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By MAGGIE JARUZEL POTTER

People from many different backgrounds and professions are partnering together to improve the quality of life for residents living on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, says Andy Carey. He is executive director of the U.S.-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership (BPP), a Mott grantee. Along with BPP’s other leaders, Carey has cast a vision to see its membership become truly representative of the area’s broader civil society sector because, he says, “It is going to take all of us working together to truly transform life in the U.S.-Mexico border region.” 

Below are articles, reports and a Q&A that describe some of these initiatives.

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[May 6, 2010]
U.S.-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership: addressing challenges, embracing opportunities 

After years of incubation with a New York-based nonprofit organization, the U.S.-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership (BPP) became an independent non-governmental organization (NGO) in 2008. Since that time, BPP has strengthened its efforts to develop bi-national philanthropic partnerships in the region as a way to improve the quality of life for residents on both sides of the border.
 

[May 6, 2010]
Mott Foundation Q & A with Andy Carey, BPP’s executive director

BPP helps its members strengthen their own capacity so they can deliver the best services possible to residents in the U.S.-Mexico border region, says Carey. In addition to sharing his views about the benefits of BPP membership, Carey talks about the value of challenge grants, why people living in the interiors of the U.S. and Mexico should care about what happens in the border region, the current understanding of philanthropic giving in Mexico and other topics.  

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
 
[February, 2010]
Beyond Borders: Observations for US organizations considering nonprofit incorporation in Mexico 

This report includes an overview of the Mexican nonprofit incorporation process and is based on BPP’s own experiences and observations as it moved toward incorporating and operating as a binational organization. 



[October 2009]
Debunking Myths: The US-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership’s Quality of Life Indicators Project 

This report explores four common beliefs about the border region – and proves them false based on surveys conducted with residents. 



[April 2008]
Building the Financial Vitality of Border Families 

This report discusses how to use Family Economic Success (FES) initiatives as tools to address poverty. It is based on the experiences of seven U.S.-based community foundation in the border region that are BPP members. 




[August 2008]
The Balancing Act: The Roles of a Community foundation 

A series of three monographs authored by Mott Foundation Consultant Dorothy 'Dottie' Reynolds, these publications explore the core functions of a community foundation as a grantmaker, a vehicle for local philanthropy and a community leader. The Balancing Act has been translated into three additional languages, including Spanish.