Contact Information
Address
1800 West Loop South
Suite 1325
Houston, TX 77027
Telephone
713 782-5290 121
E-mail
jclaycombe@amigosinternational.org
Web and Social Media
Preferred Website to Receive Credit Card Donations
http://www.amigosinternational.org/donate
Facebook
Twitter
Mission
Amigos de las Américas inspires leaders through authentic service and immersion experiences.
At A Glance
Year of Incorporation
1965
Organization's type of tax exempt status
Public Supported Charity
Leadership
CEO/Executive Director
Sara Nathan
Board Chair
Kevin Lanier
Financial Summary
Revenue vs Expenses Bar Graph
Statements
Mission
Amigos de las Américas inspires leaders through authentic service and immersion experiences.
Background
AMIGOS is the pioneer organization in international youth leadership development. We believe that young people can become lifelong leaders sharing responsibility for our global community. With 55 years of experience and over 30,000 alumni worldwide, we operate community service and cultural immersion programs in 9 countries of the Americas.
The world needs young people who are prepared to work in cross-cultural environments, who have strong personal leadership skills, and who are committed and active members of their communities. Our programs challenge students to step outside of their comfort zone by living in a host community and executing a service project with local youth. Students learn to engage in respectful community discussions with their host communities and return home energized and uniquely prepared for an increasingly interconnected world.
Needs
We rely on individual donors, foundations, and corporations to support our ability to grow and our ability to make our programs accessible to under-resourced students.
Impact Statement
In 2019, we had a record student enrollment of 793 student volunteers who participated in our programs. We distributed more than $300,000 in financial assistance to ensure more students could experience the transformation that accompanies an AMIGOS experience. We also opened new programs in Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Uruguay. This year, we strive to expand our program offerings with our new program Explore AMIGOS, to enroll a diverse body of student volunteers through school and community partnerships, and to deepen the involvement of youth from Latin America in our programs.
Other ways to donate, support, or volunteer
Make checks payable to AMIGOS DE LAS AMERICAS and mail to 1800 West Loop South, Suite 1325, Houston TX 77027. We process online donations at http://www.amigosinternational.org/donate. We also take in-kind donations of goods and services for various events. If you would like to find out how you can support AMIGOS, please contact Jenny Claycombe at jclaycombe@amigostinernational.org.
Service Categories
Primary Organization Category
Youth Development / Youth Development Programs
Programs
Description
AMIGOS is a leader in international youth development. Our Summer Immersion program gives students ages 15 to 22 an opportunity to gain life experience and leadership training over 4 to 8 weeks by living and working with communities throughout the Americas. Volunteers work with US and Latin American peers to design and lead community projects related to areas such as public health, youth engagement, and environmental sustainability.
AMIGOS training prepares students to manage projects, organize community members, solve problems, accept responsibility, and learn from others. Volunteers live with a host family in a new community, experiencing day-to-day life as a local, not a tourist. This authentic cultural and language immersion enables youth to have an impactful and unforgettable summer.
Population Served
US& International / Adolescents Only (13-19 years) /
Program Long-Term Success
The AMIGOS experience has a lasting effect on alumni in the following ways:
1. Alumni explore their leadership abilities and potential during their formative young adult years;
2. Alumni learn to embrace multicultural understanding and cooperation;
3. Alumni commit to tackling challenges in communities and to being part of the solutions necessary to make the world a better place.
Program Short-Term Success
Alumni report the following changes after completing the program:
-Improved self-confidence, communication skills, and problem-solving skills
-Increased ability to be effective leaders and support others
-Increased multi-cultural awareness and respect for differing cultural norms
-Improved Spanish language fluency
*Results from a pre- and post-program leadership survey.
Program Success Monitored ByHelpOrganizations describe the tools used to measure or track program impact.
We administer experience surveys to alumni at the end of their program experience. A pre- and post-program survey (5 years after completion) has been administered to select programmatic cohorts and will continue in the future.
Description
The Youth Ambassadors program is one of the many programs sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). The Youth Ambassadors program brings together high school students and adult mentors throughout the Americas to promote mutual understanding, increase leadership skills, and prepare youth for service in their communities. The 8-month program (which includes a three-week international exchange) is focused on civic education, community service, and youth leadership development.
