Supporting organizations abroad - what to bear in mind when donating

An education project in South Africa, an environmental group in Brazil, a humanitarian initiative in Ukraine: many people want to support nonprofits abroad. Often it starts with a personal encounter, a family connection or a deep interest in a particular social issue.

But anyone who wants to send money to an organization abroad quickly runs into questions. Is the organization a recognized nonprofit? Is my donation tax-deductible? Who issues the tax receipt? And how can I be sure the money is used as intended?

The good news: giving internationally doesn't have to be complicated. Beyond a simple wire transfer, there are specialized charitable structures that handle the tax and administrative work. Platforms like bcause make it possible to support organizations around the world without having to manage cross-border grants yourself.

This article explains the tax rules for donations made from Germany, the options available and how international philanthropy works in practice.

Note: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not replace individual legal or tax advice.

📚 In This Article

1. Are donations abroad tax-deductible?

2. What are the options for giving abroad?

3. Giving internationally with bcause: One platform, organizations worldwide

4. International giving in practice: Four scenarios

5. What does an international donation through bcause cost?

6. What other providers support international giving?

7. FAQ: Giving abroad

8. The bottom line: Give globally without the administrative burden

1. Are Donations Abroad Tax-Deductible?

To qualify for a tax deduction in Germany, a donation has to meet the requirements of German tax law. Nonprofit status in another country isn't enough on its own.

The key distinction is between giving directly to a foreign organization and giving through an organization with tax-exempt status in Germany.

Donations to Organizations in the EU and EEA

Donations to nonprofits in other member states of the European Union or the European Economic Area can be tax-deductible in Germany under certain conditions.

To qualify, the organization must meet standards consistent with German nonprofit law.

As of January 1, 2025, direct donations to these organizations are deductible only if the organization is also listed in Germany's Register of Donation Recipients (Zuwendungsempfängerregister). Organizations apply for registration with the Federal Central T ax Office (BZSt). Once approved, they can issue donation receipts in the official German format.

For donors, this means a deduction is possible in principle—as long as the foreign organization meets the requirements and provides the necessary receipt.

Donations to Organizations Outside the EU and EEA

Direct donations to organizations outside the EU and EEA are a different story.

A gift made directly to a nonprofit in South Africa, India or Brazil, for example, is generally not tax-deductible in Germany—even if the organization is an officially recognized charity in its home country.

That doesn't mean tax-advantaged support for these organizations is off the table.

What matters is the structure the donation goes through.

A foundation or other tax-exempt nonprofit in Germany can fund organizations and projects abroad, as long as it meets the legal requirements. The donor gives to the German nonprofit, which then takes responsibility for the international grant.

This principle is also at the core of international giving with bcause.

2. What Are the Options for Giving Abroad?

There are three main ways to support an organization abroad. They differ mainly in tax treatment, administrative effort and how much flexibility they offer in choosing a recipient.

Option 1: Give Directly to a Foreign Organization

The simplest route is often a direct transfer to the organization.

This works well when the organization is familiar, its credibility has already been established and a tax deduction isn't a priority.

The donor is on their own, though, when it comes to figuring out what documentation is available, which tax rules apply and whether international payments carry extra fees.

Option 2: Give Through a German Nonprofit

Another option is to donate to a tax-exempt organization in Germany that operates abroad or works with local partners there.

This is common in humanitarian aid and disaster relief . Organizations like Doctors Without Borders, UNICEF Germany and the German Red Cross use donations for international programs.

The donation goes to the German organization, which is responsible for making sure the funds are used for charitable purposes.

The tradeoff: this route doesn't necessarily allow donors to support any local initiative they choose. They're usually limited to the programs and partners of the organization they give to.

Option 3: Give Through Specialized Infrastructure

Donors who want to support a specific organization abroad can turn to specialized providers.

These providers accept tax-deductible donations, vet foreign recipient organizations and then make the grant.

