What Globe Aware Adventures in Service does

Globe Aware Adventures in Service is a U.S.-headquartered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2000 by Kimberly Haley-Coleman, who continues to serve as Executive Director. The organization designs and operates one-week structured international volunteer programs — branded as 'voluntourism' — combining hands-on community service projects with cultural immersion across more than 30 destinations in Africa, Asia, Latin America/Caribbean, and Eastern Europe. Programs span Peru, Costa Rica, Guatemala, India, Cambodia, Ghana, Kenya, Romania, and others, with a stated emphasis on community-led, locally designed projects rather than top-down voluntourism.

The core product is the Volunteer Vacation, supported by a portfolio of segment-specific sub-products including Corporate Volunteer Vacations (5-500+ participants), Family Volunteering, School/College/University Groups, Community Service Hours programs, Medical Family Service Trips, Retiree programs, Spiritual/Church/Temple Groups, Solo Travelers, Multigenerational Travel, Girl Getaways, Bar/Bat Mitzvah trips, and Volunteer Travel with Young Kids. Adjacent offerings include a virtual India Internship (1-4 weeks), Custom Group Trips built via a 'Build a Trip' interface, Global Wings group specials, and the 'Journeys of the Heart' documentary series. The organization reports under-12% overhead with 88%+ of contributions flowing to field costs including community donations, meals, accommodation, transport, coordination, insurance, and equipment.

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time program contribution fees ranging from approximately $1,367 to $1,897 per participant, plus optional accommodation upgrades, a $65-$95 fuel surcharge on select programs, and donations. A 50% deposit is required at booking with the balance due 70 days prior. The business operates a direct-to-consumer model via website booking and phone sales, with marketing driven by earned media (NBC Today Show, CNN, ABC, NYT, PBS, NPR), podcast appearances, and email newsletters. The organization holds 501(c)(3) U.S. public charity status, Canadian Charitable Organization registration (BN: 80827 6414 RR0001), UN ECOSOC Special Consultative Status, IVPA membership, and GuideStar/Great NonProfits endorsements. Operations rely on third-party booking systems and standard web infrastructure with no proprietary technology platform disclosed.

Name

Globe Aware Adventures in Service

Legal name

Globe Aware

Website

https://globeaware.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Globe Aware Adventures in Service is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating one-week international volunteer vacation programs across 30+ destinations in 25+ countries, serving individual travelers, families, corporate groups, students, retirees, and faith-based organizations with all-inclusive community service and cultural immersion experiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Volunteer Travel & Voluntourism Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Tour Operators (56152), Travel Agencies (56151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Health & Medical Volunteering Programs (EDAIAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Language Immersion & Cultural Exchange Programs (THAKAGAE)

Keywords

• Volunteer travel programs
• International voluntourism services
• Community service vacations
• Cultural immersion trips
• Responsible service travel

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Volunteer Program Fees: Primary revenue stream from volunteer contribution fees for one-week international volunteer programs. Fees cover meals, accommodation, in-country transportation, medical insurance, evacuation coverage, community donations, orientation materials, and volunteer coordination. Fees range from approximately $1,367 to $1,897 per program depending on destination. 50% deposit required at booking, balance due 70 days prior to program start.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Globe Aware Adventures in Service operates one-week structured international volunteer vacation programs across 30+ destinations in Africa, Asia, Latin America/Caribbean, and Eastern Europe. The all-inclusive program fee covers meals, accommodation, in-country transportation, medical insurance, evacuation coverage, community donations, orientation materials, and volunteer coordination (international airfare is excluded). Programs are designed so that no special skills or foreign language ability is required, enabling participation by working professionals, families, students, retirees, and corporate groups from 5 to 500+ participants.

