The chart below summarizes all of your options to support international charitable causes.
Organization examples
Oxfam America, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders
CAF America, Give2Asia, King Baudouin Foundation United States, “Friends of” organizations, Global Giving
International charities, recommended by a donor and vetted by the Fidelity Charitable due diligence process1
What are these organizations, and what do they do?
501(c)(3) organizations in the United States with an international focus or mission
501(c)(3) organizations in the United States that facilitate making and monitoring grants to international organizations, generally in specific world regions
A Fidelity Charitable program where a donor recommends a grant to a charitable organization outside the United States
Available to:
All Giving Accounts
All Giving Accounts
Private Donor Group Giving Accounts2
Grant recommendation parameters
Must have a specific organization in mind; grant can be made with or without a special purpose
Can be a specific organization or the intermediary can help determine a general charitable sector or region; grants should include a special purpose
Must recommend a specific charitable organization and special purpose for the grant3
Estimated turnaround time
2–10 business days
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
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
$50
As little as $500 and as much as $5,000, depending on the intermediary
$10,000
From a fee perspective, this program generally makes sense for donors recommending a grant of $25,000 or more
Fees5
No additional fees
Fees vary by intermediary
Base fees are generally a percentage of the grant
May require additional service fees
Contact a Fidelity Charitable Private Donor Group Philanthropic Strategist to discuss
Grant process
Recommend a standard Fidelity Charitable grant to the U.S.-based organization
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
Contact a Fidelity Charitable Private Donor Group Philanthropic Strategist to discuss process and grant recommendation details
Requires some donor involvement
Considerations
Easiest option for supporting international charitable causes
A limited number of charities have U.S.-based branches or supporting 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
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.
Ready to get started?
Opening a Giving Account is fast and easy, and there is no minimum initial contribution.
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