Greetings Friend,

This summer, billions of people across the world have been brought together to celebrate the World Cup and created the kind of global unity that's easy to romanticize and hard to replicate. Communities and NGOs used that reach as a platform of their own, turning a month of borrowed global attention into lasting visibility for causes and communities that don't usually get the spotlight. Here are some of the inspiring stories we followed:

• FIFA held a moment of silence at every match on June 26 and 27 for the earthquakes that had just devastated Venezuela.
• Egypt's coach dedicated a knockout-round win to the Palestinian people.
• Democratic Republic of Congo returned to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, even as it battles an Ebola outbreak the WHO has declared a global health emergency and ongoing conflict with the M23 armed group.
• Haiti played after more than 50 years away, as armed gangs drive one of the world's most severe, underfunded humanitarian crises, with 1.4 million people displaced.
• Cabo Verde, one of the smallest nations ever to qualify, reached the knockout round, sparking a 5,000%+ surge in U.S. searches about the country, and 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, a former electrician who didn't turn pro until 25, made his world cup debut.

With the tournament wrapped up, that same global attention and connection is worth holding onto. There are plenty of ways to stay connected and engaged to each other and the Council in the coming months.

Upcoming Events

Biweekly Global Funder Policy Briefings (Member-Only)

Every other Friday at 10 a.m. ET, CEOs and senior staff from Council member foundations meet for a brief update on current developments affecting global grantmaking. The conversation includes updates from the Council and our partner, the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC). Our next call will take place on July 31 at 10 a.m. ET.

Please contact brian.kastner@cof.org for more information.

Regional Funder Circles

In partnership with the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL), the Council hosts candid peer conversations on the legal, regulatory, and operating trends shaping philanthropy across regions. View all of our upcoming Global Regional Funder Circles.

• Asia-Pacific Funder Circle: August 11 | 10 a.m. ET | Register
• Latin America and Caribbean Funder Circle: August 12 | 12:30 p.m. ET, featuring a Deep Dive on Beneficial Ownership Reporting Under Mexico's AML Law | Register

Global Grantmaking Essentials Training

Registration is now open for our final Global Grantmaking Essentials training of the year. Sessions will take place on October 20, 22, and 28. This three-part virtual series offers a practical look at cross-border giving, covering key regulations, tools for navigating complex environments, and the latest data shaping global philanthropy.

Learn more and register.

WINGSForum 2026

This September, our Council team heads to Montreal for WINGSForum, and we can't wait to welcome WINGS members and global funders to North America. Running September 28–30, 2026, the Forum brings together philanthropy leaders and changemakers worldwide to focus on turning intention into action amid ongoing global uncertainty.

Learn more and register.

Philanthropy and Think Tanks Joint Action in the G20 US

The Council on Foundations and WINGS are partnering with Think Tanks 20 (T20) to create collaboration opportunities for philanthropy during this year's US-hosted G20 process. Members are invited to express interest in joint initiatives including policy research, convenings, and legacy projects. This year's T20 theme focuses on knowledge and continuity for better policymaking, offering members pathways to engage thought leaders, build cross-sector alliances, and advance equity and justice.

Questions can be directed to WINGS G20 Coordinator Reon van der Merwe at g20coordinator@wingsweb.org.

Legal and Regulatory Resources

Global Development in Transition: U.S. Government Updates

• Yesterday, the House Committee on Ways and Means marked up four bills affecting the tax-exempt sector. All four bills advanced out of the Committee on party line votes. Ahead of the markup, the Council sent a letter to the Committee expressing our opposition to some of those bills, including:
  
  • H.R. 9771, the Stopping Foreign Influence in Elections Act: This would prohibit any 501(c) organization from making a grant to a "political entity" within two years of receiving a contribution from a foreign national. The bill's definition of "political entity" includes all 501(c)(4)s. As we understand it, a charitable nonprofit that receives a foreign contribution of any size could be penalized for a grant to a 501(c)(4) in the following two years, even one made for purely charitable purposes.
  • H.R. 9772, the Foreign Funding Transparency Act: This would require tax-exempt organizations to disclose aggregate foreign contributions on their Form 990s, as well as aggregate amounts from nationals of specific "foreign countries of concern." This bill requires organizations to obtain the nationality of donors for even small donations.
  • H.R. 9721, the Fiscal Sponsorship Transparency Act of 2026: This bill would establish new reporting requirements for certain fiscal sponsorship arrangements and create penalties for “improper conduit arrangements.” As drafted, its broad definition of fiscal sponsorship would create significant compliance burdens and uncertainty for charitable nonprofits.p

If your foundation's work could be directly affected by these issues, let our public policy team know at govt@cof.org. We'd like to share your story with members of Congress as the legislative process continues.

Be sure to join our Public Policy Action Network and sign up for Washington Snapshot to get regular updates on these bills and other issues affecting the sector. 

Global Legal and Regulatory Updates

• Venezuela Earthquake Response: On June 24, two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela's Caribbean coast within seconds of each other. The impact has been staggering, with over 4,000 lives lost and tens of thousands more injured or displaced. Recovery is being complicated by Venezuela's existing political and economic crisis. The Council has published a disaster resource page on the response and will continue updating it as more information becomes available.
• Uganda's Protection of Sovereignty Act: The law was signed by President Museveni in May 2026. The law criminalizes actions deemed to promote foreign interests against Uganda's own, labeling individuals or groups who receive foreign funding as "agents of foreigners" with prison sentences of up to 20 years. ICNL has published a practical guide that walks through the law's main requirements and flags issues organizations may want to monitor as implementation unfolds.
• Argentina’s new lobbying-transparency bill: Argentina's government proposed a draft "Ley de Lobby" bill in late May, requiring anyone engaging with officials on policy matters to register publicly and report contacts within five days, with criminal penalties up to four years and extra scrutiny for foreign-funded organizations. Civil society groups warned in June that its broad definitions could chill ordinary advocacy and press engagement. The bill remains in committee.
• Russia Expands Foreign Agent Oversight: Russia's State Duma passed amendments tightening oversight of "foreign agents," expanding the Justice Ministry's access to financial records, broadening ad restrictions to cover social advertising, and easing inspection and registry procedures. The changes further restrict FA-designated individuals and organizations across banking, media, and reporting requirements.

Additional News and Resources

• Stanford Social Innovation Review: Beyond USAID
• Stanford Social Innovation Review: Philanthropy Is Too Small to Save the World
• The Guardian: Developing countries spend more repaying foreign debt than on education, UN reveals
• Alliance Magazine: Donors and doers convene in Nairobi to discuss: Where should philanthropy go next?

Opinions expressed in these articles belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Council.

Updated Country Notes

We’ve updated the Council’s Country Notes for Canada, South Africa, and Uganda reflecting recent changes in foreign funding regulations, compliance requirements, and the broader operating environment for nonprofits.

Keep in Touch!

Share your organization’s impact story with us at
engagement@cof.org.

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