The advantage: donors don't have to navigate the legal and administrative requirements of a cross-border grant on their own.

bcause goes beyond processing one-off donations abroad. The platform combines international grantmaking with a digital foundation account, investment options and tools for collaborative and long-term giving.

3. Giving Internationally with bcause: One Platform, Organizations Worldwide

With bcause, individuals, families and companies can give with a locally recognized tax receipt and support nonprofits around the world.

More than 500,000 nonprofits are already listed on the platform, and additional organizations can be nominated for funding.

For international giving, bcause brings together the charitable structures, partners and administrative processes needed. This makes it possible to fund organizations that can't issue a tax receipt recognized under German law.

How It W orks: The Donation and the Grant Are Separate

The model separates the tax-deductible donation from the later grant to the chosen organization.

In Germany, the donation goes to the bcause Treuhandstiftung, a nonprofit trust foundation, which issues the donation receipt.

The foundation then makes the grant to the foreign organization, with bcause coordinating the required due diligence and administration.

The recipient must meet the requirements for charitable funding, so its eligibility is reviewed before any funds are paid out.

The key advantage: the donor's tax deduction doesn't depend on whether the final recipient can issue a German tax receipt itself .

Two Ways to Give Internationally

One-time direct donation

Donors who want to support a specific organization can make a one-time direct donation through bcause to any organization already listed on the platform. No digital foundation account required.

bcause coordinates the international grant and handles the processing through its charitable structures.

Digital foundation account

For donors who give regularly, support multiple organizations or want to commit larger amounts to charity over time, a digital foundation account on bcause is the better fit. It works much like a donor-advised fund.

Funds are first irrevocably committed to charitable purposes. Decisions about which organizations to support, and when, can come later.

In the meantime, the balance can be invested within the foundation structure, bringing charitable capital, investment and future grantmaking together in one place.

There's no need to set up a private foundation.

Learn more about the bcause digital foundation account

Local Tax Receipts in 19 Countries

International philanthropy is no longer just a concern for people living in Germany.

Through its international partner network, bcause currently offers local tax receipts in 19 countries, including Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Australia.

Depending on the country, the tax-deductible donation is made through a local partner. Grants can then go to eligible organizations anywhere in the world.

In other words, the 19 countries refer to where donors can get a local tax receipt—not to where recipient organizations can be based.

Tax treatment depends on each country's requirements. The network is continually growing.

Learn more about international giving with bcause

4. International Giving in Practice: Four Scenarios

The best way to structure international giving depends on the situation. A one-time gift calls for something different than long-term philanthropy or managing multiple grants.

Supporting a Local Organization Abroad

While traveling in South Africa, a donor discovers a small education initiative. Back home in Germany, she wants to keep supporting its work.

She could send a direct transfer, but it generally wouldn't count as a tax-deductible donation under German law.

Through bcause, she can nominate the organization for funding. Once its eligibility is confirmed, the grant can be processed through the charitable structure.

That way, she can fund a specific local initiative without it having to qualify to issue a German tax receipt.

Funding Multiple International Projects Over Time

An entrepreneur wants to set aside a significant amount for charity each year. Supporting organizations in different countries matters to him, but he wants to decide how to allocate the funds over the course of the year.

With a digital foundation account on bcause, he can commit the money to charity up front and make grant decisions later.

The balance can be invested until it's granted out, and bcause coordinates the individual grants.

This means the tax-deductible donation, the investment and the grant decision don't have to happen at the same time.

Giving Together as an International Family

A family is spread across Germany, Switzerland and the United States. T ogether, they want to support a nonprofit working in an African country.

With direct transfers, each family member would have to figure out whether, and under what conditions, their donation is deductible in their own country.

Through bcause's international partner network, each of them can give through the local structure available to them, while the joint grant is coordinated in one place.

The result: shared philanthropy across borders, without everyone having to give from the same country.

Managing International Philanthropy for Clients

A family office advises several families who want to support organizations and projects in different countries.

Beyond choosing the right recipients, tax treatment, documentation and administration all play a major role.

