The National Council for International Visitors (NCIV) is a non-profit membership association that just celebrated 50 years of leadership in citizen diplomacy. Founded in 1961, NCIV's membership includes individuals, program agencies, and 94 community organizations throughout the United States. NCIV members design and implement professional programs, provide cultural activities, and offer home hospitality opportunities for foreign leaders, specialists, and scholars participating in the U.S. Department of State International Visitors Leadership Program and other exchange programs.
With leadership and training provided by NCIV, member organizations are experts at matching the resources of their communities with the needs of international visitors. Each member organization is dependent on a corps of volunteers who serve as board members, professional resources, mentors and hosts. More tha one-fourth of member organizations are completely staffed by volunteers. Among various activities, NCIV's program agency members orchestrate national programs utilizing the services and expertise of the community-based members. The aggregate activities of NCIV members involve more than 80,000 members annually.
Many members also provide services to self-funded foreign professionals, trainees, and students; most charge fees for these additional services. Programs and services are tailored to the interests and objectives of the participants and many include:
With leadership and training provided by NCIV, member organizations are experts at matching the resources of their communities with the needs of international visitors. Each member organization is dependent on a corps of volunteers who serve as board members, professional resources, mentors and hosts. More tha one-fourth of member organizations are completely staffed by volunteers. Among various activities, NCIV's program agency members orchestrate national programs utilizing the services and expertise of the community-based members. The aggregate activities of NCIV members involve more than 80,000 members annually.
Many members also provide services to self-funded foreign professionals, trainees, and students; most charge fees for these additional services. Programs and services are tailored to the interests and objectives of the participants and many include:
- professional meetings, internships, training seminars, and site visits
- homestays or home hospitality with U.S. hosts
- interpretation services
- special events, accommodations, and local transportation
- guided sightseeing and interpretive tours
- information, maps, and advice