GlobalGiving Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Revenue: $120.9 million (FY 2023)
Total Raised Since 2002: Over $1 billion
Total Assets: $105 million
Geographic Focus: International (175+ countries)
Nonprofit Partners: 40,000+ projects supported
Corporate Partners: 89 companies (2024)

Contact Details

Website: www.globalgiving.org
Phone (US): 202.232.5784
Phone (UK): +44 (0) 207.242.8079
Email (Applications): applications@globalgiving.org
Email (Accelerator): accelerator@globalgiving.org
Email (Corporate): partners@globalgiving.org
Address: Washington, DC

Overview

GlobalGiving is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2002 by former World Bank executives Mari Kuraishi and Dennis Whittle. It operates as the first and largest global crowdfunding platform for grassroots charitable projects, connecting donors with vetted nonprofit organizations in 175+ countries. Since launch, GlobalGiving's 1.9 million donors have contributed more than $1 billion to support over 40,000 projects worldwide.

GlobalGiving operates in two primary capacities: (1) as a crowdfunding platform enabling individuals and corporations to donate directly to vetted nonprofits, and (2) as a grantmaking intermediary that helps corporations, foundations, and donors manage international giving programs. The organization is committed to "transforming aid and philanthropy to accelerate community-led change," with a particular emphasis on trust-based grantmaking and putting decision-making power in the hands of local communities.

GlobalGiving holds Charity Navigator's highest rating for financial health, accountability, and transparency, along with GuideStar's Platinum designation and BBB Wise Giving Alliance accreditation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs & Services

1. GlobalGiving Accelerator Program (For Nonprofits Joining Platform)

Virtual training program and crowdfunding campaign
No application fee or subscription fee
Nonprofits must raise at least $5,000 from minimum 40 donors to earn permanent platform membership
Fee structure: 12% nonprofit support fee plus 3% processing fee on first $5,000; 5-12% plus 3% thereafter

2. Corporate Grantmaking Services (For Companies)

Full-service international grantmaking for corporate partners
Due diligence, grant agreements, fund disbursement, and impact reporting
Customizable employee giving programs and matching gifts
Notable partners include Ford Motor Company Fund, Spanx (Red Backpack Fund), Pepsi (Refresh Project)

3. Disaster Response & Recovery Funds

Rapid response to crises (70 disasters responded to in 2024)
Nearly $16 million raised for disaster relief in 2024
Flexible grants to local organizations (e.g., $399,000 to organizations in Yemen and DRC reaching 18,000 people)

4. GlobalGiving Flex Fund

Provides unrestricted, flexible funding to vetted nonprofit partners
Addresses the gap where most aid is earmarked for narrow purposes

5. Hope in Crisis Fund

Co-designed by community leaders
Provides flexible funding to locally-led organizations in crisis-affected areas

6. Community Aid Fund

Supports local changemakers with flexible funding, tools, and training

Priority Areas

Community-led development and grassroots organizations
Disaster relief and long-term recovery
International development across all sectors
Organizations demonstrating transparency, accountability, and community impact
Projects in any country (175+ countries represented)

What They Don't Fund

Organizations that cannot demonstrate legal nonprofit registration
Organizations unable to pass due diligence requirements
Projects without a track record of implementation
Organizations unable to communicate in English
Personal bank accounts (must be organizational)
Organizations unwilling to provide quarterly donor reports

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership

Victoria Vrana - Chief Executive Officer (since January 2023)

Previously Deputy Director of Philanthropic Partnerships at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (11 years)
Former positions at Venture Philanthropy Partners, Morino Institute, and Millennium Communications
Board member of Washington Area Women's Foundation and PayPal Giving Fund

Asha Aravindakshan - Chief Operating Officer

Ingrid Embree - Managing Director

Board of Directors

Dennis Whittle - Secretary, Co-Founder; Director and Co-Founder of Feedback Labs
Mari Kuraishi - Co-Founder; President of Jessie Ball duPont Fund
John Goldstein - Treasurer; Head of Sustainable Finance Group at Goldman Sachs
Dr. Anthony House - Interim UK Board Chair; Director of Foresight at Google
Deirdre McGlashan - Global Chief Media Officer at Stagwell Inc
Brian Walsh - Chair; Head of Sustainability at TP-ICAP

Key Leadership Quotes

Victoria Vrana on community-led philanthropy: "Aid and philanthropy is far from fair, and the people with the best solutions to the world's toughest problems are chronically left out. Community-led organizations are agile, connected, and flexible, yet just a sliver of aid dollars reach them—an appalling 2% or less, historically."

