This compilation of country codes and laws is intended to assist grantmakers and their advisors when undertaking equivalency determinations for foreign grantees under IRS Revenue Procedure 92-94. Specifically, this section describes the legal framework of nonprofit organizations (also known as non-governmental organizations or NGO's) in select countries, along with translations of legislative provisions relevant to an equivalency determination under IRS Revenue Procedure 92-94.
These reports have been prepared by the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) according to specifications set forth by the USIG Steering Committee (in PDF). Please direct corrections and comments on the country notes to .
Structure of country notes
Each country note examines provisions of local law that should be considered under IRS Revenue Procedure 92-94 when undertaking an equivalency determination for a foreign grantee.
Each note contains hyperlinks to the following information, to the extent available:
Longer country reports analyzing various aspects of local legislation;
Texts of local laws that affect the decision whether or not to qualify a grantee (generally in translation, although the USIG Project cannot warrant the accuracy of any translation; in addition, legislative excerpts were selected by in-country contacts, and the USIG Project cannot warrant that all relevant provisions have been translated); and
Lists of contact persons knowledgeable in local NGO legislation
This section is designed to give grantmakers and their advisors general information that they will need in preparing foreign public charity equivalency affidavits. The reports should not be relied on as providing specific legal advice about the application of local law or about a given grantee. ICNL can assist any grantmaker or advisor with additional analytical services, including analysis of pending and recently adopted legislation, to the extent such assistance is required.
Help create new country notes
The country notes section of the USIG website currently covers 35 countries or regions. While the list is extensive, it obviously does not include every country where U.S. foundations and corporations are making grants. The country notes are grant-funded and the Council on Foundations would like to hear from grantmakers who might be interested in funding the creation of one or more new country notes. Inquiries should be directed to Andrew Ho, manager of global philanthropy programs at the Council on Foundations, at andrew.ho at cof dot org.
Disclaimer
The purpose of the site is NOT TO GIVE LEGAL ADVICE, but rather to give grantmakers and their advisors an opportunity to access potentially relevant materials in a quick and meaningful way. Recognizing that the NGO legal situation is often fluid and interpretations of local law vary, users are advised that the Council on Foundations and ICNL is not liable for inaccuracies in the country notes or accompanying translations. Rather, users of this site who believe that information in this section is incorrect should inform at the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law of any necessary corrections.
