3) Strategy Summary:
IDEX's strategy is a democratic alternative to the typical top-down, paternalistic version of international development and based on the principles of equality, transparency, and accountability. Our "Partnership Model" is original because it is based on the understanding that local groups and the communities in which they are rooted know the best solutions to the problems they face. IDEX has been supporting grassroots social change for 20 years, and we have learned that for development to be successful and sustainable, the community itself must have ownership of it. To that end, we support our partners in Africa, Asia, and Latin America by making grants, building alliances, and bringing the voices of our partners to U.S. audiences.

4) How the Strategy Works:
IDEX's innovative Partnership Model works through three coordinated strategies:

1. Grantmaking - IDEX provides a minimum of $13,000 per year to each partner for at least three years. Funds are designated for capacity building projects that are conceived and implemented by the very beneficiaries of the projects.

2. Alliance building - IDEX facilitates the exchange of ideas, information, and experience among partner organizations working on similar community development projects through written exchanges, project visits, and regional meetings. IDEX also helps partners access U.S. resources and institutions such as the media, policy makers, activist groups, funders, research, and sources of information.

3. U.S. Public Education - IDEX actively engages and informs the U.S. public about the challenges facing our partners and their communities, bringing their voices to our bi-annual newsletter, monthly eUpdates, web site, open houses, conference presentations, and other events.

The IDEX Partnership Model is designed to enhance the organizational capacity of partner organizations towards self-sufficiency with the goal of creating an equitable relationship between organizations in the global North and South. In selecting NGO partners, we ensure that the organizations: (a) work with the communities in the greatest need; (b) are participatory and democratic in their decision-making process; (c) work on grassroots economic and social development; (d) are compatible with our programmatic themes; (e) recognize the role of evaluating organizational activities; and (f) are committed to building a strong partnership.

An essential element of our Partnership Model is the annual Partnership Agreement, which details the responsibilities of IDEX and our partners, including regular communication, development activities, alliance-building, and reporting. As part of the agreement, the partner outlines a yearly plan stating the objectives, activities and intended outcomes of the work they will carry out with IDEX's support. Decisions about which aspects of their programs we fund are made primarily by each partner, while decisions about the focus of IDEX's alliance-building work are made jointly and depend on each partners' needs. Communication is ongoing, with monthly informal updates and formal reports semi-annually. Projects are monitored by partner NGO staff and IDEX staff conducts annual site visits. All of these components allow IDEX to monitor our effectiveness in supporting our partners' programs.

In order to identify new partners, IDEX developed a Catalyst Grants program. This program helps us establish relationships and familiarize ourselves with potential partners over 6 to 12 months before committing to a full 3-year partnership. With support from our current partners, IDEX identifies several organizations as Catalyst Grantees. These groups are given a small grant ($2,500-3,000) to carry out a specified project. From the pool of Catalyst Grantees, IDEX chooses new long-term partners in each of the selected regions based on their reports, IDEX staff site visit, and input from current partners.

An important lesson we have learned over 20 years of supporting grassroots social change is that we are more effective if we concentrate our efforts in fewer places and on specific themes. Currently, IDEX is committed to working in Mexico, Guatemala, Zimbabwe, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. A major outcome of the last Regional Meetings was the development of regional themes on which to focus our work. Our partners decided upon the theme of "Strengthening Families through Women's Economic Empowerment" in Africa, "Food Security through Sustainable Resource Management" in Asia, and "Local Alternatives to the Global Economy" in Latin America.

We know our Partnership Model is replicable because we have first-hand knowledge of its application in dozens of communities, in six countries, across three continents. A testament to its success is that the IDEX Partnership Model has worked in many different environments and with many different organizations, leadership styles, local politics, challenges, and issues to be addressed. For other organizations to replicate this model, they need little more than to operate under the democratic principles of equality, transparency, and open communication, and to demonstrate a commitment to supporting locally led initiatives. Such a commitment includes awareness that lasting solutions must be rooted in the community. The IDEX model is simple in terms of actionable implementation strategies but requires a core commitment to grassroots wisdom.