During the three-week international training program, Youth Ambassadors study community development, civic engagement, and leadership theories while living in a new community in Latin America or the United States. This training provides hands-on experience in the design and implementation of a community-based project. Volunteers then return to their home countries to implement community-based service projects in their local communities. The Youth Ambassadors Program is offered in Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, Madison, WI, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Population Served
Adolescents Only (13-19 years) / US& International /
Program Long-Term Success
The Youth Ambassadors experience has a lasting effect on alumni in the following ways:
1. Alumni explore their leadership abilities and potential during their formative young adult years;
2. Alumni learn to embrace multicultural understanding and cooperation;
3. Alumni commit to tackling challenges in communities and being part of the solutions necessary to make the world a better place.
Program Short-Term Success
Forthcoming
Description
AMIGOS Gap program (semester and year) offer high school graduates and college students a four-to-eight-month internship with one of our partner community organizations. This longer program provides a greater level of responsibility and independence than the Summer Immersion program. Cultural immersion over several months is an enriching experience, providing volunteers a new level of understanding and a greater perspective on the world. AMIGOS Gap program provides an opportunity for volunteers to develop leadership and problem-solving skills at a critical moment before they start the next phase of their life.
Population Served
General/Unspecified / US& International /
Program Long-Term Success
Forthcoming
Program Short-Term Success
Forthcoming
Description
Discover AMIGOS is a two-week introductory experience for students ages 13-15. Volunteers live with a host family, practice their Spanish, and work on a community-service project. This shorter AMIGOS experience provides younger students with the opportunity to be exposed to international community-service work while helping them realize their potential as leaders. Many Discover volunteers return to AMIGOS and participate in our longer, more immersive Summer Immersion program when they are older.
Population Served
Adolescents Only (13-19 years) / US /
Program Long-Term Success
Participants realize their potential as young leaders and the power they have to affect change through civic engagement.
Program Short-Term Success
Volunteers are motivated to complete a more immersive and longer AMIGOS experience, where they have the opportunity to develop even greater leadership skills.
Description
This 17-day group trip to Costa Rica is led by experienced facilitators and also provides independence for volunteers. Volunteers learn about environmental issues and conservation projects, try new foods, study and practice Spanish, and do activities with local youth participants.
Population Served
Adolescents Only (13-19 years) / /
Program Long-Term Success
Forthcoming
Program Short-Term Success
Forthcoming
Disaster Programs
Member of Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD)?
No
Notes
Programs listed here are those that are only activated during a disaster. Some organizations have unified budgeting and do not budget by program. Because of this, some budget fields may be blank or represent an approximation. Organization describes previous experience during the immediate response, recovery or rebuilding phases following a disaster.
Program Description
Program Budget
Category
Population Served
Previous Experience
CEO/Executive Director
Sara Nathan
CEO/Executive Director Experience
Executive with 15+ years of experience in the field of international education with a regional focus on Latin America. Strengths include an ability to foster teamwork, collaboration, and innovation. Masters-level education in international development.
Term Start
June 2013
Staff
Number of Full Time Staff
32
Number of Part Time Staff
3
Number of Volunteers
350
Number of Contract Staff
80
Plans & Policies
Organization has a Strategic Plan?
Yes
Senior Staff
Title
President & CEO
Title
Finance Director
Title
Managing Director of Programs
Title
Managing Director of Business Communications
Title
Managing Director of Regional Operations
Title
Director of Development
Board Demographics - Gender
Male
10
Female
8
Governance
Written Board Selection Criteria
Yes
Percentage Making Monetary Contributions
100%
Constituency Includes Client Representation
Yes
Financials
Fiscal Year Start
Jan 01 2020
Fiscal Year End
Dec 31 2020
Projected Revenue
$6,741,380.00
Projected Expenses
$6,871,120.00
Detailed Financials
Prior Three Years Expense Allocations Chart
Prior Three Years Assets and Liabilities Chart
Solvency
Short Term Solvency
Capitial Campaign
Currently in a Capital Campaign?
Yes
Goal
$8,000,000.00
Dates
Jan 2014 to Dec 2017
Amount Raised To Date
$4,400,000.00 as of Feb 2016
Capital Campaign Anticipated in Next 5 Years?
No