About
Alight is an international humanitarian organization headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that serves refugees and displaced people around the world. Founded in 1978 as the American Refugee Committee, the organization adopted the name Alight in June 2019. Its work is framed around the more than 120 million people currently displaced globally by conflict, persecution and natural disasters.
Mission
Alight's stated purpose is to build a meaningful life for and with the displaced, inspiring and unleashing abundance in every person it serves. Distinctively, Alight refers to displaced people as "customers" rather than "beneficiaries," emphasizing that their voices guide the organization's decisions through a co-creation approach.
History
Chicago businessman Neal Ball founded the American Refugee Committee in 1978 after becoming involved in resettling refugees displaced by conflicts in Southeast Asia. In June 2019 the organization changed its name to Alight. Jocelyn Wyatt was appointed CEO in 2021.
What they do
- Programs for refugees and internally displaced people spanning health and nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, shelter, emergency response, protection, education and livelihoods.
- Operations across Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda and the Somali Peninsula), the Americas (United States), Asia and the Middle East (Jordan, Pakistan, Syria) and Europe (Germany, Poland, Ukraine).
- A family of affiliated organizations and initiatives including the Eastern Congo Initiative, Kuja Kuja, ORAM and Questscope.
Scale and impact
Alight reaches approximately four million displaced people annually across its program areas, working with partners and local communities of refugees and internally displaced persons.
Financials
According to ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, for the fiscal year ending March 2025 Alight reported total revenue of 76,492,994 dollars, total expenses of 79,407,657 dollars, and net assets of 5,328,752 dollars.
Governance
Alight is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 36-3241033) based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with an IRS tax-exemption ruling dating to 1979. Jocelyn Wyatt serves as CEO.