh (an immigrant welcome program), the State of Equitable Global Engagement benchmark report, and various training services including Language Access Training and Education Rights Training. These programs operate independently as distinct initiatives rather than as a unified software platform or modular product architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• All for All Coalition: An immigrant and refugee inclusion initiative for the Pittsburgh region run by The Global Switchboard, focusing on language access rights and education rights for refugee and immigrant parents.
• Human Rights City Alliance

Products and services

• All for All Coalition An immigrant and refugee inclusion initiative for the Pittsburgh region with subcommittees focused on language access rights and education rights for refugee and immigrant parents.
• Human Rights City Alliance A grassroots network of individuals and groups committed to advancing and protecting human rights for all people in the Pittsburgh region, working on housing rights, racial equity, and human rights education.
• Welcome Mat Pittsburgh An immigrant welcome program that connects newcomers with resources and shares first-person stories from immigrants and refugees about their experiences in Pittsburgh. Operated as a steering committee with multiple community partners.
• State of Equitable Global Engagement Report A benchmark report on the state of equitable global engagement in the Pittsburgh region that combines qualitative and quantitative data, providing data-driven insights that hold the region accountable.
• Language Access Training One-hour language access training for organizations to foster better relationships with community members who use languages other than English.
• Education Rights Training Know Your Education Rights learning series for immigrant and refugee parents and caregivers covering language access, English learner education, special education, and discipline support.
• Cross-Cultural Mental Health Roundtable A monthly networking and resource-sharing meeting aimed at increasing culturally relevant mental health supports in the Pittsburgh area.

Named customers6 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

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AJAPOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAJAPO (Community Association of Pittsburgh) is a partner in the Welcome Mat Pittsburgh steering committee. They provide a continuum of care that empowers refugees and immigrants to become self-sufficient and better integrated into Greater Pittsburgh communities.
• Bethany Christian Services of Western PAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBethany Christian Services is a global nonprofit that supports children and families including resettling refugees in Pittsburgh. They partner with Welcome Mat Pittsburgh as a cosponsor group for welcoming families.
• Hello NeighborcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHello Neighbor works to improve lives of recently resettled refugee and immigrant families by matching them with dedicated neighbors. They are part of the Welcome Mat Pittsburgh steering committee.
• Jewish Family and Community ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJFCS supports refugees and immigrants so they thrive in the community. They offer home setup for move-ins, meal delivery, and mentorship opportunities. Part of Welcome Mat Pittsburgh steering committee.
• Allegheny County DHS Immigrant & International ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner providing immigrant and international resources as part of the Welcome Mat Pittsburgh steering committee.
• Allegheny Health Network Center for Inclusion HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare system partner focused on inclusion health as part of the Welcome Mat Pittsburgh steering committee.
• City of Pittsburgh Office of Immigrant and Refugee AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity government office partner providing immigrant and refugee affairs coordination as part of the Welcome Mat Pittsburgh steering committee.
• Human Rights City AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrassroots network of individuals and groups committed to advancing and protecting human rights for all people in Pittsburgh. Works on housing rights, racial equity, and human rights education.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Large international humanitarian organization with resettlement operations and advocacy across U.S. cities; overlapping scope with The Global Switchboard's resettlement coordination role but at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.
• Catholic Charities USA: Federated national nonprofit network providing immigrant and refugee services through local affiliates; comparable to The Global Switchboard's regional coordination function but operating at national scale across multiple service lines.
• Amnesty International USA: Large human rights advocacy organization with U.S. operations covering immigrant rights among other issues — comparable on the rights-advocacy dimension though operating at national scope rather than regional coalition-building.

Direct peers

• U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI): National refugee resettlement and advocacy organization that combines direct services, policy advocacy, and field office networks — a structural analog to The Global Switchboard's resettlement partnerships and advocacy programming.
• HIAS: Jewish-American refugee resettlement and advocacy organization with both direct service delivery and policy advocacy arms — comparable to The Global Switchboard's combined coalition-building and rights-based advocacy for refugee inclusion.
• Welcoming America: National nonprofit that leads the Welcoming Cities movement and provides the backbone infrastructure for local welcoming initiatives — directly comparable to The Global Switchboard's role stewarding the Welcome Mat Pittsburgh coalition and immigrant inclusion work in a single metro.
• National Immigration Forum: Advocacy organization that convenes religious, business, labor, and community leaders to advance immigrant inclusion — directly analogous to The Global Switchboard's coalition model across diverse stakeholder groups.
• New American Economy (now part of the American Immigration Council): Research and advocacy organization that produced data-driven reports on immigrant integration and economic contributions — closely comparable to The Global Switchboard's State of Equitable Global Engagement benchmark report function.
• Hello Neighbor: Pittsburgh-based nonprofit that matches refugee families with neighbors for direct support; operates in the same city and service category as The Global Switchboard, and is a coalition partner. Comparable on refugee welcome programming but with a direct-service rather than convening model.
• National Network for Immigrant & Refugee Rights: National network that convenes immigrant and refugee rights organizations for collective advocacy — comparable in coalition-stewarding function, though at national scope versus The Global Switchboard's regional backbone model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/theglobalswitchboard
• Facebookfacebook.com/theglobalswitchboard
• Instagraminstagram.com/theglobalswitchboard
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-global-switchboard

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 The Global Switchboard