Nonprofit
Global Nonprofits Headquarter in Little Rock
Led by the Clinton Presidential Center, Heifer International and Winrock International, Little Rock has emerged as a major center for global nonprofit organizations. With institutions like Arkansas Children’s Hospital and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences bringing in world-class talent from around the globe, Little Rock is developing the international community needed to attract individuals and families working in the growing nonprofit industry.
Little Rock's attractive cost of living, great location, thriving downtown, strong workforce, new nonprofit incentive, and most importantly, commitment to building on the city's strong nonprofit corridor have made it an ideal place for locating leading nonprofit headquarters.
As part of its mission to retain talent for Little Rock and the region, the Chamber's Create Little Rock launched Serve the Rock. In a Taste of the Rock/Business
After Hours atmosphere, featuring food and beverages from some of the region's finest restaurants, caterers and beverage distributors, Serve the Rock showcases the Chamber's nonprofit members, giving members and guests a one-stop opportunity to choose where they may best serve their community. It is essentially be a job fair for volunteers.
The Clinton Foundation, headquartered at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, works to support the many initiatives of President Clinton throughout the world. Anchoring the east end of the city, the Clinton Presidential Center serves as an economic development engine for the region while continuing to be one of the largest tourism attractions in our state. The Clinton Center was awarded the Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification rating from the U.S. Green Building
Council. The Clinton Foundation raised approximately $165 million in private funds to build the Clinton Center, which opened in November 2004 and includes the Clinton Presidential Library, the Clinton School of Public Service, and the Clinton Presidential Park. For more information, visit www.clintonfoundation.org.
The University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service offers the only master’s degree of its kind in the world. The Clinton School’s lecture series, free to the public, has generated international acclaim, bringing in speakers such as Madeleine Albright and Henry Kissinger.
Heifer International, which works with communities worldwide to end hunger and poverty and to care for the Earth, is headquartered on a 30-acre campus in downtown Little Rock, next to the Clinton Presidential Center. An internationally recognized ‘green’ headquarters and expert staff, makes Heifer International a major addition to Little Rock’s international presence in the field of sustainable development.
In June 2009, Heifer Village opened as unique, family friendly destination on its campus. This newest addition to Little Rock’s growing list of cultural activities highlights solutions to extreme hunger and poverty and provides a public space for events and learning. This 15,886 sq. ft. attraction houses exhibits, events, and programming of international caliber. Open seven days a week, Heifer Village is a state-of-the-art learning center where visitors can interact with many of the solutions being used
in Heifer projects around the world. Heifer International continues to enjoy great success in Little Rock while providing service to hundreds of thousands of people in 50 countries around the world.
The Oxford American is a national magazine dedicated to featuring the very best in Southern writing while documenting the complexity and vitality of the American South. Billed as "The Southern Magazine of Good Writing," it has won two National Magazine Awards and other high honors since its founding in 1992 by Arkansas native John Grisham.
The New York Times recently stated that The Oxford American "may be the liveliest literary magazine in America."
In addition to its strong literary and visual reputation, for ten years The Oxford American has received wide acclaim for its annual Southern Music Issue, which includes a CD of songs highlighting a variety of genres and eras.
In 2008, the University of Arkansas Press released The Oxford American Book of Great Music Writing of which Dolly Parton said, "God bless America and God bless The Oxford American Book of Great Music Writing."
This unique and treasured literary quarterly was brought under the auspices of a newly formed nonprofit organization called The Oxford American Literary Project when it moved to the University of Central Arkansas in 2004. The Oxford American's presence on a college campus is rare among publications with a national scope, and students have unique opportunities to engage with all aspects of producing an ambitious and culturally significant magazine. In addition to publishing The Oxford American, the Literary Project
is dedicated to promoting literacy and exploring Southern culture through various other creative endeavors.
Little Rock is also home to Winrock International, whose headquarters earned the Gold LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Winrock works with people around the world to increase economic opportunity, sustain natural resources, and protect the environment.
Winrock matches innovative approaches in agriculture, natural resources management, clean energy, and leadership development with the unique needs of its partners. By linking local individuals and communities with new ideas and technology, Winrock is increasing long-term productivity, equity, and responsible resource management to benefit the poor and disadvantaged of the world.
A fourth major nonprofit headquartered in Little Rock is Lions World Services for the Blind, founded in 1947. Its mission is to serve the blind and visually impaired by equipping them with the skills to function in our "sighted" society.
The organization has gradually expanded its services over the years to become the most comprehensive rehabilitation center in the world, offering a complete personal adjustment program, 13 vocational courses, a vision rehabilitation clinic and training, an assistive technology learning center, job placement assistance, and a college preparaty program.
Headquartered in Little Rock, the EAST (Environmental and Spatial Technology) Initiative began in 1996 in a single classroom in rural Arkansas and has since grown to over 230 schools in six states. The EAST Initiative succeeds in delivering a relevant and life-changing experience for students that produces value for schools, communities and the workforce. To develop as learners for a new era, EAST students are equipped with the tools of the future. They routinely interact with hardware and software in animation,
computer aided design, engineering design, visualization, database design, webpage design, programming, office automation, digital film making, virtual reality, global positioning systems and geographic information systems. The students, working in teams, tackle sophisticated service-oriented projects. In the process of solving these problems, they learn to become creative, intuitive, adaptable learners who can solve unpredictable, real-world problems.
For more information, Joey Dean (Vice President, Economic Development; Executive Director, Metro Little Rock Alliance), 501.377.6006.
Serve the Rock Nonprofit Directory