As part of the joint Initiative for the Americas with Hispanics in Philanthropy, the Council is preparing to launch a Spanish language version of its website this summer. In addition, the first in a series of study tours focusing on transnational communities will take place from 7 to 13 September this year. Philanthropic leaders will visit Latino communities in North Carolina and Guanajuato, Mexico to learn firsthand about the challenges that both immigrant-receiving and immigrant-sending communities are facing as well as how philanthropic organizations can engage with and assist them.

For the past two years, the Council has been working with the Foundation Center, Independent Sector and InterAction to explore the idea of a centralized repository of information on non-US NGOs which would provide a more efficient way for US grantmakers to obtain information on whether a foreign organization is the equivalent of a US tax-exempt entity. Based on extensive discussions with foundation legal advisers and grant administrators, as well as the US Internal Revenue Service, a Request for Proposals for an organization to host the repository was issued in April. The deadline for submitting proposals is 20 June.

After six years the World Bank Community Foundation Initiative (CFI) will formally conclude, as planned, on 30 June. The CFI’s goal has been to raise awareness within the Bank about the community foundation concept. To this end CFI community foundation pilot projects were undertaken through various World Bank mechanisms in Moldova, Tanzania and Thailand. In March the CFI Advisory Committee and World Bank staff participated in a workshop in Tanzania with representatives from seven pilot sites in the three countries. An evaluation of the CFI is under way and will be completed by the end of June.

For more information
For more on the repository of non-US NGOs, see http://www.iaa.com/NGORepositoryRFP.html

Council on Foundations
Director, International Programs: Rob Buchanan
T +1 202 466 6512
International@cof.org
Buchr@cof.org
http://www.cof.org