Compare ways to give internationally

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

Available to:

U.S.-Based Charities that Work Overseas

All Giving Accounts

U.S.-Based Intermediary Organizations

All Giving Accounts

Fidelity Charitable Direct International Grant (DIG) Program

Private Donor Group Giving Accounts1

Organization examples:

U.S.-Based Charities that Work Overseas

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

U.S.-Based Intermediary Organizations
Fidelity Charitable Direct International Grant (DIG) Program

International charities, recommended by a donor and vetted by the Fidelity Charitable due diligence process2

What are these organizations, and what do they do?

U.S.-Based Charities that Work Overseas

501(c)(3) organizations in the United States that support work outside of the United States

U.S.-Based Intermediary Organizations

501(c)(3) organizations in the United States that facilitate making and monitoring grants to foreign organizations

Fidelity Charitable Direct International Grant (DIG) Program

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

Estimated turnaround time

U.S.-Based Charities that Work Overseas

2–10 business days

U.S.-Based Intermediary Organizations

3-4 weeks for organizations recently vetted by the intermediary

12 weeks or longer for organizations that need to be re-vetted or that are new to the intermediary

Fidelity Charitable Direct International Grant (DIG) 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 Charitable3

Grant minimum

U.S.-Based Charities that Work Overseas

$50

U.S.-Based Intermediary Organizations

Intermediary dependent, typically $50+

Fidelity Charitable Direct International Grant (DIG) Program

$10,000

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

Fees4

U.S.-Based Charities that Work Overseas

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 (DIG) Program

Grant process

U.S.-Based Charities that Work Overseas

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

U.S.-Based Intermediary Organizations

Donor finds the organization they wish to partner with on the intermediary website or may also contact intermediary with any specific questions

Recommend a Fidelity Charitable grant to the intermediary organization and specify the foreign organization as a custom designation

Fidelity Charitable Direct International Grant (DIG) 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 that Work Overseas

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

Easiest option for supporting foreign organizations that have already partnered with an intermediary organization

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 (DIG) 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, as applicable

Each grant is reviewed individually

Fidelity Charitable may not be able to make the grant, depending upon the paperwork provided by the foreign organization

1Excludes Giving Accounts that have been funded by contributions from a corporation.

2Grant recommendations 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.

3Grant turnaround time is estimated; actual turnaround time can vary based on a variety of factors.

4Intermediary 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.