ANTIQUITIES COALITION
Preserving World Heritage, Strengthening Global Security
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Cultural Racketeering, or the looting and trafficking of ancient art and artifacts, is financing organized crime, armed conflict, and violent extremism around the world. As a result, we are losing entire chapters of our shared history, including some of civilization's most iconic masterpieces and sites. This illegal industry also destroys valuable and non-renewable economic resources, taking money out of the pockets of the communities and even countries that depend on their cultural resources. In short, cultural racketeering erases our past, while threatening our future.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Our Think Tank
Our think tank, launched in 2016, conducts high quality research and puts its lessons into action, joining forces with top experts to quantify and qualify cultural racketeering. We strengthen policy makers’ understanding of the challenges facing our shared heritage, and more importantly, help them develop better solutions to protect it.
In 2018, the Antiquities Coalition was honored as one of the world’s “Best New Think Tanks” by the prestigious Global Go To Think Tank Index, published by the University of Pennsylvania. This competitive list ranks over 6,600 public policy institutes for excellence.
https://thinktank.theantiquitiescoalition.org
Closing U.S. Markets to Illicit Antiquities
From our start, a key priority has been shutting American markets to illicit antiquities, while increasing responsible cultural exchange.
International borders are the best defense against any illicit trade, including that in cultural property, a fact well recognized both by law enforcement and leaders in the art world. Restricting the import of undocumented cultural objects—which lack a so-called “provenance,” or paper trail—fights the illicit trade while allowing the legitimate trade to continue and even thrive.
As with all global problems, all nations have a role to play. However, since the United States art market is the larges in the world, it has a particular opportunity to make a difference. The Antiquities Coalition is proud to work with the U.S. government and international community to keep stolen art and artifacts off our markets—protecting both American consumers and our world heritage.
Engaging the Public
The Antiquities Coalition is dedicated to building and channeling the political and public will to combat looting. We do this by raising awareness of crimes against culture, while championing better law and policy to key decision makers. This advocacy and outreach serves to support and amplify all of our other programs.
Our signature advocacy and outreach initiatives include interactive timelines, infographics, and story maps.
Encouraging Responsible Markets and Trade Practies
The Antiquities Coalition convened the Financial Crimes Task Force to to bar criminals from exploiting the $28.3 billion American art market—the largest unregulated market in the world. The multi-stakeholder initiative published its initial findings in a September 2020 report, Reframing U.S. Policy on the Art Market: Recommendations for Combating Financial Crimes. This white paper details documented risks facing the U.S. art market from money laundering, terrorist financing, sanctions violations, tax evasion, fraud, forgery, and related crimes. More importantly, it puts forward 44 concrete recommendations to fight back, aimed at the government, art market, financial sector, and international community.
Championing Better Law and Policy
We petition our policymakers—from government officials to intergovernmental institutions—to fight cultural racketeering around the world.
We champion better law and policy to key decision makers in government and the market, successfully advocating for practical and proven solutions. We do this by helping governments, law enforcement agencies, the private sector, and other decision makers better understand the challenges facing our heritage, while offering solutions to protect it.
Convening with Purpose
We convene stakeholders with purpose, fostering cultural diplomacy and international dialogue at the highest levels.
Strong political will is needed to advance a coordinated effort in the global fight against cultural crimes. Past efforts to combat the illicit antiquities trade and related crimes dealt almost exclusively with cultural ministries. But taking down an illegal industry is very different from excavating an archaeological site, preserving an historic building, or conserving an artifact. We partner with the State Department, ministries of foreign affairs, the United Nations, and the defense, intelligence, and law enforcement communities in recognition of the seriousness of the threat. We convene stakeholders with purpose, to build political will at the highest levels.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
# of Countries We've Committed to Ongoing Steps in the Global Fight Against Cultural Racketeering
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Our 2015 Cairo Conference and 2016 Jordan Conference convened key Middle East and North African nations and committed their governments to concrete actions against cultural racketeering.
