International Dateline (December, 2006)
The December issue of International Dateline featuring news updates, newly released books and newsletters, professional development opportunities and events of interest to international grantmakers. [More]
New Report on International Grantmaking Trends (October 10, 2006) International Grantmaking Update, just released by the Foundation Center in cooperation with the Council on Foundations, finds that estimated giving by U.S. foundations for international purposes reached a record $3.8 billion in 2005. [More]
Treasury Issues New “Anti-terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best Practices for U.S.-Based Charities” (September 29, 2006)
The U.S. Department of the Treasury today issued a new version of the “Anti-terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best Practices for U.S.-Based Charities. The “Guidelines” were originally issued in November 2002 and revised in December 2005 to assist charitable organizations in complying with Executive Order 13224 and the USA Patriot Act following 9/11. [More]
International Dateline (September 11, 2006)
The third quarter issue of International Dateline features an article on the NGO landscape in China, updates for international grantmakers from the Council, notes from the field and more.
The USA Patriot Reauthorization Act, Treasury Guidelines, and Executive Order 13224: An Update on Implications for Grantmakers (September 11, 2006)
This clearly written overview of the changes created by the reauthorized Patriot Act and the implications of other counter-terrorism measures such as Executive Order 13224 and the revised U.S. Department of the Treasury Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines issued in late 2005 is a must-read for all international grantmakers. This installment of Legal Dimensions of International Grantmaking is written by attorneys Edgardo Ramos and Cliff Nichols of the law firm Day, Berry and Howard. [More]
Responding to the Crisis in the Middle East (August 30, 2006)
This compilation of resources is intended to guide grantmakers interested in responding to the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, northern Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. [More].
President Signs Charitable Reform Bill Without Limitation on International Grants from Donor-Advised Funds (August 17, 2006)
President Bush signed the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (H.R. 4) into law on August 17, 2006. The new law includes reforms and incentives that directly affect grantmakers. The key international grantmaking issue in H.R. 4 involves the ability to make grants from donor-advised funds to non-U.S. organizations. [More]
USIG Launches New Online Library for International Grantmakers (August 3, 2006)
The United States International Grantmaking (USIG) project unveiled a new online "Library" of reports, papers, books and other publications that contribute to the field of international grantmaking. Resources in this section of the USIG website meet the Council’s selection criteria and include publications from the Council on Foundations, member foundations and colleague organizations. [Visit the Library]
Draft Principles of Accountability in International Philanthropy (July 12, 2006) In the spring of 2005 the European Foundation Centre and the Council on Foundations created a joint working group to explore the concept of accountability as it specifically relates to philanthropy that crosses national borders. The product of the working group’s activities is a draft document that identifies the key principles of accountability in international philanthropy. [More]
Treasury Department to Reissue Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best Practices for U.S.-Based Charities (June 7, 2006)
A Treasury Department official indicated at a recent conference call with members of the Treasury Guidelines Working Group that the Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best Practices for U.S.-Based Charities is undergoing internal review and will likely be made public within the next several weeks. [More]
Responding to the Earthquake in Indonesia (May 31, 2006)
This resource lists organizations that provide updates on the damage caused by the earthquake that struck Central Java in Indonesia on May 27, 2006. Also included is information on organizations that are currently providing humanitarian assistance and general information on how best to respond to a disaster. [More]
Tax Reconciliation Bill Passes Without Donor-Advised Fund Provision (May 18, 2006)
Congress has passed the tax reconciliation conference report (H.R. 4297) without a provision that would bar grants from donor-advised funds to non-U.S. charities unless the foreign organization is determined to be the equivalent of a U.S. 501(c)(3), which can be a lengthy and time-consuming process. Although the provision relating to donor-advised funds as well as other charitable provisions (in PDF) were removed from H.R. 4297, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA) have agreed in principle to include some of these provisions in the contents of an "extenders" package. [More]
Responding to the Crisis in Sudan and Chad (May 2, 2006)
This updated resource contains information on NGOs and foundations and government and multilateral agencies actively providing humanitarian relief to those affected by the conflict in Sudan and neighboring Eastern Chad. Also included are general resources for disaster grantmaking. [More]
Panel on the Nonprofit Sector Supplemental Report Covers International Grantmaking (May 1, 2006)
The Panel on the Nonprofit Sector convened by Independent Sector issued a supplement to its final report to Congress, including a section relating to international grantmaking. The full supplemental report can be accessed here. The recommendations with respect to international grantmaking (pages 5-9) are identical to those proposed for comment last September. The report recommends that no further Congressional action be taken to protect charitable assets from diversion to terrorism, and it explicitly endorses the eight Principles of International Charitydeveloped by the Council-coordinated Treasury Guidelines Working Group.
