Posted on October 1, 2004

Celebrating International Philanthropy - Expert Web Site Recommendations

We asked twenty foundation and nonprofit experts to share the Web sites they find most useful to their international work. See below for their recommendations and an introduction to their work.

Ahuma Adoadiji
Emergency Director
CARE USA
http://careusa.org/

CARE works with poor communities in more than seventy countries around the world to find lasting solutions to poverty. By strengthening capacity for self-help at the grassroots, providing economic opportunity, delivering relief in emergencies, and addressing discrimination in all its forms, CARE seeks to tap human potential and leverage the power of individuals and communities to unleash a vast force for progress.

Top sites:

ReliefWeb
http://www.reliefweb.int/
Provides up-to-date information on emergency response and which agencies are working where.

AlertNet
http://alertnet.org/
A project of the Reuters Foundation, AlertNet provides news and discussions of humanitarian issues.

American Council for Voluntary International Action
http://interaction.org/
An alliance of NGOs whose site is a clearinghouse for information about humanitarian policy and practice.

Megan Burke
Program Manager
Adopt-A-Minefield
http://www.landmines.org/

Adopt-A-Minefield, a program of the United Nations Association of the USA, engages individuals, community groups, and businesses in the effort to resolve the global landmine crisis. The campaign helps save lives by raising funds for mine clearance and survivor assistance and by raising awareness of the landmine problem.

Top sites:

E-MINE: The Electronic Mine Information Network
http://mineaction.org/
The UN's mine action site provides the latest information about the organization's landmine policy and activities.

International Campaign to Ban Landmines
http://icbl.org/
International Campaign to Ban Landmines. Pay special attention to its Landmine Monitor.

Mine Action Information Center at James Madison University
http://maic.jmu.edu/
Excellent site for learning about the history of landmine use and humanitarian mine action, as well as tracking current mine action programs.

Raoul Davion
Co-Director of the Africa Task Group and Program Officer for Human Rights
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
http://macfound.org/

In its international grantmaking, the MacArthur Foundation recognizes the critical importance of three specific global issues: International Peace and Security; Conservation and Sustainable Development; and Population and Reproductive Health. A fourth area, Global Challenges, focuses on human rights and the consequences of economic globalization. The Global Security and Sustainability program has offices in Mexico, India, and Nigeria (the latter focusing primarily on issues of population and reproductive health and human rights). The foundation also maintains an office in Russia that focuses on scholarly infrastructure, support for individual scholars, human rights, and, on occasion, other selected policy topics.

Top site:

Human Rights Watch
http://hrw.org/
A very well organized, timely, and reliable source for up-to-date information on a range of human rights and international justice issues. One can search for infor- mation either by region or country, as well as directly access and download a wide range of reports and news releases published by the organization.

Eileen Dolbeare
New Media Director
Heifer International
http://heifer.org

Heifer International is a nonprofit, humanitarian organization dedicated to ending world hunger and poverty and to caring for the earth by providing livestock, trees, training, and other resources to help families around the globe to become self-reliant. Animals donated by the org- anization provide milk, eggs, draft power, wool, and other benefits that translate into increased income, improved housing, and education for children.

Top sites:

GuideStar
http://guidestar.org/
A must stop on the Web for any nonprofit professional; offers information on issues directly affecting the sector, including staffing, technology challenges, salaries, and more.

Google
http://google.com/
The best search and research tool for sifting through the vast amount of nonprofit information on the Web.

Chronicle of Philanthropy
http://philanthropy.com/
A solid source for nonprofit news and issues.

Salon
http://salon.com
An interesting source for basic news and wire headlines, as well as alternative stories not found in the mainstream media.

New York Times
http://nytimes.com
An all-purpose source of breaking news and in-depth articles.

Michael Edwards
Director, Governance and Civil Society
Ford Foundation
http://www.fordfound.org/program/govern.cfm

The Ford Foundation's governance effort works to strengthen the responsiveness of state and local governments, improve the ability of government institutions to secure peace and social justice, and build democratic global governance in international economics, conflict, and security. The foundation's civil society activities focus on increasing the impact of citizens' groups working for peace and social justice, strengthening the philanthropic community that supports them, and encouraging citizen oversight of the public and private sectors.

Top sites:

openDemocracy.net
http://opendemocracy.net/
For major news of important global issues.