# of Original Publications Released by Our Think Tank
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Our Think Tank
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
The prestigious Global Go To Think Tank Index has honored us as one of the world's "Best New Think Tanks" for bringing high quality and solutions oriented research to the world's policymakers.
# of Opeds Published in Major Outlets
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Engaging the Public
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
We serve as a thought leader, influencing both policy makers and the general public by writing for major publications such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post.
We've Helped Close U.S. Markets to Illicit Antiquities from # Countries
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Closing U.S. Markets to Illicit Antiquities
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
From our start, a key priority has been shutting American markets to illicit antiquities—stopping criminal activity at our borders, while protecting consumers from unknowingly buying stolen property.
# Concrete Recommendations for Protecting the American Art Market from Terrorist Financing, Money Laundering, and Other Crimes
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Our task forces put forward specific recommendations to strengthen global policy against the looting and trafficking of cultural objects, a transnational crime closely linked to war and terrorism.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Develop and implement innovative and practical solutions to cultural racketeering, by focusing on where we can best add value:
- Championing Better Law and Policy
- Closing U.S. Markets to Illicit Antiquities
- Convening with Purpose
- Encouraging Responsible Markets and Trade Practices
- Engaging the Public
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We were founded at a strategic point in the global discussion on the illicit antiquities trade—in the aftermath of the Arab Spring and during the rise of Daesh (ISIS) and its well-publicized cultural crimes. We treat cultural racketeering not just as a matter of preservation, but as the security and economic threat that it is. By primarily targeting policymakers and the private sector, we have a unique approach to preservation, distinguishing ourselves from other organizations.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The Antiquities Coalition unites a diverse group of experts in the fight against the illicit trade in ancient art and artifacts. In addition to championing better law and policy, we foster diplomatic cooperation and advance other proven solutions with public and private partners worldwide, including the U.S. and foreign governments, art market and museum leaders, and top universities. Since our founding in 2014, we have also prioritized awareness-raising, developing creative and original content to help policymakers, the corporate sector, and public better understand the importance of our shared cultural heritage. We are recognized thought leaders, writing for major publications such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post, testifying before Congress, and briefing the United Nations. Between our staff, Board of Directors, and Advisory Council, we have demonstrated expertise and experience in both the humanities and technology, and can further draw on our existing partnerships with leading individuals and institutions.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
2021 marked our sixth year as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. However, while still young, we have already taken a global leadership role in the fight against cultural racketeering.
Highlights include:
- We are actively—and successfully—working to close the U.S. market to illicit antiquities from the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond through legislation, bilateral agreements, and executive orders.
- Through our Think Tank, we are providing high quality, innovative, and solution-oriented research to the world’s policymakers, especially those in the government and the private sector. Thanks to our proven track record of achievement, the Annual Global Go To Think Tank Index recognized our institute as one of the “Best New Think Tanks” in its prestigious ranking published by the University of Pennsylvania.
- We are developing and releasing creative and original content—especially interactive, online resources—to help policymakers, the private sector, and the general public better understand cultural racketeering and its implications
- We have twice convened the Arab League with its member governments at our #CultureUnderThreat Conferences in Egypt and Jordan, committing 17 countries to stopping the illicit trade in conflict antiquities through cooperative and ongoing steps, as codified in the Cairo Declaration and Amman Communiqué.
- Our #CultureUnderThreat Task Force—whose 2016 report was featured in the New York Times and included in the Congressional Record—developed a comprehensive roadmap to fight cultural crimes for the U.S. government, which is already being carried out.
- Following the release of our Financial Crimes Task Force report, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA) was passed, removing antiquities dealers’ current exemption from what are now standard anti-money laundering (AML) laws and regulations under the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act (BSA).
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
ANTIQUITIES COALITION
Board of directorsas of 10/17/2022
Deborah Lehr
Deborah Lehr
Clare Buchan Parker
CB Communications
Erin Durkin
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? No -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as: