cws harrisonburg

What cws harrisonburg does

CWS Harrisonburg is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1988 as a local office of Church World Service, Inc., a national refugee resettlement organization founded in 1946. Operating from 281 E Market St, Harrisonburg, VA with a second location in Winchester, the organization serves refugees, asylum seekers, unaccompanied children, and immigrants across Virginia's Shenandoah Valley through eight integrated programs: Reception and Placement (R&P) for the first 90 days, Integration and Extended Services through five years, Unaccompanied Children Services (HSPRS), Immigration Legal Services, Community Engagement, Advocacy, Emergency Response Programs, and Donation/Giving Programs. The organization resettles approximately 150 refugees per year on a five-year average and provides caseworker support to 100+ unaccompanied children annually.

The business model is a hybrid of federal government contracting, philanthropic fundraising, and modest fee-for-service. The primary revenue stream comes from US government contracts administered through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) covering R&P, Afghan Placement and Assistance (APA), and Home Study and Post Release Services (HSPRS). Secondary revenue comes from individual donations, matching gifts, donor-advised funds, gifts of stock, qualified charitable distributions, and federal/state grants. Direct service delivery to clients is supplemented by a low-cost immigration legal consultation model ($25 for 30 minutes, $50 for over an hour via Walk-in Wednesdays). The organization employs DOJ-accredited immigration attorneys and clinically trained mental health professionals, and relies on an extensive community ecosystem of faith groups, volunteers, local employers (280 documented job placements), and landlord partnerships for housing.

CWS Harrisonburg holds BIA recognition (since January 2006) and is one of only two BIA-accredited programs in Harrisonburg, providing meaningful regulatory insulation from new entrants. Go-to-market is community-led, leveraging word-of-mouth referrals, faith networks, employer partnerships, and a CWS national network of 34 offices (9 direct + 25 affiliates). There is no proprietary technology platform; service delivery relies on traditional case management, direct client services, and partnership coordination. Customer concentration risk is elevated due to single-payer dependency on US federal funding whose annual refugee ceiling is politically determined, though the beneficiary base is highly distributed across refugee and immigrant populations.

Name

cws harrisonburg

Legal name

Church World Service, Inc.

Website

https://cwsharrisonburg.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CWS Harrisonburg is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1988 providing refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, integration support, and unaccompanied children services across Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, funded by federal ORR contracts, donations, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee Resettlement and Immigration Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI), Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE), Immigrant & Refugee Workforce Integration Programs (EDAAAOAJ)

Keywords

• Refugee resettlement services
• Immigration legal services
• Humanitarian assistance programs
• Community integration support
• Newcomer social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Harrisonburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts: CWS operates under U.S. government contracts to resettle refugees and administer services through programs like Reception and Placement (R&P), Afghan Placement and Assistance (APA), and Home Study and Post Release Services (HSPRS).
2. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, matching gifts, donor-advised funds, gifts of stock, and qualified charitable distributions support operational activities and special initiatives like the CWS Children's Fund.
3. Grants: Federal and state program funding supports various integration and resettlement services for refugees and immigrants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CWS Harrisonburg provides refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, and integration support to refugees, asylum seekers, unaccompanied children, and immigrants in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. Services span initial reception and placement (housing, cultural orientation, employment services), immigration legal representation, mental health support, youth programming, community engagement, and advocacy, delivered through government contracts and community partnerships.

Product overview

CWS Harrisonburg is a faith-based nonprofit organization (established 1988) providing refugee resettlement and immigration services in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. The organization operates a unified service portfolio centered on refugee and immigrant support, consisting of eight interconnected programs: Reception and Placement (core first-90-days resettlement), Integration and Extended Services (long-term support), Unaccompanied Children Services, Immigration Legal Services, Community Engagement, Advocacy, Emergency Response Programs, and Donation/Giving Programs. These services work together to guide new neighbors from initial arrival through self-sufficiency, with support continuing for up to five years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Average 150 refugees resettled per year over past 5 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)coreOthersCWS Harrisonburg operates under government contracts with ORR for resettlement programs including Reception and Placement (R&P), Afghan Placement and Assistance (APA), and Home Study and Post Release Services (HSPRS) for unaccompanied children.
• Local Community OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative relationships with individuals and community partners form the basis of CWS Harrisonburg's work, helping achieve transformational empowerment for clients through volunteer engagement and resource sharing.
• Faith Groups and CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local faith communities who provide volunteer support, in-kind donations, and community integration assistance for newly arrived refugees.
• Local EmployerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with local employers in manufacturing, agriculture, and warehouse industries facilitate job placement for refugees, supporting self-sufficiency goals. 280 jobs represent placements in these sectors.
• Local Landlords and Property ManagerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCWS works with local landlords to find safe, affordable housing for newly arriving families. Apartments are furnished with donated items so refugees arrive to welcoming spaces.
• CWS Global NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCWS operates 34 offices (9 direct and 25 affiliates) across the US, partnering with local organizations, volunteers, and faith communities. CWS has helped over 850,000 refugees since 1946.
• ACT AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCWS is a member of ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches working together for positive change on humanitarian, development, and advocacy issues.
• InterActionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCWS is a member of InterAction, the largest U.S. alliance of nongovernmental organizations focused on international humanitarian issues.
• Shenandoah Valley Bicycle CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition for the Bikes for Neighbors initiative, providing transportation options for refugees.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Church World Service (Parent): National parent organization operating the 34-office network that includes CWS Harrisonburg. Directly comparable service portfolio (refugee resettlement, immigration legal, integration services) and federal contracting relationships with ORR.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): One of the largest refugee resettlement agencies in the US, operating R&P, asylum, and integration programs under ORR contracts. Competes with CWS for federal funding and resettlement placements across multiple states.
• HIAS: Jewish-founded refugee resettlement agency providing reception, placement, legal services, and integration support through ORR contracts. Direct competitor for refugee admissions and community-based sponsorship programs.
• Catholic Charities USA: Federated network operating refugee resettlement and immigration legal services in dozens of dioceses, including in Virginia. Comparable faith-based model, BIA-accredited immigration programs, and ORR contracting.
• US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI): National refugee resettlement and immigration services organization offering R&P, employment, health, and youth programming. Direct competitor for ORR contracts and overlapping client populations.
• World Relief: Faith-based refugee resettlement agency operating multiple field offices under ORR contracts, providing reception, placement, and integration services comparable to CWS Harrisonburg's core programs.
• Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) / Lutheran Services of America: Faith-based national resettlement and unaccompanied children services agency operating under federal contracts. Comparable model for HSPRS unaccompanied children programming.
• Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC): African Community Helpers Program and R&P operator providing refugee resettlement, employment, and integration services through ORR contracts — directly competing for placement slots.

Broad incumbents

• Refugee Council USA: Coalition of more than 30 refugee resettlement and advocacy organizations including CWS, IRC, and HIAS. Operates in the same policy and advocacy space but functions as an umbrella rather than direct service provider.

Regional players

• Virginia Office of New Americans: Virginia state government initiative that collaborates directly with CWS Harrisonburg leadership to advance refugee welcome across the Commonwealth. Functions as a regional convener/coordinator in the same operating geography.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CWSHarrisonburg
• Instagraminstagram.com/cwsharrisonburg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/church-world-service-harrisonburg-va

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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