Transcript Going Global for the Greater Good: Succeeding as a

Going Global for the Greater
Good: Succeeding as a Nonprofit
in the International Community
By Bonnie L. Koenig, M.A.
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
Georgia State University
April 22, 2008
www.goinginternational.com
Why this topic?
• More U.S. based nonprofits are engaging
internationally than is recognized.
• More information/knowledge, resources,
networking, etc…are needed for these
activities to be most effective.
Terminology
International/Global
• Can be used interchangeably.
• Some groups prefer one to the other.
• Within multinational groups, group definitions
are important.
• International – Pertaining to two or more
countries. Beginning to extend outside the
host/base country.
• Global – Pertaining to countries in several
different regions of the world.
How nonprofits are being affected
by globalization
• Leaders, staff and members are traveling more
and bringing back ideas.
• Leaders, staff, members, and/or clients are
increasingly from diverse population groups.
• For membership organizations, increasing
number of non-U.S. members.
• For other groups, being contacted by
counterpart NPOs or other potential partners
• Topic areas or service areas are being affected
by international trends.
How can nonprofits benefit?
• Local programs can become more
effective with improved understanding of
diversity
• Program’s reach can be expanded
• Open to discovering new ideas
• Organization becomes more respectful of
internal diversity
• Credibility of NGO can be increased with
those who think internationally
What is international engagement?
• Finding ways to be part of the international
community while staying rooted firmly in
local communities or national constituency.
• Not the same as becoming an
international organization.
• More common in the U.S. than
recognized.
• Many different ways to engage / spectrum.
Spectrum of International Engagement
Local or
National
org
Local or
Nat’l org w/
intl
awareness
Nat’l org w/
int’l
programs
Chicago Fdn
for Women
Volunteers of
America
Org w/int’l
Members
or
Affiliates
Global
org
Goodwill
Amnesty
Hands-On
Oxfam
©2008 Bonnie Koenig, Going International
Examples of international
engagement
• Annual conferences or other meetings
• Exchanging information
• Networking
• Developing partnerships
Going Global for the Greater GoodBook Outline
• Part I – orientation to the concept of international
engagement
• Part II – Some initial programs (utilizing annual
conference or other meetings, accessing international
networks, developing partnerships)
• Part III – How organizations can become more actively
engaged in the international arena (decision-making,
membership, communications, technical issues)
• Part IV – Lessons from global organizations
• Glossary – International NPO/NGO terms
• Bibliography
Some Changes in the international
NPO Environment
• Environment/structures have become
more fluid
• Enhanced communication channels –
present opportunities and challenges
• Expectations higher from other NPOs
around the world
Some Things to Consider
• Practitioners – Engaging internationally does not have
to be a costly (or scary) process. Good models to learn
from.
• Researchers – Opportunity to identify organizations that
are engaging internationally – why, how, how trends are
changing, etc… Engage w/practitioners.
• Umbrella groups – Need for better networking
opportunities to share information, avoid duplication,
etc…