5) Key Strategy Elements:

i. Mobilizing Citizen Support:
The IDEX Partnership Model requires participation from both citizens in the U.S. and in the countries where IDEX works. IDEX ensures citizen involvement internationally because all of IDEX partners have developed out of the initiatives of local communities. In the U.S., IDEX mobilizes support by hosting panel discussions, organizing partner-speaking tours, and holding annual Community Dinners. This year, IDEX will conduct our first donor delegation to Guatemala that will allow donors to witness first hand the impact that their generosity can bring. We feel that these types of events and exchanges enhance our relationships with community members, keeping citizens active, interested, and engaged in IDEX programs.

ii. Generating Financial and Nonfinancial Resources:
While IDEX receives support from dozens of foundations, more than one-third of our income comes from individual donors. IDEX has a variety of methods to generate resources, including our "10 Simple Ways to Support IDEX," which lists a diverse array of methods for supporting IDEX, such as donating frequent flyer miles, Gifts of Conscience, or hosting an IDEX Brown Bag Lunch at the workplace. This way, individuals have several options for supporting IDEX beyond just sending a check. IDEX also generates resources for our partners by providing ongoing technical support, locating and sending affordable computer equipment, providing skilled volunteers for their programs, facilitating direct contact with funders, and editing their grant proposals.

iii. Establishing Relationships with Strategic Partnerships:
Strategic partnerships are at the core of IDEX's work, helping us to build grassroots networks around key issues such as fair trade, food security, women's empowerment, indigenous rights, youth action, and sustainable agriculture. IDEX also maintains strategic relationships with funders so that they can be involved and engaged in our work. IDEX is also actively involved in: Grantmakers Without Boarders, the Global South Task Force, Bay Area International Development Organizations, and the Global Philanthropy Forum. Our work with other organizations provides opportunities for sharing best practices and discerning trends in international development, as well as contributing to important dialogue and solidarity.

iv. Engaging and Managing Volunteers:
Since IDEX's founding as a voluntary organization in 1985, more than 650 volunteers have contributed their time and energy to our work. Last year alone, 46 volunteers contributed over 1,750 hours to our work. One hallmark of our work has been the involvement of volunteers in every level of the organization: volunteers participate on our board of directors, in our policy groups, on project committees, in fundraising events, and in the office. Several IDEX volunteers have traveled abroad to work with our partners on their programs. As a result of this important volunteer support, IDEX has been able to sustain and expand our international grant-giving and local and national educational programs over the past 20 years.

v. Developing Information and Spreading the Message:
IDEX has a variety of methods of "spreading the message." Our bi-annual newsletter, sent to over 3,000 individuals and organizations, and eUpdate, sent to nearly 2,000 people a month, contain detailed articles written by IDEX partners and staff that cover current issues affecting our partners and the latest reports on their work. Our web site attracts an average of 6,500 unique visitors a month and is regularly updated to provide an important source of information to those interested in the work of IDEX and our partners. IDEX brings representatives from our partners to the U.S. as an opportunity for our partners to share their perspectives with U.S. audiences directly through speaking events, meetings, and interviews.

6) Increasing Self-sufficiency and Social Impact:
IDEX's Partnership Model involves three activities, grant- making, alliance building, and U.S. public education (elaborated above), which together create synergy to support overseas partners. IDEX generates self-sufficiency by engaging in all three activities. Citizen support brings much desired attention to partners and generates commitment to IDEX and our partners. Non-monetary support takes the form of marketing partners' fair trade products, pro bono services, information sharing, collaboration building and other forms of leverage for partners. IDEX increases our social impact by participating in strategic coalitions, sharing best practices, and supporting grassroots networks among our partners. Volunteers add much to IDEX's level of activity without adding overhead. Underpinning the success of all these activities, whether a means or an end to supporting grassroots social change, is spreading IDEX's message.

8) Organization Mission and Vision:
IDEX is a social change organization challenging social and economic forces that marginalize people worldwide. We build mutually empowering alliances with partner organizations that share a common vision to confront global systems of inequality through channeling funds, mutual learning and outreach.

Contact Information:
Katherine  Clements
Development Fellow
International Development Exchange (IDEX)
827 Valencia St., Suite 101 San Francisco, CA 9411
United States
Tel: (415) 824-8384
Fax: (415) 824-8387
Email: katherine@idex.org
Website: www.idex.org