International Giving
FAQ: Global Grantmaking
Legal Compliance Guidance, Fundamentals
What are the legal requirements for private foundations wishing to make cross-border grants?
What is equivalency determination?
What is expenditure responsibility?
How do I decide whether to use equivalency determination or expenditure responsibility?
What are the legal requirements for…
Basic Options for Global Grantmaking by U.S. Foundations
Fundamentals
The Council on Foundations' definition of “international grantmaking” includes grants made by U.S. foundations and corporations to overseas recipients as well as grants made to U.S.-based organizations operating international programs. This also includes grants made toward activities wholly within…
Equivalency Determination or Expenditure Responsibility
Legal Compliance Guidance
Private foundations wishing to make a cross-border grant must ensure that:
The grant is clearly for a charitable purpose, and
The grant counts as a qualifying distribution for the purpose of meeting the foundation’s annual distribution requirement.
The easiest way for a private foundation to…
Philanthropy's Response to the Haiti Humanitarian Crisis
Overview
Violence by groups armed with mostly American firearms has intensified in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, resulting in the internal displacement of 362,00 people, with nearly 50,000 people displaced since the beginning of the year. Due to the level of violence and insecurity, reduced…
How Foundations Can Partner with USAID
Foundations have been partnering with USAID in a variety of ways to advance locally led development, and below are how some of those partnerships are being executed. For member foundations interested in working with USAID on their own locally led development initiatives, Council on Foundations…
Global Philanthropy’s Crucial Role in Ukraine on the Second Anniversary of Russia’s Invasion
Global philanthropy generously provided initial humanitarian aid to the Ukraine crisis caused by Russia's unprovoked war, offering essential support like food, clothing, and shelter. Yet, as Putin's invasion shows no signs of ending, Ukrainians confront escalating needs. Despite reduced news…
Global Grantmaking Essentials - October 2024
Led by Council on Foundations staff with collectively decades of experience with global philanthropy, the Global Grantmaking Essentials will also feature guest speakers with deep knowledge on specific issues or countries.
Wednesday, October 9: 1:00-5:00 p.m. ET
Thursday, October 10: 1:00-5:00 p.m…
Global Grantmaking Essentials - April 2024
This course is sold out. Still interested in Global Grantmaking Essentials? Join us in October.
The Global Grantmaking Essentials course provides a thorough overview of the laws governing global grantmaking and offers practical solutions for foundation staff responsible for making grants abroad. …
Advancing Locally Led Development: An Overview of U.S. Foundations’ Direct Global Giving
Publication, Toolkit
Since 1997, the Council on Foundations and Candid have analyzed trends in global grantmaking by U.S. foundations. In our State of Global Giving by U.S. Foundations: 2022 Edition report, which analyzed grants made between 2016 and 2019, we found that 39% of global grants made by U.S. foundations…
Philanthropy Supporting Ukraine - November 2023
Supporting Media Coverage in Ukraine
This panel of distinguished speakers shed light on the challenges faced by Ukraine's media landscape and offered solutions to empower its resurgence and meet the needs of Ukraine's democracy. Through this discussion, participants fostered a deeper…
Leading Global Foundations Join Bilateral Donors in Commitment to Locally Led Global Development
Alongside the United States Agency for International Development at the United Nations General Assembly today, 15 global grantmakers joined with bilateral donors from around the world in endorsing a donor statement on committing to locally led development.
The statement, introduced at the 2022…
Guidance for Funders on Relief to Morocco and Libya
Posted on September 18, 2023. The Council is maintaining pages to assist funders for Morocco and Libya, which will be updated more frequently.
In early September 2023, devastating disasters struck both Morocco and Libya:
Morocco was hit by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake September 8 near…
Philanthropy Supporting Ukraine - September 2023
Innovative Solutions in Education
How can philanthropy apply lessons from the war in Ukraine and support education systems during and after a crisis and in conflict zones across the globe? Since the war began, over 2,600 schools have been damaged and some 5.3 million children face barriers…
Locally Led Development Resources from the Field
What is Locally Led Devleopmont
Decolonising Philanthropy: From conceptual apprehension to functional progress | Alliance
Development Co-operation Report 2023: Debating the Aid System | Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
Global Greengrants Fund: Who, What, Why | Global…
Data and Research
The Council has partnered with Candid (formerly Foundation Center) to publish data on global giving by U.S. foundations for decades.
Importantly, both the 2018 edition and 2022 edition specifically analyze direct grants made by U.S. foundations to local organizations in other countries around the…
Engagement Opportunities for Foundations
Leadership Circle on Locally Led Development
The Council’s Leadership Circle on Locally Led Development is a group of prominent global funders working to advance locally led development practices. This group is co-chaired by Peter Laugharn, President and CEO of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, and…