FACT SHEET

The US-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership (BPP) is a bi-national collaboration of 19 border community foundations and 12 funder foundations and the Synergos Institute (managing partner) dedicated to improving quality of life for low-income communities in the border region.  The partnership aims to do so via the strengthening of border community foundations and growth of local philanthropy.

PARTNERS

Community Foundations
Mexico: Fundación Comunitaria de la Frontera Norte, Fundación Comunitaria de Matamoros. Fundación del Empresariado Chihuahuense A.C.-Cd. Juárez, Fundación del Empresariado Chihuahuense A.C.-Ojinaga, Fundación del Empresariado Sonorense A.C., Fundación Internacional de la Comunidad,

US: Arizona Community Foundation, Brownsville Community Foundation, Cochise Community Foundation, Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, Community Foundation for Southern New Mexico, El Paso Community Foundation, Frontera Women’s Fund, International Community Foundation, Laredo Area Community Foundation,  New Mexico Community Foundation, Texas Valley Communities Foundation, San Diego Foundation, Santa Cruz Community Foundation, and Yuma Community Foundation.

Funders
Annie E. Casey Foundation, The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Ford Foundation, Fundación Gonzalo Rio Arronte, Houston Endowment, The Inter-American Foundation, JP Morgan Chase, McCune Charitable Foundation, Meadows Foundation, Pfizer Inc., The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Managing Partner
As managing partner of the US-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership, The Synergos Institute administers the partnership’s pooled fund to mobilize human and financial resources for the partnership, coordinate capacity and network building activities for partners, provide technical assistance and coaching to border community foundations and increase awareness of and resources for the border region.

OBJECTIVES OF THE BPP PROGRAM:                               

1. Improve the organizational capacity of border foundations

2. Promote communications and cross border programmatic work to address critical border issues: health, youth, family economic success

3. Engage corporate, government and foundation partners in border issues

4. Create a sustained border philanthropic infrastructure

BPP IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS

• Mobilized nearly $20 million toward the organizational strengthening of border community foundations and investment in border communities;
  
  
• Developed a network of border foundations and funders who collaborate across and along the border, addressing quality of life issues more holistically and systematically.
  
  
• Created new institutions in five border communities, institutions that embrace their role as catalysts, as leaders, as problem solvers on topics like youth, poverty, the environment, and health.
  
  
• Put money into the pockets of low- income families through their work in the Frontera Family Asset Building Coalition. In 2006 border states garnered over $45 million in federal tax refunds, up from $17 million in 2005, due to foundation support of community coalitions targeted on this goal.

WHY INVEST IN COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS?  Because Community Foundations….

• Are dedicated to improving the quality of life of low income communities in a defined geographic area
• Are independent and free of the control or influence of other organizations, governments or donors
• Are governed by a board of citizens that is reflective of their community
• Support other non-profits as something which is central to their mission and activities
• Are committed  to addressing a range of community leadership and partnership activities, serving as catalysts, conveners, collaborators, and facilitators to solve problems and develop solutions to important community issues
• Have the long term needs and opportunities of their communities in mind
• Assist donors in achieving their local philanthropic goals
• Are accountable to the community

US- Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership Office Contact Information:  

Ann Tartre, Director - atartre@synergos.org

Christiana DeBenedict, Senior Program Coordinator - cdebenedict@synergos.org

Michelle Jaramillo, Program Manager - mjaramillo@synergos.org

121 Broadway, Suite 370
San Diego, CA 92101
P (619) 234-6620
F (619) 234-6640