New Global Ties U.S. data affirms exchange programs bring significant economic benefits for the United States. Nationwide Global Ties Network turned every $1 in federal funding into $12 worth of impact for local communities.
The Washington, DC-based nonprofit Global Ties U.S. announced today new topline economic impact data showing a 12:1 return on the federal investment in international exchange programs for U.S. communities nationwide. The economic impact data captures how Global Ties U.S.’ federal funding for the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is leveraged by the nationwide Global Ties Network into additional economic activity, including grant funding, in-kind support, fundraising, and local spending in U.S. communities over the course of a program year.
In 2024, the Global Ties Network received $6.3 million in federal funding for the IVLP from Global Ties U.S. and turned it into $78.3 million in local economic impact for U.S. businesses and communities; a 12:1 return on investment. The ratio becomes 8:1 when additional federal spending on IVLP programming (such as participant meals, transportation, and lodging) is excluded from the calculation. Economic impact data is self-reported annually by the Global Ties Network and calculated by Global Ties U.S. showing how the member organizations of the Global Ties Network generate additional support for their work from other sources, strengthening their programming and benefitting their local communities as local hubs for global engagement.
The Global Ties Network is the national infrastructure for citizen diplomacy in the United States, comprising 80+ nonprofit organizations serving all 50 U.S. states. In the last reporting year, topline data highlights that the Global Ties Network:
- Engaged 19,304 volunteers across the United States who contributed over 169,000 hours of service to support exchange programs;
- Arranged 7,002 professional meetings for global leaders to exchange expertise with U.S. counterparts on key U.S. foreign policy priorities, showcasing American excellence and advancing U.S. national security.
- Organized 95,720 cross-cultural activities to introduce global leaders to U.S. culture and history.
“We are proud to report the continued economic impact of the Global Ties Network in communities across the United States,” said Global Ties U.S. President and CEO Katherine A. Brown, Ph.D. “U.S. Department of State exchange programs are one of the best returns on investment in the federal government. The money stays in U.S. communities, and additional support is leveraged from the core investment to benefit U.S. citizens and businesses. Taken together with the findings from our Community Impact Study, the data yields a deeper understanding of how exchange programs advance U.S. workforce development and makes the United States more prosperous, producing measurable, taxpayer-focused outcomes.”
The Global Ties U.S. 2024 Community Impact Study found that across the United States, U.S. cities and workforces benefit from hosting exchange programs in their communities:
- One in three respondents (29%) stated they formed lasting business and professional relationships that increased international connectivity for U.S. cities.
- 63% learned new skills that help them to do their job better.
- 75% agreed that participation in these programs has enhanced the prestige of their organization or strengthened their personal reputation.
Coming in December, the Global Ties U.S. Annual Report will provide further evidence of the ways in which the Global Ties Network supported national security and generated economic impact at the local level in the United States this past year.
About Global Ties U.S.
Global Ties U.S. is the national leader for connecting people and communities in the United States with global leaders through international exchange programs. Since 1961, Global Ties U.S. has powered a community-based network of 80+ nonprofit organizations that serve all 50 U.S. states and implement the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and a wide variety of other international exchange and public diplomacy programs. The work of Global Ties U.S. advances U.S. strategic priorities abroad and boosts prosperity at home by harnessing the diplomatic potential of our country’s greatest asset: our people.
About the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP)
The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is the United States’ flagship professional exchange program. Each year, the Global Ties Networks connects more than 4,000 global leaders from around the world to U.S. counterparts in 115+ U.S. communities in all 50 U.S. states. The IVLP advances U.S. national security priorities and boosts global knowledge, skills, and connections that benefit U.S. businesses and workforces.