Product overview

Globe Aware Adventures in Service is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization offering structured one-week volunteer vacation programs combining hands-on service projects, cultural immersion, and responsible travel. The core offering is the Volunteer Vacations program, supported by specialized sub-products including Corporate Volunteer Vacations, Family Volunteering, School/University Groups, Community Service Hours programs, Medical Family Service Trips, Retiree programs, Spiritual Groups, Solo Travelers, Multigenerational Travel, Girl Getaways, Bar/Bat Mitzvah programs, Service Organizations, and Young Kids programs. Additional offerings include India Internships (virtual programs), Custom Group Trips, Global Wings group specials, and the documentary series Journeys of the Heart. Programs span 30+ destinations across Africa, Asia, Latin America/Caribbean, and Eastern Europe. The all-inclusive program fee covers meals, accommodation, in-country transport, insurance, project donations, and coordination—excludes only international airfare.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Volunteer Vacations One-week structured international volunteer programs combining hands-on community service projects with cultural immersion across 30+ destinations worldwide. All-inclusive program fees cover meals, accommodation, in-country transportation, medical insurance, evacuation coverage, community donations, and volunteer coordination. Designed for individuals, families, students, retirees, and groups with no special skills or foreign language required.
• Guatemala Volunteer Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 88% of volunteer contributions go directly to field costs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Nations (ECOSOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobe Aware holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), a distinction held by fewer than 6,000 organizations globally. This status enables participation in UN processes and legitimizes the organization's role in international development and cultural exchange.
• GoAbroadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoAbroad certified and named 2026 finalist for Innovation Award in Philanthropy. GoAbroad is the accrediting body for volunteer programs.
• International Volunteer Programs Association (IVPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of IVPA, the nonprofit accrediting body dedicated to promoting safe, ethical, and high-quality volunteer programs. IVPA randomly surveys 10% of volunteers about program quality.
• GuideStarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuideStar endorsed nonprofit organization, providing public access to annual reports, financials, and organizational information through their platform.
• Great NonProfitsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecognized by Great NonProfits for organizational performance and community impact.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Worldpackers: Worldpackers is a volunteer-travel marketplace connecting travelers with hosts worldwide. It overlaps with Globe Aware's solo-traveler and cultural-immersion segments via an alternative, lower-cost, more flexible model.
• Workaway: Workaway operates a global host network for cultural exchange and volunteer stays. It is an emerging marketplace peer competing for the same cultural-immersion and service-travel customer as Globe Aware's solo and family segments.

Direct peers

• International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ): IVHQ is one of the world's largest volunteer-abroad providers, offering short-term programs in 40+ countries at similar price points to Globe Aware. It competes directly on voluntourism positioning, destination breadth, and individual traveler booking model.
• Cross-Cultural Solutions: Cross-Cultural Solutions runs international volunteer programs with structured fees and community placement in multiple countries. It directly overlaps Globe Aware on voluntourism positioning, pricing tier, and target volunteer profile.
• GoEco: GoEco offers short-term international volunteer and eco-volunteer programs in 40+ countries, competing with Globe Aware on voluntourism itineraries, ethical positioning, and individual traveler bookings.
• Rustic Pathways: Rustic Pathways organizes student-focused community service travel in many overlapping destinations. Comparable to Globe Aware's School/College/University and Student community service programs, though with stronger student-segment specialization.
• Projects Abroad: Projects Abroad organizes international volunteer programs across many of the same destinations and regions as Globe Aware (Latin America, Africa, Asia). It is a direct competitor in service-travel itineraries with structured fees and community project placement.
• Global Volunteers: Global Volunteers is a 501(c)(3) that runs short-term service programs in multiple countries; it is a directly comparable nonprofit peer to Globe Aware on mission, program structure, and target volunteer.

Broad incumbents

• United Nations Volunteers (UNV): UNV is the UN's volunteer deployment arm and represents the institutional incumbent in international service. While not a commercial peer, it anchors the same UN ECOSOC-adjacent ecosystem Globe Aware participates in and influences the reputational context for volunteer travel.
• Habitat for Humanity (Global Village): Habitat for Humanity's Global Village program sends volunteers internationally on homebuilding builds. It is a broader, well-resourced incumbent operating in the same voluntourism category but with significantly larger scale and brand.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/globe-aware

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Globe Aware Adventures in Service