Try our demo
About us
Help Center
Open a Giving Account
Log in
Fidelity Charitable
Open a Giving Account
Log in
For companies
For advisors
For nonprofits
Try our demo
Help Center

Compare ways to give

The chart below summarizes all of your options to support international charitable causes.

Organization examples

U.S.-Based Charities with a Global Mission

Oxfam America, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders

U.S.-Based Intermediary Organizations

CAF America, Give2Asia, King Baudouin Foundation United States, “Friends of” organizations, Global Giving

Fidelity Charitable Direct International Grant Program

International charities, recommended by a donor and vetted by the Fidelity Charitable due diligence process1

What are these organizations, and what do they do?

U.S.-Based Charities with a Global Mission

501(c)(3) organizations in the United States with an international focus or mission

U.S.-Based Intermediary Organizations

501(c)(3) organizations in the United States that facilitate making and monitoring grants to international organizations, generally in specific world regions

Fidelity Charitable Direct International Grant Program

A Fidelity Charitable program where a donor recommends a grant to a charitable organization outside the United States

Available to:

U.S.-Based Charities with a Global Mission

All Giving Accounts

U.S.-Based Intermediary Organizations

All Giving Accounts

Fidelity Charitable Direct International Grant Program

Private Donor Group Giving Accounts2

Grant recommendation parameters

U.S.-Based Charities with a Global Mission

Must have a specific organization in mind; grant can be made with or without a special purpose

U.S.-Based Intermediary Organizations

Can be a specific organization or the intermediary can help determine a general charitable sector or region; grants should include a special purpose

Fidelity Charitable Direct International Grant Program

Must recommend a specific charitable organization and special purpose for the grant3

Estimated turnaround time

U.S.-Based Charities with a Global Mission

2–10 business days

U.S.-Based Intermediary Organizations

2–14 business days for funds already established by the intermediary

3–4 weeks for organizations recently vetted by the intermediary

2 months or longer for organizations that need to be re-vetted or that are new to the intermediary

Fidelity Charitable Direct International Grant Program

3–4 weeks for organizations recently vetted by Fidelity Charitable

8 weeks or longer for organizations that need to be re-vetted or that are new to Fidelity Charitable4

Grant minimum

U.S.-Based Charities with a Global Mission

$50

U.S.-Based Intermediary Organizations

As little as $500 and as much as $5,000, depending on the intermediary

Fidelity Charitable Direct International Grant Program

$10,000

From a fee perspective, this program generally makes sense for donors recommending a grant of $25,000 or more

Fees5

U.S.-Based Charities with a Global Mission

No additional fees

U.S.-Based Intermediary Organizations

Fees vary by intermediary

Base fees are generally a percentage of the grant

May require additional service fees

Fidelity Charitable Direct International Grant Program

Contact a Fidelity Charitable Private Donor Group Philanthropic Strategist to discuss

Grant process

U.S.-Based Charities with a Global Mission

Recommend a standard Fidelity Charitable grant to the U.S.-based organization

U.S.-Based Intermediary Organizations

Donor works with intermediary to determine grant details

Recommend a Fidelity Charitable grant to the intermediary with pre-defined special purpose

Requires some donor involvement

Fidelity Charitable Direct International Grant Program

Contact a Fidelity Charitable Private Donor Group Philanthropic Strategist to discuss process and grant recommendation details

Requires some donor involvement

Considerations

U.S.-Based Charities with a Global Mission

Easiest option for supporting international charitable causes

A limited number of charities have U.S.-based branches or supporting organizations

U.S.-Based Intermediary Organizations

The charity must have staff available to work with intermediary through the due diligence process and to provide annual reporting throughout the life of the grant

Fidelity Charitable Direct International Grant Program

The charity must have English-speaking staff available to work with Fidelity Charitable through the due diligence process and to provide annual reporting throughout the life of the grant

Each grant is reviewed individually

1Grants recommended must come from Fidelity Charitable account holders and can be made only to organizations outside of the United States that are the equivalent of a U.S. 501(c)(3) public charity.

2Excludes Giving Accounts that have been funded by contributions from a corporation.

3The grantee must be able to prepare and submit reports until the grant has been fully expended. Therefore, Fidelity Charitable will not consider making grants for endowments, capital campaigns, and similar purposes where there is an undeterminable time as to when the grant will be used.

4Grant turnaround time is estimated; actual turnaround time can vary based on the charity.

5Intermediary fees are assessed by the intermediary on the grant to the intermediary. Direct International Grant fees are assessed by Fidelity Charitable directly to the Giving Account.