IVC's Citizen Diplomacy Network
2001 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee
Who is IVC?
Since 1954 we have been the official host for the U.S. Department of State’s highest exchange, the International Visitor Leadership Program. We are part of a unique “citizen diplomacy” network of 92 Councils in 48 states that receive established and emerging leaders from 120+ countries visiting the U.S. as guests of our government. Each participant visits up to five U.S. cities to meet their professional counterparts and experience American life through dinner with families in private homes and attending a variety of cultural events. The program allows visitors to see the country first-hand to form their own opinions of the U.S., its policies and people. Past visitors include F.W. de Klerk, Hamid Karzai, Willie Brandt, Nicolas Sarkozy and 248 others who later became heads of Government. Unlike other government-sponsors exchanges, this program is by invitation only. The network of 92 Councils and 80,000 citizen diplomats, was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001.
More about us:
IVC is an international relations organization and the "door" to the greater Philadelphia community for guests of the U.S. Government as well as individuals and corporations seeking professional connections to the people and institutions of our region.
We are the region's citizen diplomacy organization, fully believing in the power of exchanges: exchanges create human bonds and enduring relationships that build bridges of cooperation and understanding between peoples.
Our core program is the State Department's prestigious "International Visitor Leadership Program," but that's just one of several programs we administer. IVC has two divisions that cover all our work: The Center for International Development and the Center for International Business.
As the region's leading international organization, we link businesses and institutions with hundreds of rising and established leaders each year. We are a non-profit, volunteer-based "citizen diplomacy" organization whose network of volunteers was nominated for the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. We administer the U. S. State Department's leadership exchange programs (since 1954), and the City of Philadelphia's Sister Cities Program (since 1997). IVC arranges the local itineraries and 'American experiences' for hundreds of delegations annually. We identify experts in various fields to meet with the guests; we develop relationships for academic, cultural, civic and business institutions; and help prevent future wars by making friends with the world's new leaders.
Who We Work With:
We work in partnership with the foreign affairs agencies in Washington: State Department and the United States Agency for International Development. We also arrange for guests of foreign governments, companies and organizations to meet their American counterparts. We work with the Philadelphia Department of Commerce and administer Philadelphia's Sister Cities Program, and provide free export assistance to Philadelphia's companies through a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
What We Do:
We are matchmakers, using Philadelphia as a "classroom" for democracy and free market development. IVC's staff designs carefully crafted programs and professional itineraries for high-level guests from abroad to meet their Philadelphia-area counterparts and gain an understanding of the U.S. We identify experts in the Greater Philadelphia region and match them with visitors and with IVC members who create "American cultural experiences" for them. Annually, the staff of IVC arrange thousands of meetings with area experts, our 'citizen diplomats.'
Why We Exist:
We work to make friends with the world's new leaders, make contacts for business and prevent future wars by putting Americans and guests from abroad "face to face." We help strengthen democratic institutions abroad and foster cultural understanding among nations. We promote Philadelphia's economy and historic contributions to the world. We were formed in 1954 when the State Department asked the City of Philadelphia to participate in high level leadership exchange programs. Over the years a network of councils have developed across the U.S. and we are now part of an organization of tens of thousands of Americans, 'citizen diplomats' who open their offices, courtrooms, classrooms and homes to visitors from outside the United States. This network of volunteer citizen diplomats is what makes our work unique.
Citizen Diplomacy Program:
IVC's Citizen Diplomacy Program engages area residents and institutions with distinguished guests from abroad for professional exchanges. These volunteers are experts in their fields, from law, art, government, education, free markets and journalism, to that of simply being an American. They meet with members of parliament, presidential advisors, economists, business leaders, mayors, arts, library and university administrators, journalists and others who can affect positive change in their countries. Our Citizen Diplomats are generous with their time and expertise.
Our Mission:
Our mission is to promote mutual understanding among nations and prevent wars by bringing people 'face to face' and creating a dialogue between Americans and guests from abroad. We promote democracy, free enterprise, international trade and educational exchanges.
Our Vision:
Our vision is to create the strongest international network in the United States for the Philadelphia region.
IVC President & CEO:
Nancy J. Gilboy
IVC Chairman:
John Goldschmidt, Esq., Dilworth Paxson, LLC
IVC Vice Chairman:
Richard Atkins, International Recoveries, LLC
IVC Treasurer:
William Spang, Mitchell & Titus, LLP
IVC Secretary:
Warwick Wheeler, Philadelphia Museum of Art
