A Changing Philanthropic Landscape in India
March 22, 2023 The landscape of giving in India is vibrant and dynamic, with a thriving digital ecosystem, a young giving population, a growing network of high-net-worth individuals, and increasing involvement from corporations as a part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts. This vibrant space has developed over the past decades within a complex… CONTINUE READING >>
Reflecting on Impact: One Year After the Invasion of Ukraine
February 21, 2023 As the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine approaches, we’re taking a moment to step back and recognize the commitment of our donors to humanitarian relief stemming from this conflict. Since the beginning of the invasion, CAF America has made over $37 million in donor-advised and restricted grants; our donors… CONTINUE READING >>
Recent OFAC General Licenses Facilitate Earthquake Relief Efforts in Türkiye & Syria
February 7, 2023 Already torn apart by a decade of war that has left millions of people displaced and homeless, the humanitarian situation in Syria could not be more dire. Since the beginning of the conflict, supporting charitable activities within Syria and assisting displaced Syrians in bordering countries has been deemed extremely high risk for… CONTINUE READING >>
Responding Quickly and Effectively in Times of Disaster
December 2, 2022 At CAF America, we support donors who want to build long-term partnerships with local organizations and create meaningful impact, anywhere in the world. This model is particularly relevant when communities we grant to are impacted by natural disasters, political crises, or other emergencies. After responding to the many global emergencies that have… CONTINUE READING >>
A Firsthand Look at Ukrainian Humanitarian Response and Upcoming Challenges
November 30, 2022 Russia continues to target key Ukrainian infrastructure, leading to electricity outages, supply chain disruptions, and increased challenges for global civil society to provide humanitarian aid. It is expected that a second wave of up to 750,000 more Ukrainian refugees may cross the border into Poland alone over the next three months. Without… CONTINUE READING >>
CAF America Helps Charities in the Middle East Access Much-Needed Funding, Despite Complex Restrictions
November 22, 2022 Many donors are intimidated by the challenges of supporting charities and charitable activities in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region. Extensive registration requirements, regulations on foreign funding, and a complex sanctions landscape can lead many funders to avoid giving in the region altogether. In this heightened risk environment, CAF America… CONTINUE READING >>
Lessons in Employee Engagement for Disaster Relief
September 21, 2022 Since the beginning of 2020, CAF America has granted more than $150 million to charities working on emergency response funded by our generous corporate and corporate foundation donors. While the private sector has stepped up to address some of the most vulnerable populations impacted by natural disasters, pandemic, and war, CAF America… CONTINUE READING >>
CAF America Champions the Localization Agenda
September 14, 2022 While CAF America can support any regulatory-compliant charitable activity around the world, a large portion of our grants support international development and humanitarian action. These projects don’t happen in a vacuum – our projects are implemented in the context of a larger international agenda that is set at the level of the… CONTINUE READING >>
UN’s Sustainable Development Strategy Discounts the Potential of Philanthropic Giving
July 29, 2022 This month’s High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development is the main event of the International Sustainable Development community. For 9 days over 3 weeks, delegations to the UN, civil society groups, and a bevy of other Major Groups and development thought leaders descended on New York City to discuss the world’s… CONTINUE READING >>
Unpacking India’s CSR Law
India’s Ministry of Corporate Affairs released new guidance on their corporate social responsibility (CSR) law, which legally mandates that companies spend two percent of their average net profit for the past three years on CSR activities. The CSR rules in Section 135 of India’s Companies Act, 2013 provide a broad framework for companies to undertake… CONTINUE READING >>
Granting to International Government Entities
Published on March 25, 2022 Grantmakers seeking to fund international charitable work must be familiar with Equivalency Determination (ED) and Expenditure Responsibility (ER) as tools for establishing the charitable purpose of their beneficiaries and their programs. However, many grantmakers are not aware that there is an additional Executive Order (22 U.S.C. 288) which enables grantmakers… CONTINUE READING >>
Best Practices for Disaster and Crisis Grantmaking
Published on March 2, 2022 The pandemic’s systemic shock has created a new reality that challenges corporations to examine long-term policy changes. A significant aspect of this is how corporations strategize for disaster philanthropy. We can classify disaster philanthropy as reactive, responding to each successive crisis, or as proactive, wherein grants to a charity foster… CONTINUE READING >>
CAF America Donors Respond to the Australian Bushfires Through Impactful and Tax-Effective Philanthropy
As Australia reeled under the full brunt of the forces of nature, the world watched in concern. We’ve witnessed many disasters before, but the 2019-2020 Australian Bushfires presented an alarming case of the effects of climate change. The global community mobilized to aid a country in need. From September 2019 and into the new year,… CONTINUE READING >>
