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ICF: A Case Study of International Giving to Mexico. Richard Kiy International Community Foundation Reunión Annual de CEMEFI Nov. 27., 2002. International Community Foundation (ICF). Established in 1990 Grew out of a donor advised fund at San Diego Foundation
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ICF: A Case Study of International Giving to Mexico Richard Kiy International Community Foundation Reunión Annual de CEMEFI Nov. 27., 2002
International Community Foundation (ICF) • Established in 1990 • Grew out of a donor advised fund at San Diego Foundation • FY-02 grantmaking: $895,000; 49 grants. • Geographic focus: Asia and the Americas • Country specialties: Mexico • Other grantmaking experience: China, India, Ecuador, Canada, Guatemala and Afghanistan. • Strategic relationship with Fundación Internacional de la Communidad (FIC) en Baja California. • Binational board (3 board members are Mexican Nationals plus the Consul General of Mexico-San Diego)
The role of the ICF: • Assists family foundations, community foundations, corporations and individual donors with charitable giving abroad; • Undertakes necessary due diligence and follow up to make an overseas grant tax deductible and to insure that donor is maximizing his/her social return on investment; • Provides research support for donors exploring possible international giving opportunities and community based needs.
ICF Donor Profile Donors are varied, but they all share one thing in common, a desire to make a difference beyond our borders. Some of our donors include: • Immigrants with ties to their communities of origin; • Companies and individual investors with business ties/interests overseas; • U.S. retirees with vacation homes in Mexico. • Former expatriates or volunteers (including Peace Corps) that want to re-connect with the overseas communities where they once lived; • Individuals inspired by their overseas travel experience; • Californians with Mexico border specific interests; • Interest in foreign affairs.
Service Offerings • Donor Advised funds • Min. initial contribution: US$5,000 • Field of Interest funds • Sea of Cortez Fund • Baja California Disaster Relief Fund • Border Environmental Fund • Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs); • International Charitable Expenses; • International Employee Giving Programs (e.g. Sempra); • Customized research support for overseas charitable giving programs
Typical Donor International Giving Concerns: • Uncertainty over tax deductibility; • US-Mexico Tax Treaty of 1996 limits giving to a donor´s Mexican sourced income unless they use an intermediary like ICF • Limited knowledge of applicable laws and regulations a in recipient countries; • Language and cultural barriers; • Challenges in finding qualified non-profits overseas for a donor’s specific interests; • Costs of doing required due diligence for potential grantees; • Concerns about corruption; • Fear of the unknown.
FY-02 Mexico Grants • Other states include:Chihuhua and Coahuila • FECHAC 1:1 match for Chihuhua
Corporate Giving—Sempra Energy • Provides U.S. Parent company with a philanthropic vehicle to support its Mexican operations while receiving tax benefit in the US. • Supports Mexican subsidiaries: Ecogas and Sempra Mexico • Grantmaking through Sempra International Community Investment Fund at ICF • Philanthropic initiatives currently being undertaken in Baja California; Coahuila, and Chihuhua where the company does business. • Projects funded: Children/youth; environment; health; education.
Ties that Bind Us • Program links U.S. Migrant communities with their communities of origin in Mexico. • Initial work with COCIO, a hometown association of Oaxaqueños living in San Diego with roots in the Valle Central de Mexico. • Micro-credit program in El Trapiche. • Currently also working migrant community from Zamora, Mich and with California wine grower on a possible employee matching fund program.
Dr. Juan Hernandez , ICF Board Member Dr. Raul Hinojosa and project leader, Elsa Payo at community greenhouse, El Trapiche.
Reasons to Give Internationally • Through ICF the tax benefits are the same as giving to a domestic non-profit • The needs are great • Majority of the world's population live on less than two US dollars a day. • 20% of Mexican population live in conditions of extreme poverty • High Impact • A dollar goes a lot farther in the developing world than in the US. • Growing inter-dependencies • In an age of increased interconnection and migration Americans are becoming more aware about the need to give beyond the border • For a growing number of Americans international giving begins with Mexico.
For more information visit: www.icfdn.org