Our work

The Initiative makes grants to non-profit organizations and educational institutions to implement virtual exchange programs. Grants are intended to seed innovative new programs and scale proven programs.

The Initiative serves as a central hub for collecting and sharing best practices and other informative resources for the virtual exchange field.

The Initiative works to raise awareness of, and demand for, virtual exchange by acting as a public champion, building new partnerships, and mobilizing new resources for the field.

What is virtual exchange?

Virtual exchange uses technology to connect people for education and exchange. Virtual exchange programs typically serve young people. Many virtual exchange programs are international, connecting participants in different countries in order to help them gain global competencies, among other knowledge, skills, and abilities. Many practitioners feel facilitation by prepared, responsible adults – often, but not always, educators – is an important component of successful virtual exchange.