How the CARES Act, as supplemented by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, Impacts Charitable Giving
Watch the webinar Updated to include important new provisions outlined in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 in effect as of December 27, 2020. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 is the sixth COVID-19 related bill enacted by the US Congress, being preceded by the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020, the Paycheck Protection… CONTINUE READING >>
How the CARES Act, as supplemented by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, Impacts Charitable Giving
Watch the webinar Updated to include important new provisions outlined in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 in effect as of December 27, 2020. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 is the sixth COVID-19 related bill enacted by the US Congress, being preceded by the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020, the Paycheck Protection… CONTINUE READING >>
Ten Questions You Should Ask Before Making a Gift Outside the USA
Published on GrantStation Fifteen years have passed since the world became virtually borderless. Tools like Skype, Facebook, and Twitter have enabled us to be more connected than ever before. Friends and families can now keep in touch even when oceans apart, news can be shared in real time, and action can be immediate. Yet a… CONTINUE READING >>
4 Ways Grantmakers Can Streamline Reporting
Foreign organizations are able to receive tax-effective charitable funding from the US if 1) the US grantor is able to make a good faith determination that the foreign organization is the equivalent of a US 501(c)(3) public charity (the grantor conducts an Equivalency Determination or ED), or 2) the grantor can establish that the funds… CONTINUE READING >>
Reading the Writings on the Wall: International Literacy Day 2019
First celebrated in 1967, International Literacy Day highlights the importance of literacy for the development of individuals and societies at large but also calls attention to a major global challenge and awareness loophole. Literacy levels across the globe have drastically risen in the last couple of centuries. While only 12% of people in the world… CONTINUE READING >>
4 Questions you Should Consider Before Giving Abroad
Whether you’ve traveled to distant parts of the world and were inspired by the inventiveness of the communities you visited, read about an issue in a news article, or maybe just feel a special kinship with a given place, the desire to help somehow can quickly move to the top of your priority list. Supporting… CONTINUE READING >>
Philanthropy done well: the importance of compliance
Originally article posted by Alliance Magazine NGOs and civil society organizations around the world serve many different roles. In some countries organizations seek to augment the public services provided by governments. Still others may be called upon to step in to cover the needs where governments fail, serve as watchdogs holding those in power accountable,… CONTINUE READING >>
Four Trends Dramatically Reshaping Corporate Philanthropy
Guest blog. Read the original on CyberGrants.com Don’t Just Do Good Things. Do the RIGHT Good Things. You see it: The need for corporate philanthropy is skyrocketing. Worthy, urgent causes appear literally overnight. And enterprises like yours are responding in a big way, generating positive impact for a host of beneficiaries via grantmaking, employee donations… CONTINUE READING >>
Corporate Citizen Congratulations
CAF America is committed to supporting US corporations in their global philanthropy and corporate citizenship efforts. We are so proud of the companies we work with and their dedication to good global citizenship, and we’re not surprised that several of them were included in CR Magazine’s 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking! We want to extend… CONTINUE READING >>
CAF America Supports our Employees’ Philanthropy
As the leader in cross-border giving, CAF America’s core mission is to enable US donors to support charitable causes around the world. We make this happen through excellence in regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and reputational protection. This overarching purpose of excellence in philanthropy brings us together as staff members, each of whom is passionate about… CONTINUE READING >>
Can I Give my QCD to a DAF? And Other Questions
QCDs are gaining in popularity and CAF America often receives questions about how they work, especially in the context of international giving. See below the top 5 questions our donors have asked about QCDs. If you have a traditional (non-Roth) IRA, at age 73 you are required to start taking money in disbursements called Required… CONTINUE READING >>
5 Things to Know this Charitable Giving Season
This time of year is often known for the changing colors of the leaves, preparations for family gatherings, and the beginning of the holiday season. More importantly, it’s also the time for many Americans to make their charitable gifts before the end of the year. If you’re considering making some gifts this season, here are… CONTINUE READING >>
Substantiating and Reporting Charitable Contributions: Requirements from the IRS
Effective July 30, 2018, the IRS published final regulations for Substantiation and Reporting Requirements for Cash and Noncash Charitable Contribution Deductions. These updates guide individuals, partnerships, and corporations making charitable contributions on how these contributions should be substantiated and reported in order for them to be legally tax-deductible. These regulations clarify existing regulations by adding new… CONTINUE READING >>
Is your Organization Compliant to Solicit Charitable Gifts in the U.S.?