On connecting donors with local organizations: "It's tough for donors to find local community-based organisations, and so that's our emphasis... we also work a lot in times of crisis. At any time, we're running 20 to 40 disaster funds, and those funds are very focused on getting help to the local organisations that are responding to whatever is going on in their own backyards."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply (For Nonprofits)

Step 1: Complete Online Application

Submit application at globalgiving.org/accelerator
Provide organizational and contact information

Step 2: Submit Required Documents

Financial statements for last two fiscal years (audited or unaudited)
Program materials (annual reports, brochures, newsletters)
Letter of reference from someone who has experienced your work (within past 3 months)
Bank account in organization's name
For US organizations: IRS Letter of Determination and recent 990

Step 3: Pass Due Diligence Review

GlobalGiving reviews legal documents, financial records, and program materials
Evaluation of organizational capacity
Research on relationships with previous funders
Anti-terror and international compliance verification

Step 4: Complete Accelerator Campaign

Participate in optional one-week training curriculum
Raise at least $5,000 from minimum 40 donors within three-week campaign
Successful completion earns permanent platform membership

Decision Timeline

Application review and vetting: Varies based on document completeness
Accelerator campaign: 3 weeks
Fund disbursement: Days (not months) once vetted
Due diligence renewal: Every two years

Ongoing Requirements

Submit quarterly project reports (within 90 days of posting, then every 3 months)
Reports must include activities, accomplishments, and results
Failure to report makes project "Unsearchable" on platform
Maintain organizational registration and compliance

Application Success Factors

What GlobalGiving Looks For

1. Demonstrated Track Record GlobalGiving requires organizations to show evidence of project implementation—they want to see what you're doing, how you're doing it, who you're helping, and how long you've been running programs.

2. Financial Transparency Two years of financial statements showing clear income sources and expense allocation. GlobalGiving evaluates financial health as part of their vetting process.

3. Strong References Letters from funders, partner organizations, community members, or program beneficiaries who have directly witnessed your impact. References from family or internal staff are not accepted.

4. Organizational Capacity Ability to manage funds, communicate in English, and maintain regular donor engagement through quarterly reporting.

5. Compelling Storytelling GlobalGiving emphasizes narrative impact. Organizations should share powerful stories with photos and videos that illustrate their work's significance.

Tips from GlobalGiving

"Tell your story in a clear and compelling way and invite your donors to give the way they want."
Include close-up, high-resolution photos in reports
Share stories about individual constituents helped
Keep reports to 2-4 paragraphs—substantial but not overwhelming
Respect privacy by not listing full names in photo captions
Post reports more frequently than required to improve visibility

Common Reasons for Rejection

Incomplete or outdated documentation
Inability to demonstrate nonprofit registration
References from family members or internal staff
Personal bank accounts rather than organizational accounts
Failure to meet fundraising threshold during Accelerator

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

This is primarily a crowdfunding platform, not a traditional grant maker. Nonprofits must demonstrate they can mobilize their own donor base to raise $5,000 from 40+ donors to join permanently.
Corporate grantmaking services are available for companies wanting to fund international projects—GlobalGiving handles due diligence, disbursement, and reporting for corporate partners.
Flexible, unrestricted funding is available through specific funds (Flex Fund, Hope in Crisis Fund, Community Aid Fund) for organizations already in the GlobalGiving network.
Quarterly reporting is mandatory. Organizations must commit to regular donor communication—failure results in reduced visibility on the platform.
Vetting is rigorous but human-centered. GlobalGiving evaluates the whole organization, not just projects, which allows for more flexible fund usage once approved.
Speed is a differentiator. GlobalGiving can disburse funds within days, not months, making it particularly valuable for disaster response.
Community-led focus. GlobalGiving prioritizes local, grassroots organizations and emphasizes shifting decision-making power to affected communities.

References

Accessed December 2024