Connecting Georgia to the World since 1962
What We Do
GCIV is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that implements bipartisan professional international exchange programs across Georgia on behalf of the U.S. Department of State and other federal agencies.
The mission of the Georgia Council for International Visitors (GCIV) is to foster professional, cultural, and educational experiences that connect Georgia citizens and international leaders to cultivate positive global change. GCIV’s vision is to be the Georgia organization that allows every citizen the opportunity to be more globally engaged through people-to-people connections.
GCIV is a member of the national Global Ties U.S. network, primarily responsible for implementing the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). Launched in 1940, the IVLP seeks to build mutual understanding between the United States and other nations through carefully designed professional visits to the U.S. for current and emerging foreign leaders. U.S. ambassadors consistently rank the IVLP as the most effective in a long list of public diplomacy tools.
GCIV enables Georgia citizens to interact with IVLP and other international exchange participants through various community programs, including professional meetings, dinner hospitality, classroom visits, special events, and more! For upcoming opportunities, subscribe to GCIV’s monthly e-newsletter.
Why Citizen Diplomacy Matters
Greatest Diplomacy Tool
Since its inception in 1940, more than 230,000 international leaders have taken part in the IVLP, including more than 660 alumni who have gone on to serve as heads of state or government.
U.S. ambassadors consistently rank the IVLP as the most effective in a long list of public diplomacy tools.
Economic Impact
Generating a 12:1 return on U.S. federal dollars, translating into real economic benefits for local U.S. communities.
The Georgia Council for International Visitors turned $132,740 in federal funds for the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) into $1,066,633 (nearly $1M) in local economic impact in FY 2024.*
*Local economic impact is based on self-reported data, which captures how core federal funding for the IVLP is leveraged into additional funding, in-kind support, and local spending in U.S. communities over the course of a year.GCIV 2025 Impact
315
International Visitors
98
Countries & Territories
GCIV hosted 315 international visitors from 98 different countries and territories to the state of Georgia in 2025. GCIV organized 187 professional meetings for these visitors with 534 local volunteer professional resources. Think about those figures in the amount of knowledge and best practices exchanged on topics as varied as human trafficking and civil nuclear energy.
Each exchange program interaction—whether professional or casual—contributes to stronger international relations and deeper global awareness at a local level.
“On behalf of the group, I would like to say thank you one more time for the amazing dinner, for the hospitality. We had the opportunity to meet different people ever since we arrived here last week in Washington, D.C., we moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where we also met different institutions that play a very important role for the youth here in the United States. We hope to be able to implement that when we go back to the Motherland.””
Let’s Change the World - one handshake at a time
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