Global Accountability Project
http://www.oneworldtrust.org/
Assesses how open and receptive global organizations are to the internal demands of their members and the external demands of individuals and groups affected by the organi- zations' daily operations.

Carol Erickson
Senior Program Officer, Global Libraries Program
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
http://gatesfoundation.org/

The Global Libraries Program seeks to increase access to technology for residents in low-income and disadvantaged communities through partnerships with public libraries in the United States and throughout the world. The Global Libraries Program consists of three program areas: U.S. Library Program, Native American Access to Technology, and International Library Initiatives.

Top sites:

Reporters Without Borders
http://www.rsf.fr/
This site includes an "Internet Under Surveillance" report that provides an overview of obstacles to the free flow of information online in more than fifty countries around the world.

Transparency International
http://transparency.org
The Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index tracks levels of corruption in more than 130 countries.

United Nations Development Program
http://www.undp.org/
The annual Human Development Reports of the UNDP provide a variety of statistical information about countries around the world, including literacy, education, and technology creation and diffusion.

David Hulse
Program Officer, Conservation and Sustainable Development for Asia-Pacific
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
http://macfound.org/

Top sites:

ReefBase
http://www.ReefBase.org/
A "Global Information Service for Coral Reefs," this site provides a range of country-level data, services, and information to coral reef professionals involved in management, research, monitoring, conservation, and education.

Locally-Managed Marine Area Network
http://www.lmmanetwork.org/
A unique Web site designed by a group of marine conservation practitioners in Asia and the Pacific who have joined together to increase the success of their efforts. The network's Web site is designed to provide information, lessons learned, and stories from communities that are using a locally-managed marine area approach in the management and conservation of their marine resources.

Susan King
Vice President of Public Affairs
Carnegie Corporation of New York
http://carnegie.org/

In the 21st century, Carnegie Corporation faces the challenge of how to support the development of a global community in an age when both isolationism and nationalism seem to be fostering a fractured view of the world. In a time when we are overwhelmed by information, how do we use it to build a sense of community instead of allowing it to tear us apart?

Top sites:

allAfrica.com
http://allafrica.com/
The world's largest electronic distributor of news and information about Africa.

Johnson's Russia List
http://cdi.org/russia/johnson/
A daily newsletter with information from many sources about contemporary Russia.

Tim Kingston
Communications Manager
Global Exchange
http://globalexchange.org/

Global Exchange is an international human rights organization dedicated to promoting environmental, political, and social justice. Since its founding in 1988, the organization has increased the U.S. public's global awareness while building partnerships worldwide.

Top sites:

Google News
http://news.google.com/
To keep track of articles that refer to Global Exchange.

New York Times
http://nytimes.com/
For news from and about the official U.S. establishment.

Manchester Guardian
http://guardian.co.uk/
To find out what's really going on.

Grant La Rouche
Director of Development
Ashoka: Innovators for the Public
http://ashoka.org/

Ashoka searches the world for social entrepreneurs — extraordinary individuals with unprecedented ideas for change in their communities — to invest in. In fact, since its founding in 1982 Ashoka has invested in more than 1,450 Ashoka Fellows in 49 countries and, in the process, has helped to transform the lives of millions of people.

Top sites:

Changemakers.net
http://changemakers.net/
Changemakers.net, an Ashoka initiative, is the first Web-accessible source that systematically, theme by theme, unpacks and explores the principles that form the foundations for successful social entrepreneurship. A one-stop shop for social innovation.

Skoll Social Edge
http://socialedge.org/
An online community for the social sector that brings together social entrepreneurs, philanthropists, nonprofit professionals, activists, academics, friends, and colleagues for lively, stimulating discussion and debate.

Omidyar Network Workspace
http://www.omidyar.net/home/
Tapping into the "anyone and everyone" ethos of eBay, the online auction site created by Pierre Omidyar in 1995, Omidyar Network's Workspace provides network-based collaborative space to those who want to build a better world.

Refdesk.com
http://refdesk.com/
A valuable reference source that indexes and reviews quality, credible, and current information-based sites and assists visitors in navigating these sites.

