IBLF - North America

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LEADERS FORUM - NORTH AMERICA

The purpose of IBLF - North America is to support the overall strategy and work of the International Business Leaders Forum, by providing a tax-efficient mechanism for US organizations to donate money.

IBLF - North America is governed by a board of independent directors from the media, business and foundation world. It is a registered 501c3 independent company with tax exemption status.

"Those of us in the comfortably off world must come to realise that our world is no longer sustainable if we neglect the position of those in the uncomfortable world."
James Wolfensohn, Chairman of IBLF's International Advisory Board & Former President of the World Bank

IBLF in North America

Since its creation at a CEO meeting in the USA in 1990, IBLF has always had a strong support and partner base in North America. A central objective of IBLF is to work with the leadership of global companies on sustainability challenges. Some 44% of the world's 500 largest businesses by market capitalisation are from the US, which means that engagement with US corporate leadership, from where IBLF already draws 30% of its corporate partners, is a high priority. Given this IBLF has recently strengthened operations in the region and has exciting ambitions going forward.

In order to help US corporate partners tackle social issues on their doorstep, as well as facilitate the engagement of funding partners, IBLF has formed an independent “friends organisation” in the US, through a non-profit 501c3 status company registered in Delaware: IBLF – North America. To lead the initiative, IBLF has appointed independent directors from the media, business and foundation world.

Key personnel

	Alexsis de Raadt St James CEO, Althea Foundation & Trustee, IBLF - North America
	Geoffrey Colvin Senior Editor at Large, Fortune Magazine & Trustee, IBLF - North America		Caroline Leith Programme Director, Althea Foundation

IBLF’s track record in North America

The International Business Leaders Forum was launched at a meeting with HRH the Prince of Wales and a group of influential international business leaders in Charleston, South Carolina in 1990. Over the past 18 years we have been closely involved with businesses in North America, particularly to shape business practices in operations in developing economies and emerging markets.

To compliment the work of IBLF-North America, in 2008 IBLF established an Americas Advisory Group chaired by John Brock, Chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises to help champion the IBLF mission across the many nations which form the Americas, North and South.

IBLF's directors and programme leaders work regularly in the USA. We are also proud to collaborate with Jane Nelson who is an internationally recognised leader in business responsibility issues and a Senior Fellow and Director of the CSR Initiative at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and a Brookings fellow. In 2001 Jane worked in the Executive Office of the United Nations Secretary-General. Jane works with us as our Director of Business Strategy & Leadership.

Advancing the Business & Development Leadership Agenda

IBLF has published topical information and analysis and organised high-level meetings in North America to discuss and debate the contribution business makes to sustainable social, economic and environmental development. And collaborating with institutions the United Nations and the World Bank and with partners like Harvard University, the Conference Board and the Clinton Global Initiative, IBLF has convened cross-sector – a series of cross-sector leadership dialogues on topics including post-disaster recovery, the Millennium Development Goals, tackling malnutrition and enterprise development through business linkages.

IBLF aims to raise awareness of the importance of business and NGO partnerships for sustainability and manages the Alcan Prize for Sustainability on behalf of Rio Tinto Alcan, rewarding US$1 million to an NGO demonstrating innovation and impact on sustainability issues. The 2008 prize will be awarded at the Conference de Montreal in June 2008, where NGOs from around the world will meet to share leading edge practice in addressing global development challenges.

Providing Strategic Advice and Counsel

IBLF has worked with North American headquartered companies helping them respond to changing stakeholder expectations of social and environmental issues by integrating responsible business practices into business strategy and operations, and supporting them as they build critical partnerships with civil society and the public sector – both at home and abroad. IBLF has worked with pharmaceutical firms like Abbott Laboratories and Pfizer on issues such as access to medicine and employee engagement; with Chevron on issues of human rights and security; with Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Kraft on promoting healthy eating and active lifestyles amongst consumers; with Johnson and Johnson as they have expanded operations in the Middle East, and Starbucks as they have opened operations in Russia.

Achieving Impact and Change through Programmes

Delivering technology through public-private partnerships: In 2006, IBLF’s Digital Partnership launched a computer learning lab at the Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDCo) in order to provide technology support to families in the South Bronx. Digital Partnership operates in several countries around the world, but the WHEDCo operation is the first to be set up in an under-served community in the US. In collaboration with companies from technology and communications sector, IBLF is exploring future digital partnership projects.
www.iblf.org/digitalpartnership

Supporting youth entrepreneurship: Canadian Youth Business Foundation is one of the most successful programmes of Youth Business International, a programme of IBLF that helps fund and support young entrepreneurs. Since its creation in 1996 it has invested in more than 1600 young entrepreneurs who have in turn created around 10,000 new jobs in Canada.
www.cybf.ca.

Discussions are now underway to establish a US based programme to provide access to finance and the help of corporate volunteer mentors so as to help bring hope and opportunity to American young men and women who want to start their own businesses and simply need a helping hand to get started.

Providing life-skills to young people: Youth Career Initiative is a programme designed to help transfer critical life and employment skills to young people through mentoring and training provided by managers and employees in business, particularly in the hotel and leisure sector. YCI operates in 10 countries around the world with the support and engagement of companies such as Marriott, Starwood Hotels and Resorts and InterContinental Hotels, and discussions are taking place to establish a programme in the US.