After weeks of speculation, new reports are signaling that the Trump administration might seek to block U.S. foundations from supporting causes outside the United States. While the tagline focuses on revoking the tax-exempt status of high-profile donors, such as Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, such an executive order limiting foreign funding could have far-reaching effects for human rights globally.
As we look at the numbers, it is clear that efforts to stop U.S. foundations’ international grantmaking would be cataclysmic.
This threat comes on the heels of actions by a growing list of countries, including the United States, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, radically reducing foreign assistance. Estimated cuts amount to between $70 billion and $90 billion per year and counting – a reduction of at least a third of foreign aid globally.
About the author
Kellea Miller
Kellea Miller serves as executive director of Human Rights Funders Network, the world’s largest network of human rights funders. Kellea has worked in philanthropy for two decades as a researcher, strategist, and leader. Kellea’s writing has been featured in Inside Philanthropy, The New Humanitarian, Alliance Magazine, and The Guardian.
