Friends Of Refugees, Inc.

What Friends Of Refugees, Inc. does

Friends of Refugees, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) faith-based community development nonprofit founded in 1995 in Clarkston, Georgia — frequently described as 'the most diverse square mile in America' — delivering wrap-around post-resettlement support to refugees and New Americans in Metro Atlanta. After government-sponsored resettlement services end, the organization operates four interconnected program areas: Language & Literacy (Refugee Family Literacy, Parwana, Refugee Youth); Childbirth & Maternal Health (Embrace Refugee Birth, Embrace Classes & Curriculum, Peace Project); Employment & Entrepreneurship (Family Job Class, Start:ME with Emory University); and Healthy Food Access through the 93-plot Jolly Avenue Garden, plus Community Impact Internships and a structured Volunteer Program. Its 53-person staff is 53% New American and operates across 24 languages, a workforce composition that underwrites culturally and linguistically appropriate service delivery and trained childbirth educators, postpartum doulas, and breastfeeding specialists drawn largely from the refugee community itself. The Embrace Refugee Birth 8-week Healthy Moms curriculum is licensed to partner organizations across the country, creating a replication channel beyond direct service.

The organization is 100% privately funded through individual donations, faith communities, and private foundations, with no government funding for operations. Its GTM motion is community-led: clients enter primarily via referrals from resettlement agencies, community partners, and word-of-mouth inside refugee networks, while supporters are acquired via social media, email newsletters, in-person workshops (monthly Introduction sessions), and earned media placements in Atlanta outlets (Atlanta News First, Georgia Public Broadcasting, Bitter Southerner, WABE). The technology surface is minimal and off-the-shelf — Airtable for forms, Amazon Wishlists for in-kind giving, embedded YouTube for video, with no proprietary platform and no mobile app. Pricing is N/A: all services are free to clients.

The 30-year operating record includes 55,000 refugees touched over the organization's lifetime and 3,000+ New Americans impacted in 2025, supported by 5,405 volunteer hours. Under Executive Director Kendra Jeffreys (2021–2026), non-capital revenue grew 76% and the organization launched three new programs (Peace Project, Parwana, Share the Love Project) before initiating a planned leadership transition to Kevin Kipfer effective June 1, 2026.

Name

Friends Of Refugees, Inc.

Legal name

Friends of Refugees, Inc.

Website

https://friendsofrefugees.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Friends of Refugees is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Clarkston, Georgia delivering wrap-around post-resettlement support to refugees and New Americans in Metro Atlanta through programs in language and literacy, maternal health, employment and entrepreneurship, and healthy food access, funded entirely by private donations and foundations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee Resettlement & Integration Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Refugee resettlement services
• Refugee integration programs
• Refugee education services
• Maternal health support
• Community development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Clarkston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Private Donations and Foundations: 100% of funding comes from private donations and foundation grants. The organization receives no government funding for operations, relying entirely on individual donors, faith communities, and private foundations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Friends of Refugees is a faith-based nonprofit organization that provides wrap-around support services to resettled refugees in Metro Atlanta. Its core offerings span four program areas: Language & Literacy (Refugee Family Literacy, Parwana, Refugee Youth), Childbirth & Maternal Health (Embrace Refugee Birth, Embrace Classes & Curriculum, Peace Project), Employment & Entrepreneurship (Family Job Class, Start:ME Business Accelerator), and Healthy Food Access through the Jolly Avenue Garden. All services are delivered free of charge to refugees and address long-term integration needs that extend beyond government-sponsored resettlement.

