Helping International Students

What Helping International Students does

Helping International Students (HIS), legally the Manhattan HIS Association, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1979 by Dr. Bob and Mary Taussig in Manhattan, Kansas. The organization provides hospitality, friendship, and community integration services to international students, visiting scholars, and their families at Kansas State University. HIS is sponsored by more than 25 local churches and K-State campus ministries and serves over 2,500 international students from 100+ nations annually. The organization operates with a single paid staff member (Director Katie Palani, who joined in January 2017) and depends extensively on volunteer labor from American community members and partner ministries.

HIS delivers a portfolio of free services including the HIS Friends cultural exchange matching program, a furniture donation and redistribution ministry that distributes 400+ items annually to 200+ students, an annual International House Party retreat launched in 2021, new student welcome programs with welcome dinners and gifts, free airport transportation from Manhattan Regional and Kansas City International airports, weekly community activities (Conversation Cafe, Bible studies, women's groups), and bicycle repair services. Distribution occurs through the organization's physical headquarters at 1550 Jarvis Drive ("The Blue House"), partner church venues, and campus locations such as Hale Library. The organization has no proprietary technology platform, no mobile application, and no public API; its digital presence is limited to a content website (hismanhattan.org), Facebook pages, and email listservs for outreach and event registration.

HIS generates no fee-based revenue. The organization is funded by tax-deductible financial contributions from partners, community members, students, and volunteers (one-time and recurring), as well as in-kind donations of gently used furniture. Marketing and outreach rely on the K-State campus channel, partner organizations, organic social media, and direct email communications. In 2025, HIS launched the "Home for HIS: The Blue House" capital campaign to purchase its currently rented headquarters as a permanent facility.

Name

Helping International Students

Legal name

Manhattan HIS Association

Website

https://hismanhattan.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Helping International Students (HIS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Manhattan, Kansas that provides free hospitality, friendship matching, furniture, transportation, and community programs to over 2,500 international students from 100+ nations at Kansas State University, funded by donations and 25+ partner churches.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Student Community Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Peer Mentorship, Buddy & Host-Family Matching Programs (EDAIAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Student Advising & Resource Centers (Wraparound Support) (EDAIAKAJ), Community Engagement & Social Integration Programs (Clubs, Events, Volunteering) (EDAIAKAE), International Student Academic & Personal Support (case management, referrals) (EDALANAE)

Keywords

• International student support
• Community friendship programs
• Furniture donation services
• Cultural exchange programs
• New student welcome services

Headquarters

HQ city

Manhattan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The Manhattan HIS Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates through financial gifts from partners, community members, students, and volunteers. All contributions are tax-deductible.
2. Furniture Donations: Accepts gently used furniture donations from the Manhattan, KS community which are redistributed to international students.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Helping International Students (HIS) is a community services organization that welcomes international students arriving at Kansas State University by pairing them with American friends, providing free furniture, airport pick-ups, welcome dinners, weekly social and English-conversation activities, and an annual retreat. The organization is sponsored by more than 25 local churches and K-State campus ministries and delivers all services at no cost to students. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, HIS is funded by donations from partners, community members, students, and volunteers.

