by Bright Ewuru | Aug 8, 2023 | Article
Charity begins at home. It doesn’t have to end there!
The ultimate aim of philanthropy is to create a better world for us all. As a grantmaker, you might decide to take bigger steps with your charitable activities and support projects beyond the borders of your immediate country.
There are a variety of reasons why you may want to internationalise your grantmaking. One such reason is that the issue you’re interested in solving may not be local—it cuts across international borders. On another hand, you might have a moral or ethical duty to respond to an emergency or crisis in another region of the world.
You might also be interested in the insight that you can gain from funding projects in other countries. It’s a valid reason as such exposure can enrich the quality of your local philanthropy. Additionally, you may be driven to donate to causes in parts of the world where you have business interests.
In the event that you’re based in a country that’s not your home country, international grantmaking is a path to improving the conditions of your home country and enhancing your connection with such a region.
International grantmaking typically involves multiple nuts and bolts as you operate and manage in different jurisdictions. This post lays out a working formula for you to go worldwide with your good deeds.
Internationalising your grantmaking means spreading and expanding the reach, extent, scope and impact of your charitable endeavours internationally. It implies taking your philanthropic activities beyond the confines of your country to support charitable ventures and organisations operating in other countries and regions.
Also termed globalised grantmaking, international grantmaking is an effective way to address or at least contribute to the resolution of global issues, connect with diverse communities and make an impact on a global scale.
Consider these steps to successfully globalise your grantmaking.
Internationalising your grantmaking begins with widening your focal lens to accommodate issues occurring beyond your country. This involves defining your charitable mission and deciding to fund such goals outside your borders.
It’s important to conduct regular, thorough research on international challenges and opportunities related to your organisation’s mission as well as identify countries and regions where your support will make the most impact.
Operating on an international scale demands making calculated moves. Getting started requires that you gather trusted information and learn the ropes of international grantmaking. Institutions that can provide basic reliable information for you to start include
When you make your grantmaking international, the challenge of learning and adapting to the rigours of funding in other countries can present itself. It’s vital to create relationships with reputable nonprofits, international organisations or grassroots organisations active in the countries or regions that you want to support.
You should also team up with other grantmakers and funding organisations conversant with international grantmaking and whose missions align with yours.
These kinds of collaboration will prove useful in different ways. For one, you can hit the ground running without having to set up a full-fledged organisation in the country. Different countries usually have legal arrangements similar to fiscal sponsorship in the US which can make this a reality.
Joining forces with them will equally provide valuable experiences and make the learning process of operating in a new domain less cumbersome. Additionally, they’ll provide detailed information about the challenges and what’s actually needed in those areas.
To effectively internationalise your grantmaking, you need a firm grasp of the legal and regulatory requirements for providing funding internationally. With different countries come different rules relating to funding transfers, taxes, data privacy, data residency and security. You don’t want to run foul of the law while trying to do good. Ensure that your cross-border grantmaking complies with the home country’s laws and those of the countries you wish to support.
If you’re a grantmaker or donor based in the US, some regulations must be top of mind. One such is Executive Order 13224, which freezes the properties and assets of people and organisations named as terrorists on lists maintained by several federal government departments. As a funding entity, you’re mandated to make sure that your grantees’ names don’t appear on any of the lists.
Next is the USA Patriot Act which aims to discourage and punish the support of terrorists by raising the possibility of civil liability against grantmakers whose support ends up in the wrong hands. Also, the Treasury Department Voluntary Guidelines recommend best practices for compliant international grantmaking.
To succeed at international grantmaking, you need to tailor your processes to fit the requirements of global philanthropy. To begin with, you should have a firm understanding of the country or region you plan to support. Acquaint yourself with their history, recent notable events, political contexts, socio-cultural dynamics, as well as the role of religion and other belief systems.
Leverage multi-lingual communication. In some countries, the English language might not be the primary language. A translation service that enables communication with the grantees in their primary language is of immense value.
Allow multi-currency and multiple payment methods. You should be able to provide funding in multiple currencies in case there’s a need for the recipients to receive financial support in a particular currency. Also, ensure that multiple payment methods are open, be it bank-to-bank transfers, payment gateways or other payment methods.
Also, provide the option of lump payments or by way of instalments. These will ensure that you’re compliant with your international funding.
All these adaptations highlight the importance of technology. Good Grants, for example, provides a multi-lingual platform with more than 30 natively translated languages, and the options to fund in multiple currencies. And, you can host your data in the supported region of your choice.
Monitor your global grantmaking to identify areas that need improvement. Gather feedback from recipients to learn how you can refine your process. You can also take a page out of the books of other grantmakers who are successful with their international grantmaking efforts. These practices will ensure that each international funding endeavour of yours is better than the last.
International grantmaking can make a positive impact in other countries and truly demonstrate your commitment towards a better world. These steps will ensure that the global grantmaking process runs smoothly and proves rewarding to all.
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