Training for NPO workers

City University of New York, Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society  www.philanthropy.org
"International Fellows Program"

Initiated in 1988, the "International Fellows Program" of the Center for the Study of Philanthropy is designed to provide leadership training for young scholars or practitioners in the field of nonprofit. During a three-month seminar, the fellows not only learn about American and international philanthropy but they also have the opportunity to meet with representatives of key nonprofit agencies while at the same time pursue their own research project. The Himalaya Foundation has been promoting the International Fellows Program in Taiwan since 2001.

Institute of International Education  www.iie.org
"Elizabeth Luce Moore Leadership Program for Chinese Women for 2002: Economic Empowerment"

Started in 1995, the "Elizabeth Luce Moore Leadership Program for Chinese Women" gives the opportunity to eight women NPO leaders from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan to participate in a one-month study tour in the United States where they meet with their American counterparts to exchange ideas. This program not only offers the participants the opportunity to network with American women working in NPOs but it is also a chance to establish a dialogue between Chinese women who can share their experiences and increase their understanding of one another. The Himalaya Foundation assisted the Institute of International Education in promoting the program in Taiwan in 2001.

Synergos Institute  www.synergos.org
"Senior Fellows Program"

The Synergos Institute is a non-profit organization based in New York that works with local partners around the world to fight poverty.  Synergos and its partners mobilize resources and bridge social and economic divides to reduce poverty and increase equity around the world. As part of its continuing effort to augment the capacity of institutions and individuals involved in grantmaking and philanthropy, The Synergos Institute launched the Senior Fellows Program in 1999.  Applying a peer-to-peer learning methodology, the program creates opportunities for foundation colleagues from around the world to learn from one another, to combine energy on issues of mutual concern, and to share knowledge with others. The Himalaya Foundation assisted the Institute of International Education in promoting the program in Taiwan in 2004.

Networking among Asian NPOs

Conference of Asian Foundations and Organizations  www.cafo-network.org

Founded in 1996, the Conference of Asian Foundations and Organizations (CAFO) brings together as a network grant making and operating foundations, implementing and intermediary organizations, research institutions and individuals from 11 Asian countries. The mission of CAFO is to develop civil society in Asia by promoting the sharing of information and expertise, by forging alliances between organizations, by pursuing advocacy efforts and by formulating alternative models of development for the region. The Himalaya Foundation has been involved in CAFO activities since 2000 and the foundation was also instrumental in setting up CAFO-Taiwan in April 2001, which brings together some of Taiwan's major foundations. CAFO-Taiwan plays a double role: at home, it will serve to promote NPO development and encourage dialogue between organizations regardless of their size while, abroad, it will serve as a platform for Taiwan NPOs to network with their Asian counterparts.

The Himalaya Foundation, through CAFO-Taiwan, took part in the following CAFO regional activities:

• Asia Confers 1: "Tri-sector Partnerships," Malaysia, 2001
• CAFO regional conference, Singapore, 2001
• Asia Dialogues with the World: "Asian and Non-Asian Experiences in Developing Civil Society," Okinawa Japan, 2002
• Asia Confers 2: "Giving with a Difference in Asia," Hong Kong, 2002
• Regional research project on social entrepreneurship "Enterprising Asian NGOs," 2004
• Asia Confers 4: "Asian Social Entrepreneurship Forum," Taipei Taiwan, 2005
  

Asia Pacific Philanthropy Consortium  www.asianphilanthropy.org

The Asia Pacific Philanthropy Consortium (APPC) is an open network of nonprofit organizations whose mission is to increase the quality and quantity of philanthropy within and to Asia. To achieve this, the projects lead by APPC focus on improving the legal, regulatory and fiscal frameworks for philanthropy, increasing public awareness and support for the third sector, facilitating resource mobilization in and to Asia, and developing organizational and human resources for philanthropy. The Himalaya Foundation has been a member of APPC since 2000, participating in conferences and research projects.

Promoting the development of civil society

Asia Foundation  www.give2asia.org
"Give2Asia"

Officially launched on September 20, 2001, Give2Asia is a new organization founded by The Asia Foundation to facilitate American philanthropy to Asia. G2A, which benefits from the expertise of The Asia Foundation and its presence in more than twenty countries in the region, not only eliminates legal barriers to international giving but also provides reliable information on Asian NPOs to American donors to ensure that gifts are properly used, making the charitable process more effective and ensuring greater accountability. The Himalaya Foundation supported Give2Asia's outreach program to the Taiwanese-American community with the goal of increasing funding for Taiwan's nonprofit sector.

Asia Society's Asia Social Issues Program (ASIP)  www.asiasource.org/asip
"The Future of Asia's Civil Society"

The Asia Society started the Asia Social Issues Program (ASIP) in 1999 as a multidisciplinary education program. Through conferences, study missions and media mobilization, the program aims at increasing the American public's awareness of important issues affecting Asia, how the region copes with these issues and what new perspectives they offer for solving the United States own social problems. The ASIP is conceived to facilitate communication and cooperation between American and Asia NGO, business and government representatives. The Himalaya Foundation provided support to the "Future of Asia's Civil Society" program and web component.