Patricia Moore Nicholas
Program Associate, International Peace and Security Program
Carnegie Corporation of New York
http://carnegie.org/sub/program/intl_peace.html

Top sites:

British American Security Information Council
http://www.basicint.org/
Publishes an online newsletter that offers the best public information on biological weapons issues.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
http://carnegieendowment.org/
An excellent resource, especially its "Policy Briefs," which are terrific, and the "Proliferation News and Resources" area of the site, which is run out of CEIP's non-proliferation project.

Slate
http://slate.com/
Especially the "News and Politics" section.

Carmela Raiti
Director of Foundation Giving
United States Fund for UNICEF
http://unicefusa.org/

In cooperation with governments and nongovernmental organizations, UNICEF helps develop community-based programs to promote health and immunization programs, basic education, nutrition, safe water supply and sanitation services, and provides emergency relief as needed.

Top sites:

Foundation Center
http://fdncenter.org/

GuideStar
http://guidestar.org/

New York Times
http://nytimes.com/

ReliefWeb
http://www.reliefweb.int/
Timely postings of emergencies and natural disasters in countries in need of humanitarian relief.

Also:

UNICEF's Childinfo site
http://www.childinfo.org/
Country-specific information on women and children.

Central Intelligence Agency
http://cia.gov/cia/publications
Especially the annhual World Factbook, a comprehensive source of facts and statistics on more than 250 countries.

XV International AIDS Conference
http://www.aids2004.org/
News from the world AIDS conference held in Bangkok in July 2004.

Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS
http://www.unaids.org
The main advocate for global action on HIV/AIDS.

Washington Post
http://washingtonpost.com/

American Council for Voluntary International Action
http://www.interaction.org/
The largest alliance of U.S.-based development and humanitarian NGOs.

BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
The world edition of BBC news, updated throughout the day.

Jonas Rolett
Regional Director, Southern and Central Eastern Europe Open Society Institute
http://soros.org/

The Open Society Institute, a private operating and grantmaking foundation based in New York City, serves as the hub of the Soros foundations network, a group of autonomous foundations and organizations in more than fifty countries. OSI and the network implement a range of initiatives that aim to promote open societies by shaping government policy and supporting education, media, public health, and human and women's rights, as well as social, legal, and economic reform.

Top Sites:

International Crisis Group
http://crisisweb.org/
High-quality news summaries, reports, and analyses on areas of conflict around the globe.

Congressional Quarterly
http://cq.com/
A subscription-based site that allows users to track legislation, news, and developments related to the U.S. Congress.

New York Review of Books
http://nybooks.com/
A subscription-based site that offers in-depth coverage of public affairs issues and detailed analysis of current events.

Also:

Mjaft! (Albania)
http://mjaft.org/
Developed and maintained by a youth activist group that has made a splash in Albanian politics as a civic watchdog, this site provides good insight into some of the more controversial developments in Albanian politics.

Balkanweb
http://www.balkanweb.com/
Provides a frequently updated overview of regional events, with the English-language content provided by the Southeast European Times.

Moldova News (Moldova)
http://azi.md/

Patricia Rosenfield
Chair, Carnegie Scholars Program
Carnegie Corporation of New York
http://carnegie.org/sub/program/scholars.html

Top sites:

Africa Confidential
http://africa-confidential.com/
Still the best weekly newsletter about Africa.

Center for International & Comparative Studies, Northwestern University
http://www.cas.northwestern.edu/cics/info.html
The center's newsletter is always chock-full of useful information and news.

Council on Foreign Relations
http://cfr.org/
Frequently offers information that you won't find anywhere else.

Council on Foundations
http://www.cof.org/index.cfm?containerID=38&menuContainerID=0&crumb=2&navID=0
International Datelines, issued quarterly to council members, is especially helpful.

International Crisis Group
http://crisisweb.org/
Very helpful in both formats, online and hard copy.

NetAid
http://netaid.org/newsletter/
One of the best and most informative online newsletters.

United Nations Research Institute for Social Development
http://www.unrisd.org/
As its name suggests. Very useful.

War-Torn Societies Project
http://www.wsp-international.org/
The online updates are especially valuable.

Heather Ryan
Associate Director
Global Greengrants Fund
http://greengrants.org/

The Global Greengrants Fund is a public charity that supports grassroots action in some of the world's most despoiled and impoverished places. Grassroots groups are key to solving intractable problems and halting cycles of poverty, powerlessness, and environmental destruction, and the fund's grants offer hope and tap the energy of communities where other sources of support are unavailable.

