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Expand Your International Nonprofit Organization’s Presence to Attract U.S. Funders

  • November 8, 2018

607493026-blogDuring my 10 years teaching and training nonprofits around the world, I have found that some of the biggest challenges they grapple with in seeking funding are related to differentiating themselves from the plethora of other great causes in the market; establishing their legitimacy in a field in which the few fraudulent ones have created fear, uncertainty and doubt in the minds of donors; and identifying which donors could potentially be interested in their cause, have the capacity to give and are accessible.

If you ask any group of U.S.-based foundations their primary source of information about a nonprofit with which they are unfamiliar most of them will likely say that they google to find out about them.  In the case of international nonprofits looking to raise funds in the U.S., the strength of their digital presence is critical in that it helps to convey the credibility of the organization, in the absence of a physical location the U.S. for funders to easily visit.  

In a market that has over 1.5 million nonprofits, an international nonprofit looking to differentiate themselves without the advantage of having operations or programming in the U.S. need to leverage digital channels to convey their unique value proposition to compel support.  An effective digital presence for any nonprofit organization conveys a sense of trustworthiness, authenticity and clarity of purpose to the funders.

International nonprofits also need to be able to utilize resources available to them online, such as GrantSpace, to learn about the U.S.-based foundations that would potentially be interested in funding them. FDO is a key resource to discovering U.S. funders and unlocking the giving priorities of U.S. foundations that may be aligned with the causes of international nonprofits. Finding out who among them are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as SDG Funders, can help nonprofits to engage with funders online, as a means to potentially enter into their respective grantmaking processes.

Additionally, international nonprofits seeking to access U.S.-based foundations most likely need to establish a presence in the U.S., given that almost 70% of U.S. grants are made to U.S.-based intermediaries, whereas only 12% of them are made directly to international organizations in their local countries (source).  There are four paths international nonprofits can take to legally access U.S.-based funding:

  1. Equivalency Determination
  2. Expenditure Responsibility
  3. Fiscal Sponsorship
  4. Establishment of a 501(c) 3 organization

In the November 15th webinar, Expand Your International Organization’s Presence to Attract U.S. Funders, I will draw on my experience working with international nonprofits and helping nonprofits to establish their presence in the U.S. and online, to provide some you with practical strategies and tips to enable your international nonprofit to most effectively access U.S.-based foundations and to put its best foot forward when engaging with them. Register today!

Elizabeth Ngonzi

Adjunct Faculty, New York University Center for Global Affairs

Elizabeth Ngonzi is an experienced executive, award-winning human rights advocate, and seasoned educator dedicated to enabling youth and women worldwide to reach their full potential. She does so by developing platforms that enable them to reach their potential. Learn more about Elizabeth Ngonzi here.

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  • Amos Jabulane says:

    December 4, 2023 4:47 pm

    Good evening I'm chairperson of VIP Batau sports academy Mr Amos Jabulane Mathebula VIP is registered NPO organization sports academy based in south Africa I don't comment we are looking Grant or funding and sponsorship

  • Kate, Digital Communications Manager, Candid says:

    January 4, 2023 4:09 pm

    You can learn more about the partnerships that Candid offers on our website: become a partner.

  • Nkwachukwu Promise says:

    January 2, 2023 6:00 pm

    Dear Sir / Madam,  

    Promi Child's Aid Foundation is a registered non-government, non-profit, non- partisan organization in Nigeria and the Director lives in Germany and the Foundation is set up with the aim of using sports as a means for socio-economic impact (Sports as means to promote Education, Health, Development, Peace, Job Creation etc). We set up the foundation after realizing that children just roam about after school hours without doing any meaningful activity which some could be trap into social vices in our societies like drug addict stealing etc.  Again, there are a lot of talents in Sports in the world but due to lack of opportunities and exposures; they are not able to achieve their aim of being professional sportsmen and women. 

    Promi Child's Aid Foundation now have more boys and girls taking part in our sports programs which are Soccer, Handball, Volleyball , Athletics and Netball. Through our foundation some young girls and boys whose parents could not afforded Senior High School for their wards in 2017 and 2018 were given scholarships to continue their education.. We would be grateful to partner your organization to receive support for programs in the areas of educational, health, sports and job creation programs for the year. 

    Promi Child's Aid Foundation does not work in isolation but do work with local partners like schools, community clinics, community youth leaders etc to be able to achieve our aims of promoting Sports,Health,Education, Job Creation etc which are line in with United Nations Sustainable Development 

    GOAL 1 :- End Poverty in all forms everywhere,
    GOAL 2 :- Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages.
    GOAL 3 :- Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning,
    GOAL 4 :- Achieve Gender equality and empower all women and girls
    GOAL 5 :- Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all .  

    Below are our aims and objectives:-  

    • To foster, promote, teach, and develop sports 
    • To help individuals to build and develop their character as resourceful and responsible members of their community by providing opportunities through sports, for their mental, physical, social and leadership development 
    • To encourage sportsmanship. 
    • To advance the education, training and developmental skills of the deprived children and young people 
    • To improve the physical, emotional and mental well-being of children and young people by encouraging them to lead healthy lifestyles and empowering them to fulfill their potential in life no matter their backgrounds. 
    • To reduce school dropout rate especially school Children and also tackle other social issues like teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, etc. 
    • To increase children and youth school enrollment. 
    • To provide basic apprenticeship and vocational skills, training or re-training 
    • To provide information on career development opportunities   

    Please we will be glad to know if there is any possible way we can make partnership. 

    Thanks... 

    Best Regards.
    PROMI CHILD'S AID FOUNDATION
    Team 
    https://www.promichildsaidfoundation.com/
    [email protected]
    +2348146445847
    +491787349744