Greetings Friend,

We continue to track shifting policies in the U.S. and abroad that affect global funders and cross-border grantmaking. Below are important updates and opportunities to connect with peers navigating these same dynamics.

Upcoming at the Council

LATAM & Caribbean Funders: Navigating FTO Designations, Sanctions & Anti-NGO Regulations

Join us on July 11 at 11:00 a.m. ET to gather with peer LATAM & Caribbean funders. We’ll dive into the latest legal and regulatory shifts, including OFAC actions and anti-NGO laws impacting Haiti and Mexico. Connect with peers and learn how other funders are adapting across complex contexts.

Please email victoria.mendez@cof.org for registration details.

Global Grantmaking Essentials Fall Training

Don’t miss our final Global Grantmaking Essentials training of 2025! Shifting policies, shrinking aid budgets, and uncertainty are redefining global grantmaking. Our three-day virtual training on November 12, 13, and 19 will immerse you in regulatory updates, hands-on strategies, and peer networking. Learn more and register.

Legal and Regulatory Resources

Global Development in Transition: U.S. Cuts and International Response

• Mapping the $8.3 billion cut to foreign aid in FY 2026: Proposed cuts would reduce U.S. aid from over $40 billion to about $4 billion, an 83 percent drop. Food security, maternal health, and disease-prevention programs in fragile states stand to lose critical support, putting millions of people at risk.
• Latin American Funders are Filling Sudden Funding Voids: As U.S. aid contracts leave a $200 million shortfall, Brazilian and Latin American philanthropists are diversifying revenue, forging South-to-South partnerships, and pooling regional resources to keep social-impact work alive. This regional cooperation aims to sustain initiatives when traditional donor pipelines dry up.
• USAID Funding Freeze Derails Civil-Society Programs: The March 2025 suspension of USAID funding forced peacebuilding and anti-gang initiatives in Colombia’s poorest regions to pause overnight. Local NGOs caution that halting these projects now could reverse years of progress under the 2016 FARC peace deal and leave communities without essential social services.

Global Legal and Regulatory Updates 

• U.S. Terror Designation of Haitian Gangs Risks Crippling NGO Access: In May 2025, the U.S. designated two major Haitian gangs — Viv Ansam and Gran Grif — as terrorist organizations, aiming to cut off their financing. NGOs warn that nuanced enforcement is crucial, because without it, “aid delivery could grind to a halt,” leaving vulnerable populations dependent on armed groups.
• Peru’s Anti-NGO Law: Peru’s Congress granted the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation broad powers to audit, regulate, and suspend any NGO receiving foreign funding. Critics warn this mirrors authoritarian tactics, criminalizing transparency and curbing freedom of association.
• Zimbabwe’s PVO Amendment Act: Zimbabwe’s Parliament amended the Private Voluntary Organization Act to require NGOs to obtain state approval for any foreign funding, submit annual police-clearance certificates, and secure government permission for international grants. The European Union paused 2025 funding, warning the law “undermines democratic principles” and risks choking off humanitarian aid.
• New Syria General License: With OFAC’s General License 25 now in effect, American investment and banking ties with Syria are back on the table. For nonprofits and philanthropies, this means a much clearer path to fund health, education, and rebuilding efforts under straightforward authorization rules.
• Hungary proposed “Sovereignty Protection” Law: The newly introduced bill empowers the “Sovereignty Protection Office” to blacklist NGOs receiving foreign funds, block donations, and conduct intrusive inspections. Critics argue the measure “parallels Russia’s foreign-agent law” and could be used to shutter independent media and civil-society groups under vague claims of “undermining national values.” 

Keep in Touch!

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