Newsletters

Global Philanthropy Update - October 2024

Thursday, October 24, 2024 - 1:57 pm

Brian Kastner

Greetings Friend,

The outcome of the upcoming U.S. election may reshape the landscape in which we work, affecting funding priorities, policy directions, and the communities we serve.

Kathleen Enright, President and CEO at the Council, recently published an op-ed highlighting the crucial role global grantmakers must play in ensuring grassroots organizations have the resources they need to continue essential work. With potential shifts in government support, our commitment to these organizations and to being more locally led is vital.

If you’d like to join peers in understanding how the election may impact philanthropy, including foreign aid and U.S. presence abroad, join us for Looking to 2025: Making Sense of the Elections, featuring Amy Walter, editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report on November 14. Amy will discuss what the election results could mean for philanthropy, followed by insights from foundation leaders on how the new administration and Congress might shape policy.

After the election, the Council will continue working with federal partners in Washington to ensure philanthropic engagement in the new administration. Regardless of election results, we'll continue to champion the work of global grantmakers and the ability of agencies like USAID to partner effectively with philanthropy.

All the best,

Natalie Ross Vice President of Membership, Development, and Finance natalie.ross@cof.org	Brian Kastner Director of Engagement brian.kastner@cof.org

Global Resources from the Council

Philanthropy at UNGA and Climate Week

Last month, global leaders met in New York for the U.N. General Assembly and NYC Climate Week to address urgent challenges like climate change, revitalizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and global conflicts.

At the heart of many discussions was a central question: What role can philanthropy play in driving systemic change on complex global issues? Here’s some of what we heard:

Partnering with Government: At a Council-hosted roundtable, philanthropic leaders discussed collaborating with governments on foreign assistance, locally led development, and U.S. global engagement. As countries reduce foreign aid to focus on domestic issues, philanthropy can advocate for continued international and multilateral efforts.
Championing Global Values: With global institutions under strain and geopolitical tensions rising, philanthropy can uphold peace, justice, and sustainable development by filling gaps where international bodies may falter.
Urgency to achieve the SDGs: With five years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world is struggling to reach most targets. Cross-sector collaboration—among governments, the private sector, and civil society—is crucial if the SDGs will have any chance of progress.
Preparing for the Post-2030 Agenda World: The “Pact for the Future” adopted at UNGA is a roadmap for multilateral action on governance, peace, gender equity, and justice through 2030 and beyond. The Council recently joined WINGS and OECD in a statement calling for philanthropy’s engagement in global frameworks and collaborations, like Pact for the Future.

CouncilUNGARoundtable-1

Photo: Council on Foundations Roundtable | UNGA 2024

Join the Global Movement: #PhilanthropyForClimate

Over 800 foundations worldwide have already committed to taking urgent action on climate change through the #PhilanthropyForClimate movement, which is coordinated globally by WINGS. We invite U.S. funders to consider joining peers from around the world who are committed to integrating climate considerations into their own operations and programs, as well as in the investment of their endowments. Learn more about becoming a signatory and access key tools to make your commitment real, like case studies and an implementation guide.

Global Legal and Regulatory Updates

United States

Ways and Means Chair Sends Letters to IRS Commissioner: House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) sent a series of letters to IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel calling for the revocation of tax-exempt status of several nonprofit organizations. The Chairman’s letters claim that these organizations have violated their tax-exempt purposes. This comes after over a year of attention to the tax-exempt sector from the Ways and Means Committee, including additional letters and investigations.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on Anti-NGO Laws and Other Tools of Democratic Repression. Witnesses raised concerns about rising authoritarianism, particularly for civil society organizations abroad. Douglas Rutzen, CEO of the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, urged the Committee to ensure that any legislation impacting civil society working its way through Congress “safeguard civil society and philanthropy, both internationally and at home.”

Bulgaria

Bulgaria’s far-right Revival party is renewing a push to implement a foreign agent law, along with calls to withdraw from NATO.

European Union

The E.U. plans to cut €2 billion in development funding, significantly reducing aid to low-income countries, particularly in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Georgia

Nine NGOs have been added to the country’s registry of foreign agents after the law came into effect a few months ago. The law, which faces multiple legal challenges, saw waves of protests in the country and was initially vetoed by the president.

India

The Ministry of Home Affairs has yet again extended the FCRA validity period, this time until December 31, 2024.

Locally Led Development

We continue to support funders who are realizing commitments to be more locally led in their international work. Here are a few resources to support you:

Our Locally Led Development resource hub provides valuable insights and resources on making this transition.
Peter Laugharn, CEO of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, discusses the push for more locally led development through greater donor funding, power-sharing, and collaboration with local partners