Product overview

Friends of Refugees is a faith-based nonprofit offering wrap-around support services to resettled refugees in Metro Atlanta through multiple interconnected programs. The organization operates four core program areas: (1) Language & Literacy, including Refugee Family Literacy, Parwana, and Refugee Youth; (2) Childbirth & Maternal Health, featuring Embrace Refugee Birth, Embrace Classes & Curriculum, and the Peace Project; (3) Employment & Entrepreneurship, with Family Job Class and the Start:ME Business Accelerator; and (4) Healthy Food Access through the Jolly Avenue Garden. Additional offerings include Community Impact Internships and a Volunteer Program. All programs incorporate trauma-informed practices and serve as post-resettlement support after government-funded services conclude.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Refugee Family Literacy A two-generation family literacy program providing English classes for New American mothers while their children (ages 4 months to 3 years) attend early childhood development classes. Includes Parent and Child Time (PACT) and monthly parenting seminars. Designed for refugee mothers and their young children.
• Parwana (English for Women) English literacy classes for pre- and emerging literate refugee women who cannot attend mixed-gender or advanced classrooms. Teaches basic English literacy including classroom fundamentals and workbook usage.
• Refugee Youth Youth development program for refugee youth from elementary through high school, offering nature activities, arts, academic enrichment, and leadership development through Growing Leaders internship, Summer Pathfinders, and Afterschool Clubs.
• Embrace Refugee Birth Maternal health program guiding refugee mothers through pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum experiences with trained childbirth educators, postpartum doulas, and breastfeeding specialists, with more than half the team from the refugee community.
• Embrace Classes and Curriculum Culturally informed 8-week Healthy Moms classes on reproductive health and the healthcare system, plus weekly Moms Circle gatherings. Curriculum licensed to partners across the country.
• Peace Project Prenatal and postpartum healthcare for refugee women in partnership with Ethnē Health, providing low-cost care in the mothers' language with cultural sensitivity and wrap-around support.
• Healthy Food Access / Jolly Avenue Garden Community garden program with 93 plots (9ft x 9ft each) for New American families living in apartments. Provides space for refugees to grow culturally familiar foods and build community connections.
• Family Job Class Employment support combining workplace literacy with job placement assistance including classroom instruction, résumé preparation, interview coaching, and direct referrals to employment opportunities.
• Start:ME Business Accelerator Business accelerator with Emory University that equips emerging entrepreneurs with business training, mentorship, and access to capital to build strong local businesses.
• Community Impact Internships Paid and unpaid internships (4-15 months) in areas including Language & Literacy, Childbirth & Maternal Health, Urban Agriculture, Youth Engagement, Program Evaluation, Marketing, Administration, and Leadership Development.
• Volunteer Program Volunteer opportunities including one-time events, regular weekly service, and group projects supporting English/literacy classes, childcare, tutoring, pregnancy support, gardening, and general program tasks.
• Share the Love Project Volunteer-driven initiative to purchase, assemble and distribute care packages addressing short-term food insecurity for New American families, launched in response to suspended federal funding for resettlement agencies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of women improved English test scores in Language & Literacy programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Integration3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Emory Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of NursingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Embrace Refugee Birth program, providing maternal health education and support to refugee mothers.
• Ethnē HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Peace Project, providing prenatal and postpartum care to refugee women in their language at Ethnē Health's office location.
• Memorial Drive MinistriessupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner location hosting Refugee Family Literacy classes for New American mothers and their children.
• Start:ME (with Emory University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness accelerator partnership that equips emerging refugee entrepreneurs with business training, mentorship, and access to capital.
• Foodwell AlliancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting the Jolly Avenue Garden urban agriculture program and healthy food access initiatives.
• Atlanta Botanical GardensupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a community partner supporting the organization's mission.
• Concrete JunglesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting food access and urban agriculture programs.
• Cox CampussupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting early childhood and literacy programming.
• Georgia State University College of Education and Human DevelopmentsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner supporting education programs and potentially research initiatives.
• Crossfit LiminalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing fitness and wellness opportunities for refugees.
• A Mother's Strength Doula ServicessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDoula services partner supporting Embrace Refugee Birth program mothers.
• Hanan Refugees Relief GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting refugee relief efforts and maternal health.
• The Spero ProjectsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in refugee support and maternal health initiatives.
• Your Doula LilysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDoula services partner supporting refugee mothers in the Embrace program.
• Hello NeighborsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting refugee community integration.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• HIAS: Jewish-American refugee resettlement agency serving refugees and asylum seekers in the U.S. with legal, employment, and integration services. Comparable target population and core resettlement+integration service mix; larger national footprint.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): One of the largest global refugee resettlement and humanitarian aid organizations, providing resettlement support, employment, health, and education services across the U.S. Operates in Atlanta and serves similar refugee populations with broader geographic and programmatic scale.
• Lutheran Services in America - Refugee Services: Network of Lutheran-affiliated agencies providing refugee resettlement, unaccompanied refugee minors services, and integration support across the U.S. Comparable faith-based community development framework.
• World Relief: Faith-based refugee resettlement and humanitarian organization operating across multiple U.S. cities with resettlement, employment, and integration services. Closely comparable given faith-based identity and community development approach.
• Catholic Charities USA: Large national network of faith-based social service agencies providing refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, employment, and case management. Overlaps on refugee integration services through local affiliates.

Direct peers

• New American Pathways: Atlanta-based refugee resettlement and integration nonprofit offering case management, employment, youth, and family services to newly arrived refugees. Most directly comparable peer given shared geography, similar client base (New Americans in metro Atlanta), and overlapping wrap-around service model.
• Hello Neighbor: Pittsburgh-based refugee support nonprofit pairing newcomers with local "friends" for mentoring and integration support. Listed as a partner of Friends of Refugees; comparable in mission and refugee-mentoring model.
• RefugeeOne: Chicago-based refugee resettlement nonprofit providing case management, employment, mental health, and youth services to newly arrived refugees. Similar wrap-around service model and program mix targeting the same population.

Emerging players

• The Spero Project: Refugee-focused nonprofit with programming in maternal health and refugee family support, listed as a partner of Friends of Refugees. Smaller and more focused than incumbents but operates in overlapping refugee-support niche.
• Ethnē Health: Clarkston-based community health clinic providing culturally competent primary care to refugees and immigrants. Listed as a strategic partner (Peace Project); comparable focus on culturally appropriate health services for the same refugee population in Clarkston.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FriendsOfRefugees
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/friends-of-refugees
• Instagraminstagram.com/friendsofrefugees

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Friends Of Refugees, Inc.