With bcause, advisors can manage multiple digital foundation accounts from a single login and coordinate international grants.

This creates shared infrastructure for philanthropy while keeping each account and its grant decisions separate.

5. What Does an International Donation Through bcause Cost?

International giving can involve a range of costs—for vetting the recipient, handling

administration and processing cross-border payments, for example.

International grants through bcause carry a fee of 2% of the grant amount. This covers coordination and administration of the cross-border grant through bcause and its international partner network.

Depending on the transaction, currency conversion fees and a flat €20 processing and due diligence fee may also apply.

bcause charges no transaction fees for donations within Germany.

When comparing costs, it pays to look beyond the transaction fee. Handling an international grant independently can also mean legal review, gathering required documents and managing the administration.

6. What Other Providers Support International Giving?

bcause isn't the only option. Several other organizations and networks also facilitate cross-border giving.

Maecenata Foundation

Through its Transnational Giving program, the Maecenata Foundation enables donors to support nonprofits abroad. Its services include vetting recipient organizations and processing grants.

Transnational Giving Europe

Transnational Giving Europe is a network of nonprofit partner organizations that makes cross-border giving within Europe easier. It connects national charitable structures so donors can support organizations in other European countries and still receive a tax benefit.

DSZ International Giving Organisation

DSZ processes international donations and reviews the eligibility of foreign organizations, offering another route for cross-border giving.

The right solution depends mainly on where the donor lives, where the recipient organization is based and what kind of giving is involved.

While specialized donation transfer services focus on processing individual grants, bcause pairs that process with digital infrastructure for managing philanthropy over the long term.

7. FAQ: Giving Abroad

Can I donate to an organization outside Europe and get a German tax receipt?

A direct donation to an organization outside the EU or EEA is generally not tax-deductible in Germany.

Tax-advantaged support is still possible, however, through a recognized German nonprofit that then makes a legally compliant grant abroad.

Does the foreign organization have to be recognized as a nonprofit in Germany?

For a direct, tax-deductible donation to an organization elsewhere in the EU or EEA, the organization must meet German requirements and be listed in the Register of Donation Recipients.

Different rules apply when the grant is made through a German nonprofit. In that case, the German organization is responsible for making sure the funds are used for eligible charitable purposes.

Can I use bcause to support an organization that isn't listed on the platform yet?

Y es. Additional organizations can be nominated for funding. Their eligibility has to be reviewed before any payout, and not every nominated organization will qualify.

Do I need a digital foundation account to give internationally?

No. Organizations already listed on bcause can also be supported with a one-time direct donation.

A digital foundation account makes the most sense when funds are meant to be set aside, invested or distributed to different organizations over time.

Can I give together with people in other countries?

Yes. Joint grants can be organized through the international partner network. Local tax receipts are currently available in 19 countries. Whether, and to what extent, a donation is tax-deductible depends on each country's laws.

How long does an international grant take?

It depends on several factors, including whether the organization has already been vetted, what documents are required and what legal or administrative requirements apply in the country involved.

Grants to organizations that are already known and vetted are typically easier to process than first-time grants.

The Bottom Line: Give Globally Without the Administrative Burden

There are more ways than ever to support a nonprofit abroad. The right one depends on the recipient, the donor's tax situation and the scale of the giving.

A direct transfer may be all that's needed for a one-time gift. Donors who want a tax deduction, or who plan to give internationally on a regular, structured basis, often benefit from specialized charitable infrastructure.

bcause combines international grant processing with a full digital platform for philanthropy. From a single grant to a local initiative to long-term management of charitable funds, every form of giving can be organized in one place.

The result: international philanthropy that's more accessible—for individual donors as well as families, companies and professional advisors.

Support international organizations with bcause

Learn how international giving works with bcause, or talk through a specific project with our team.

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As of October 2026. Unless otherwise noted, tax information applies to donors residing in Germany. This article does not constitute legal or tax advice.