Latin America & the Caribbean Program
ICNL works with partners across Latin America and the Caribbean to promote a legal environment that strengthens civil society, advances freedom of association, fosters philanthropy, and enables public participation.
Our work has helped expand civic space in the region and empowered civil society leaders to navigate complex legal environments.
Be sure to browse our Focus Areas, Key Resources, and Country Overviews.
Our Impact in the Region
17
Countries
where we worked in 2025
834
CSOs
received ICNL assistance in 2025
182
Knowledge products
produced between 2020-2025
Highlights
Adaptive Strategies to Safeguard Civic Space: Global Survey Results
What We Do
Sharing Knowledge to Safeguard Civic Space
We provide expert legal analysis rooted in international standards, helping partners craft sound arguments to improve national and regional frameworks for civil society.
We equip our partners with the technically sound foundations they need to engage in policy discussions on complex issues.
Strengthening Partner Resiliency
We help partners and donors understand and navigate increasingly complex legal environments across the region.
Our evidence-based research, global experience and regional networks have helped partners make informed decisions, diversify their funding, and improve their operational strategies for over three decades.
Promoting Dialogue and Mutual Understanding
We foster multi-sector dialogue with the aim of building diverse, long-term movements that protect civic space.
By creating opportunities for civil society, governments, and others to engage in respectful, solutions-driven conversations, we help establish the common ground necessary to sustain civic space.
Key Resources
IAJC Principles on Regulating Civil Society Organizations
This landmark document proposes 12 key human rights principles that should be taken into account when regulating the creation, operation, financing, and dissolution of CSOs in the Americas.
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Tools
Global Grantmaking Country Notes: ICNL and the Council on Foundations maintain reports to help U.S grantmakers undertake equivalency determinations for foreign grantees. The reports include Argentina, Brazil, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela.
Digital Legal Library: ICNL’s Spanish-language resources include the texts of laws and regulations from 25 Latin American and Caribbean countries, along with analyses of their provisions.
Compliance Guides for Non-Profits
These Spanish-language guides were designed to help non-profit organizations understand and meet various legal obligations under current regulatory frameworks. Guides and/or compliance checklists are available for five countries:
• Costa Rica (guide & checklist)
• Guatemala (guide & checklist)
• Honduras (checklist)
• El Salvador (checklist)
• Paraguay (checklist)
Country Overviews
Click below to see country-specific resources.
All Regional Resources
Adaptive Strategies to Safeguard Civic Space: Global Survey Results
Brazil Tax Reform and Civil Society: Implications for Nonprofit Funding and Tax Exemptions
Guía legal para organizaciones sin fines de lucro en Costa Rica
Explore our full global resource collection, which includes reports, legal analysis, and curated collections of materials covering an array of issues impacting civic space around the world.