International Dateline > Issue 77 > 2nd Quarter 2006 (April 28, 06) The second quarter issue of this quarterly newsletter from the Council on Foundation's International Programs department takes a closer look at the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and its implications for corporate grantmakers. The issue also includes findings from a Council symposium on the philanthropic sector role in the case of an avian flu pandemic and updates on legal and regulatory developments affecting international grantmaking. [More]
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: Compliance Issues for Corporate Donors (April 28, 06)
In the area of corporate philanthropy, the current hot topic has been compliance with U.S. antiterrorism laws and regulations. But corporations should be mindful of a second set of laws when making grants outside the United States—those found in the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). [More]
Council on Foundations 57th Annual Conference: International Highlights (March 17, 2006)
The Council on Foundations' 57th Annual Conference "Investing in the Vision of Progress," will be held May 7-9, 2006, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This conference will convene a wealth of thought leaders in the field of philanthropy including George Soros, founder and chairman of the Open Society Institute and the Soros Foundations Network and Ann M. Veneman, executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. The following sessions and meetings may be of particular interest to international grantmakers. [More]
Call to Action: International Grantmaking, Donor-Advised Funds (March 6, 06)
On Tuesday, February 28th, the House and Senate conferees to the tax reconciliation conference will begin meeting to reconcile the differences between S. 2020 and H.R. 4297. During meetings last week with conferee staff, the Council’s Government Relations team learned that a few of them had the impression that the sector was mostly worried about provisions related to supporting organizations and not “so concerned” about the donor-advised fund language in the bill. We need to make sure that ALL the conferees know about our concern with the provision that would prohibit grants from donor-advised funds to international, non-U.S. based charities. [More]
U.S. International Grantmaker Meeting: Notes on Proceedings Now Available (Feb. 17. 06)
The Council on Foundations International Programs Department convened a one-day meeting focused on the U.S. International Grantmaking Project (USIG), which seeks to facilitate responsible and effective international grantmaking by easing legal, administrative and informational barriers. [More]
Treasury Guidelines Working Group Submits Comments on U.S. Department of Treasury Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines (Feb 1, 2006). The Treasury Guidelines Working Group submitted comments in response to the invitation for public comments on the revised “Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines, Voluntary Best Practices for U.S.-based Charities” issued on December 5, 2005. [More]
Legal Dimensions of International Grantmaking> How a Private Foundation Can Use "Friends of" Organizations (Jan 20, 2006)
By Victoria B. Bjorklund and Jennifer I. Reynoso, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. U.S. private foundations are increasingly involved in international grantmaking. One way for a private foundation to give overseas is to make grants directly to foreign charities. Many U.S. private foundations, however, may want to consider giving overseas indirectly through a "Friends of" organization. Read the 2006 1st quarter issue of the Legal Dimensions series of articles to learn more. [More]
International Dateline > Issue 76> 1st Quarter 2006 (Jan 20, 2006) The first quarter issue of International Dateline features draft principles of accountability in international philanthropy, a joint initiative of the European Foundation Centre and the Council on Foundations. Legal Dimensions of International Grantmaking, an insert to International Dateline, takes a fresh look at how a private foundation can use "friends of" organizations. [Read Issue 76]
Legislative Alert to International Grantmakers Who Value Donor-Advised Funds! (last updated Jan 4, 2006)
The U.S. Senate recently passed a tax reform bill (S. 2020) that includes a provision that would restrict grants from donor-advised funds to U.S. 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. If enacted, this provision would bar grants from donor-advised funds to non-U.S. charities unless the foreign organization is determined to be the equivalent of a U.S. 501(c)(3), which can be a lengthy and time-consuming process. [More]