The United States is a key source of funding for charitable organizations and causes across the globe, but soliciting donations in the US can be a complex and burdensome process. To start, let’s stay within the US borders. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) certifies the creation and oversees the activities of all charitable organizations in… CONTINUE READING >>
Celebrating International Cat Day and Global Conservation Efforts
August 8th is International Cat Day! This day is a celebration of one of the animals most widely-beloved by humans: the cat! Since 2002 when the day was instituted by animal welfare groups, many of us cat fans take the time to do something special on August 8th. Whether it’s simply showing some extra love… CONTINUE READING >>
Giving to India? Compliance with the Newly Amended FCRA
Published on November 23, 2020 and Updated March 25, 2022 In Brief Donors in the United States may not give directly to nonprofits located in India and receive a tax deduction in the United States. By giving through a 501(c)(3) public charity, such as CAF America, US donors can make tax effective donations to any… CONTINUE READING >>
A Recap of IGS18
Some of the IGS18 Delegates in front of the Washington Monument! “The legal environment impacting cross-border giving is changing, and sadly not always for the better. But such laws are just part of a larger picture, an ever-changing tapestry of environments, both domestically and around the world, that impact our work.Changes to our field can… CONTINUE READING >>
11 Facts About Donor Advised Funds and Private Foundations
When evaluating options for best structuring charitable giving, donors often wish to assess the differences and benefits offered by creating a private foundation or opening a donor advised fund (DAF). While private foundations and DAFs enable strategic and tax-effective charitable giving, they differ enough that they can appeal to different types of donors, be more… CONTINUE READING >>
Giving to Canadian Charities? Make Sure You’re in Compliance
From time to time, our conversations with donor clients or charity partners reveal certain misconceptions within the philanthropic sector. One issue that continues to surface is that giving to Canadian charities is easy. Alas, it isn’t so simple. This piece addresses the erroneous belief that grantmaking into Canada does not require any due diligence. While… CONTINUE READING >>
Beyond the Medals
By Alisha Greenberg, Founder of Rounding Third, LLC If you are anything like me, you were glued to the television much of this month following the action in PyeongChang. I look forward to the Olympics as a sports fan and even more so as a sports impact leader. Sports impact, or the benefit that sports… CONTINUE READING >>
Is your Organization Compliant to Solicit Charitable Gifts in the U.S.?
The United States is a key source of funding for charitable organizations and causes across the globe, but soliciting donations in the US can be a complex and burdensome process. To start, let’s stay within the US borders. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) certifies the creation and oversees the activities of all charitable organizations in… CONTINUE READING >>
The Latest from the IRS on DAFs, Donor Pledges, and other Donor Benefits
The IRS released an important notice regarding donor advised funds (DAFs) on December 4th, 2017 and has begun soliciting public comments on a number of issues concerning distributions from DAFs. While at this time only Section 4 has been posted by the IRS as guidance taxpayers may currently rely on, there is much to learn… CONTINUE READING >>
IRS Provides New “Checklist” to Determine Whether a Foreign Charity Qualifies to Receive Tax-Deductible Gifts from Americans without Triggering an Excise Tax
For the first time, the IRS has clearly defined and expanded upon what tax attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents should take into consideration when facilitating cross-border gifts to foreign charities. Read the full article on Bloomberg BNA Software Be sure to listen to our Radio show, “What You Need To Know About: New IRS Guidelines… CONTINUE READING >>
Intermediary Organizations (IOs) and Corporate Giving: Partnerships That Can Add Value and Increase Impact
By Chris Park, Corporate Giving Consultant For the more than 25 years that I have worked in corporate philanthropy I have repeatedly had people comment, “How hard can THAT job be?” Yes, directing where a company donates its charitable contributions is a great job, but it isn’t an easy one. And it is made harder… CONTINUE READING >>
Granting to China Made “Easy?”
The China Overseas NGO Management Law, officially the “Law of the People’s Republic of China on Administration of Activities of Overseas Nongovernmental Organizations in the Mainland of China” went into effect January 1, 2017. The law requires that foreign NGOs coordinate their efforts with the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) and provides the framework within… CONTINUE READING >>
CAF America Hosts Diaspora Philanthropy Summit
On November 2nd-3rd, CAF America had the immense honor of hosting its Diaspora Philanthropy Summit at the organizational headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. With CAF Canada and Boston University’s Pardee School of Global Studies African Studies Center as partners, the Summit brought together representatives from diaspora groups from across the world and served as an incubator for… CONTINUE READING >>
Donor Advised Funds for Retirees: Planned Giving and Bequests
We are about to witness the largest-ever transfer of wealth between generations. Charitable giving has been steadily increasing during the past few years and there is a strong chance that the wealth of the Baby Boomer generation will result in the largest philanthropic boom seen since the era of Rockefeller and Carnegie. The difference being… CONTINUE READING >>
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance for Grantmakers: The Good, The Bad and The Regulatory
A recent announcement by the Financial Action Task Force, or FATF, is giving the charitable sector new reason to celebrate. For years, governments have cautioned potential donors that the entire charitable sector, made up primarily of Nonprofit Organizations (NPOs), is at a greater risk for being used to commit money laundering and other illegal activities…. CONTINUE READING >>
Charity Spotlight: Haribon Foundation
In Philippine Tagalog, Haribon means King of the Birds. Within the archipelago nation, there lives a true Haribon – one of the largest, most powerful, and rarest birds in the world – the Philippine Eagle. The majestic bird makes its home along the lush forests and coastlines of the Philippine archipelago – one of the… CONTINUE READING >>