Top sites:

Grantmakers Without Borders
http://gwob.net/
Offers a variety of up-to-date information for those interested in international social change philanthropy. Topics range from compliance with anti-terrorism regulations to networking opportunities.

Foundation Directory Online
http://fconline.fdncenter.org/

International Human Rights Funders Group
http://hrfunders.org/
Invaluable, succinct information about using a human-rights lens to approach a variety of difficult issues facing people and the world in a constructive way. Great links to groups using a human-rights approach to achieve important results.

Alliance for Justice
http://allianceforjustice.org/

Global Fund for Women
http://globalfundforwomen.org/

U.S. International Grantmaking Project (Council on Foundations)
http://usig.org/
Invaluable source of necessary technical information and best practices for anyone interested in making grants outside the United States.

Bruce Shoemaker
Consultant, Southeast Asia Grants Program
McKnight Foundation
http://mcknight.org/

McKnight's Southeast Asia Grants Program seeks to foster community development and economic empowerment in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia by increasing the capacity of isolated communities and families to achieve self-sufficiency and improve their quality of life. Each year, the program awards about $1.2 million to support economic and human development, landmine victim services, health and education, with an emphasis on building the capacity of indigenous organizations to address local issues.

Top sites:

Independent Media Center
http://indymedia.org/

Democracy Now!
http://democracynow.org/

These two news sites provide alternatives to corporate-controlled media outlets. The Independent Media Center has become an important site for news around social protest movements, and Democracy Now is an online portal to the popular radio show hosted by Amy Goodman, who provides unique coverage of both U.S. domestic and international issues, with an emphasis on the impact of U.S. foreign policy, globalization, etc.

Phnom Penh Post
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/
An excellent nonprofit source of information on Cambodia. The print edition comes out once every two weeks. A subscription to the online edition is expensive ($50 per year) but well worth it.

International Rivers Network
http://irn.org/
IRN combines human rights and environmental work, with a focus on working with local communities that are resisting destructive water projects in the Mekong region and elsewhere.

Smita Singh
Program Officer for Global Affairs
William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
http://www.hewlett.org/Initiatives/GlobalAffairs/

Through its Global Affairs Initiative, the Hewlett Foundation is identifying ways in which its international grantmaking can evolve to better address development challenges and changing global realities.

Top sites:

Google
http://google.com/

Google News
http://news.google.com/

Also:

ABYZ News Links
http://abyznewslinks.com
A portal to online news sources from around the world, primarily newspapers.

World News Network
http://www.worldnews.com
The latest news from around the globe.

BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
World edition of BBC news, updated throughout the day.

New York Times
http://nytimes.com/

John Slocum
Co-Director of the Initiative in the Russian Federation
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
http://macfound.org/

Top site:

Human Rights Online
http://hro.org/
A useful web portal that covers Russian human rights news and information (Russian-language only).

Christine Varga
Program Officer, Population and Reproductive Health
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
http://macfound.org/

Top sites:

Human Development Report Office
http://hdr.undp.org/
An excellent source of general statistics and information, as well as national, regional, and global reports from the UN's Development Programme, with topics ranging from HIV/AIDS, to good governance, to poverty alleviation.

Countdown 2015
http://www.countdown2015.org/
A site dedicated to assessing the progress and mapping the future for the key goals of the International Conference on Population and Development, held in Cairo in 1994.

Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction
http://who.int/reproductive_health/
A well-organized and robust site developed by the World Health Organization that covers a wide range of reproductive health issues. Topics range from family planning to adolescence and aging. Up-to-date publications (including evidence-based guidance and research) are also available from the site.

Anand Venkatesan
Communications Manager
United Nations Foundation
http://unfoundation.org/

The United Nations Foundation promotes a more peaceful, prosperous, and just world through the support of the United Nations and its Charter. Through its grantmaking and by building public-private partnerships, the foundation acts to meet the most pressing health, humanitarian, socioeconomic, and environmental challenges of the 21st century.

Top sites:

Chronicle of Philanthropy
http://philanthropy.com/
Helpful in keeping up-to-date on news and trends in philanthropy. The Facts & Figures section is a particularly useful resource.

Google
http://google.com/
Remains the quickest and best way to find information on everything from donors to leaders to larger issues.

GuideStar
http://guidestar.org/
Very helpful as a one-stop clearinghouse for basic information and 990s.