Diana Aviv, CEO of Independent Sector (center) with the members of the 2008 international peer learning event.

Independent Sector’s international program was established to build on IS’s role as a leader in civil society in the United States and abroad. The program – established formally in 2006 – convenes, connects, informs and mobilizes members of the global civil society movement, including the more than forty percent of IS membership involved in international activities. By creating spaces for our members to coalesce around programming challenges and experiences, IS informs the efforts of US-based organizations operating abroad and addresses policies that impact international charitable activity.

IS has advocated for the nonprofit community by informing and explaining US government policies that impact international charitable activity. IS has promoted, for instance, the protection of nonprofits’ first amendment rights, and compiled guidelines of US laws and regulations that impact US-based nonprofits operating abroad. As one of four organizations comprising an advisory group to the Council on Foundations, we are also contributing to the development of a repository of equivalency determinations for non-U.S. based NGOs. The program will be instrumental in assisting U.S. grant makers in meeting IRS requirements for funding programming overseas.

IS’s international program has also facilitated learning and collaboration between civil society organizations abroad through hosting two international peer learning events. Also, in the early 1990s, Independent Sector played a key role in the establishment of CIVICUS, the World Alliance for Citizen Participation, and we remain involved with the organization through the Affinity Group of National Associations (AGNA).