Who We Are
The San Diego Diplomacy Council, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, is one of over 90 nationwide organizations designated by the State Department to deliver programs that allow San Diego to connect and participate in the international sphere and extend its influence around the globe.
What We Do
We build global relationships and expand mutual understanding by arranging professional, educational and cultural exchanges. We connect community and business leaders in the San Diego region with their counterparts around the world to address common challenges including citizen safety, economic opportunity, social justice and environmental sustainability.
Our Story
Established in 1979 as the International Hospitality Council of San Diego, we began as an organization staffed by all volunteers.
In 1985 our name was changed to International Visitors Council of San Diego (IVC). Our earliest volunteers established an excellent resource database and our Council became known as a prominent international organization in the San Diego community.
By the 1990’s, IVC’s increased funding base allowed the Council to hire full-time paid professional staff and expand the number of delegations welcomed annually.
On July 1, 2004 we became the Citizen Diplomacy Council of San Diego (San Diego Diplomacy) to better reflect the Council’s diplomatic mission. Senator Arlen Specter nominated our international network of volunteer citizen diplomats for the Nobel Peace Prize.
In 2009 we received a complete makeover by a prominent San Diego web design firm. The new brand image draws inspiration from the Olympics, and features a five color palette, unique icon and word-mark. The speech bubble icons were selected to represent the communications and meetings that we arrange for our visiting delegates.
In 2015, we moved our headquarters to the Price Charities Building in City Heights, San Diego. Today, we are known as the San Diego Diplomacy Council, a growing international organization with award winning staff and world class programs.