The International Journal
of Not-for-Profit Law
Volume 3, Issue 1, September 2000
To promote and facilitate international grantmaking, the Council on Foundations, in collaboration with the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL), recently launched the United States International Grantmaking (USIG) website, www.usig.org
| A growing number of American foundations are beginning to consider funding activities outside the United States. But US laws governing philanthropy are complex and demanding, and the process of funding cross-border activities can be intimidating for grantmakers. |
“Thank you so much for this website. As a family foundation committed to helping children affected by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, we have found it most helpful.” The Firelight Foundation |
The USIG website serves both grantmakers and grantseekers, highlighting pertinent US laws and regulations, outlining the options available for different types of foundation, and providing useful forms along with instructions. In addition, the site offers information about the legal framework for grantmaking in specfic countries. Country notes are currently available for Mexico, Brazil, South Africa and Hungary. The United Kingdom, China, Argentina and Costa Rica will be added soon, with others to follow.
The new website is a result of the Council’s United States Giving Abroad Project, which aims to publicize, explain and simplify US laws and regulations governing cross-border grantmaking. The project steering committee is chaired by Richard Rappleye of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and Cornelia Higginson of the American Express Philanthropic Program.
The USIG website is a ‘work in progress’, with information continually being updated and expanded. It is currently supported by grants from members of the Council on Foundations and offered as a free service to members and non-members alike.
Since 1 May when the site was demonstrated at the Council’s annual conference in Los Angeles, feedback has been encouraging. The Firelight Foundation, for example, recently emailed, ‘Thank you so much for this website. As a family foundation committed to helping children affected by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, we have found it most helpful.’
Comments concerning the site are welcomed and can be emailed to usig@cof.org
This column was written by Rob Buchanan, Director, International Programs, Council on Foundations and originally appeared in Alliance.
Tel +1 202 467 0391
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Email buchr@cof.org
Website www.cof.org
This article originally appeared in Alliance, a publication of the Charities Aid Foundation. For more information on Alliance, please contact Caroline Hartnell at crhartnell@aol.com.