Characteristics of Border Nonprofit Organizations

Results from our survey of approximately 50 Mexican nonprofit organizations from the three most important cities of the U.S.-Mexico border region - Tijuana, Baja California; Nogales, Sonora; and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua - indicate that approximately 50% of these nonprofits can be classified as small organizations, with an annual budget of US$50,000 or less, and operating with five or fewer employees. However, interestingly only 17% of the total organizations surveyed have been operating for less than five years; 83% claimed to have been in operation for five years or more, with the majority (31%) being in existence between five and ten years.

These characteristics say much about the lack of support for civil society development along the U.S.-Mexico border region. While most organizations have been working in their respective communities for a significant number of years, more than half continue to operate with relatively low budgets and a minimum number of staff.s