Product overview

Helping International Students (HIS) is a community services organization offering a portfolio of programs designed to welcome and support international students at Kansas State University. The core offerings include the HIS Friends matching program for cultural exchange, the HIS Furniture Ministry for household furnishing assistance, the annual International House Party retreat, and various weekly events such as Conversation Cafe, Bible studies, and women's groups. Additional services include airport transportation, bicycle repair, new student welcome programs, and a partner network of 25+ churches and campus ministries. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with online giving capabilities and manages a capital campaign for permanent facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HIS Friends A matching program that pairs American friends with international students for cultural exchange, English practice, shared activities, and community building.
• HIS Furniture Ministry Furniture donation and distribution program that provides gently used furniture items (beds, sofas, dressers, desks, chairs, bookshelves, dining tables) to international students and their families at Kansas State University.
• HIS Furniture Giveaway Annual furniture giveaway event held near the start of the fall semester at Kansas State University, serving 200+ students and distributing 400+ furniture items annually on a first-come, first-served basis.
• International House Party Annual summer retreat for international students featuring outdoor recreation (rock climbing, rappelling, hiking), campfires, fellowship, and faith-based programming. Open to international students at universities throughout the USA.
• New Student Welcome Program Semester-based welcome program for new international students including welcome dinners, free welcome gifts, and introduction to HIS services and community.
• Airport Transportation Service Free airport pick-up and transportation service for new international students arriving at Manhattan Regional Airport (MHK) and Kansas City International Airport (MCI).
• Weekly Events and Activities Various weekly gatherings including Conversation Cafe (English practice), Women's Bible Discussion, HIS Prayer Gathering, Ladies' Bible Study, Chai & Chat, Global Women's Community, Brunch & Bible Study, and Friday Night Home Fellowship Dinners.
• Bicycle Services Bike Night program offering simple bike repairs (flat tires, brake adjustments, gear shifters) and free used bike giveaways on the 2nd Friday of each month.
• Financial Giving Platform Online and mail-based donation system enabling one-time and recurring monthly gifts to support HIS operations, welcome outreaches, office funding, and staff support. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with tax-deductible contributions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,500+ international students served annually from 100+ nations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bridges International at K-StatecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCampus ministry partner that hosts Conversation Cafe, Bible studies, and helps facilitate friendship between international and American students.
• Grace Baptist ChurchcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHost venue for Chinese Christian Fellowship activities including Sunday worship, Bible studies, and home fellowship dinners.
• First Presbyterian ChurchcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocation for World Friendship women's activities and community building events.
• Chi AlphaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCampus ministry partner organization at K-State.
• CruminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCampus ministry partner organization at K-State.
• InterVarsityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCampus ministry partner organization at K-State.
• NavigatorsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCampus ministry partner organization at K-State.
• Bluemont ChurchminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner church in Manhattan, KS supporting HIS activities.
• College Heights BaptistminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner church in Manhattan, KS supporting HIS activities.
• First Baptist Church ManhattanminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner church in Manhattan, KS supporting HIS activities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ): Cru is listed as a minor partner of HIS and runs international student ministry programs (including the 'International Friends' outreach) on U.S. university campuses with comparable friendship and hospitality components.
• Power to Change: Power to Change (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ Canada) runs international student friendship and hospitality programs at Canadian universities, closely mirroring the faith-based friendship model deployed by HIS at K-State.
• Navigators: Navigators is a named partner of HIS and operates faith-based campus communities that engage international students in Bible study, friendship, and mentoring on U.S. campuses.
• InterVarsity: InterVarsity is a named minor partner of HIS and operates the broader 'ESL Friends' and international student outreach programming on U.S. campuses, sharing the faith-based friendship-matching model used by HIS.
• Bridges International: Bridges International is explicitly listed as a core campus ministry partner of HIS; both organizations share the same faith-based mission of befriending and discipling international students through friendship, English conversation, and Bible study programs on U.S. university campuses.
• Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM): BCM is a national faith-based campus ministry that explicitly engages international students through hospitality and Bible study on U.S. campuses, directly overlapping with the HIS service mix and faith community sponsor base.
• Chi Alpha: Chi Alpha is a named partner of HIS and is a faith-based campus ministry serving international and domestic students through fellowship, discipleship, and outreach activities at universities nationwide.
• International Students Inc (ISI): ISI is a national faith-based nonprofit dedicated to befriending and serving international students and scholars across U.S. campuses, making it the closest direct competitor in mission and service mix to HIS's Manhattan operations.

Broad incumbents

• IFES (International Fellowship of Evangelical Students): IFES is a global umbrella fellowship of evangelical student movements operating in over 180 countries; its U.S. affiliates reach international students at American universities, making it a broader incumbent in the same faith-based student friendship space as HIS.
• K-State Office of International Programs: The university-run International Student and Scholar Services office at Kansas State University provides orientation, immigration advising, and cultural programming to the same 2,500+ international student population that HIS serves, making it the institutional incumbent in this market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HISUpdates
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/helping-international-students

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Helping International Students