A Des Moines organization that helps Americans get involved with people from other countries is merging with a Washington, D.C. group that mobilizes American businesses and workers to help create economic growth abroad.

The U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy, 525 S.W. Fifth St., Des Moines, on Thursday announced its merger with CDC Development Solutions of Washington, D.C.  Ann Schodde, president and CEO of the Des Moines group, said both nonprofits will maintain their offices, but the Des Moines group will become a division of CDC. Schodde will step down and become a consultant.

The merger was prompted in part by the loss of funding from Des Moines area philanthropist Ted Townsend, who had supported 90 percent the Des Moines group’s annual budget of $380,000 to $400,000.