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Going Abroad? Practical Considerations for Nonprofits Seeking International Expansion

Going Abroad? Practical Considerations for Nonprofits Seeking International Expansion

Charitable organizations around the world serve a critical purpose to help society, from protecting the environment to feeding the hungry. As organizations in the United States look for new ways to increase their impact, many seek to do so by expanding their activities across borders. If your organization is considering an international expansion, you should not underestimate the complexity of working in other countries, nor should you make assumptions about the applicable laws or legal structures.

In this 2-part blog series, I will explore some of the legal issues associated with bringing your mission abroad. This information is based on my experience advising 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations expanding across geographies, and is intended to help organizations as they seek legal advice in the nonprofit world. 

So, before your organization puts boots on the ground, consider these practical issues:

1. Is your mission considered charitable in other countries?


Not all countries have the same legal definition around what a charitable mission or purpose is under the local legislation. For example, although your mission is perceived as charitable in the United States, it may not be everywhere. According to “A Tax Guide for Charitable Institutions and Trusts of a Public Character,” in Hong Kong, a charitable purpose is defined as: relief of poverty; advancement of education; advancement of religion; or other purposes of a charitable nature beneficial to the community not falling under the above. Activities falling within the fourth category will only be regarded as charitable if they are of benefit to the Hong Kong community.

Based on this definition, there could be some organizations with missions that are considered charitable in the United States, but not
 in Hong Kong. Before you look to expand your charitable mission to other countries, regardless of whether you will generate income, first determine whether your activities are charitable and legal within the local jurisdiction. One way to do this is 
to talk to other organizations with similar missions that are operating within the targeted country: Are they considered a charitable, or similar, organization? Do they have any specialized permission to provide their services within the country? Does the government condone their services? These types of questions will help you determine whether you can even send individuals to the country to activate your mission.

2. Are you legally allowed to have a physical presence in a country?

Even if your mission is considered charitable under local laws, you may be considered to be operating a business within the country. Sending staff to a country to provide mission-related services can be viewed as expanding the operations of your nonprofit corporation within a new geography. For example, there have been reports that, in the United Arab Emirates, targeting citizens of some countries through use of social media or on your website could be considered an unauthorized activity in a country.

Before you establish a physical presence, the key question you will need to consider is: Where are your activities being performed? If you are primarily performing your charitable work in the United States, then even traveling abroad to share findings or best practices may lead some to believe that you are performing a service within their borders. You may also need to consider the type of visa your staff has been issued and how that ties to the work being done within the country, and whether payment will be made for any services.

You may also need specific permission from a government to operate within a country, sponsorship by a government agency, or to set up a local entity or representative office in a country.

3. Can you transfer funds outside of the foreign country to the United States?


If you collect or receive funds within some countries, whether from other organizations or from individuals, foreign exchange controls or other similar restrictions may apply. You should get a clear understanding of the fund-transfer framework before you accept funds within another country.

You also need to ensure that you are complying with US laws such
 as the Foreign Corrupt Practices 
Act (FCPA) and requirements of
 the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC), which often are considered to apply in the for-profit world, but also impact nonprofit activities. You could also be subject to local anticorruption laws and other restrictions when accepting funds from within certain countries, depending on the context, purpose, and the country within which you collect funds.

4. Don’t assume that your 
income will be tax-exempt.


If you accept funds within another country, or spend US-sourced funds within such country, you may be subject to taxation. Not all countries consider charitable organizations to also be tax-exempt; your organization may not be considered charitable; and the other country may not honor a US-tax exemption framework. Activities could be subject to a value added tax (VAT), which taxes every step in the supply chain before the ultimate consumer, or other taxes that are unlike those imposed in the United States.

You should also keep in mind
 that some activities outside of the United States could be considered unrelated, and have potential US tax implications as well, such as triggering unrelated business income tax.

5. Can you collect information from or about citizens and use it to further your activities in the United States?

US privacy laws are structured differently from those of many other countries. If you operate outside of the United States and want to collect information about citizens of a country, your standard practice in the United States may not meet the standards or laws of the foreign country. You may not be able to collect the information for the expected use, nor will you be able to store the data on a US-based server, or transfer the data to the United States for use in the United States. Countries have varying requirements for the collection, use, and transfer of data. For example, the privacy laws in Europe and Canada differ from those in the United States. Advice from an experienced data privacy expert who is familiar with cross-border transactions is critical 
to ensure that you are complying with requirements for data collection, use, transfer, and storage, and the right to be forgotten. One helpful global resource can be found at
www.dlapiperdataprotection.com.

The new European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) should also be considered, since its fines and penalties apply beyond Europe. See www.eugdpr.org for more information.

Citizens of many countries have an expectation of privacy as a consumer that is much different than expectations in the United States. You may not be allowed to contact them for fundraising purposes without ensuring that you have properly collected and retained their information. You should be especially mindful about collecting information from or about children in other countries.

Personal information in other countries could include a person’s name and address, credit card number, and image or voice. Cultural sensitivity is also very important to take into account, as well as whether collection, use, retention, or transfer of any information that could identify a person is legal.

 

*This blog series was originally published as one article titled, “International Nonprofit Expansion,” in the ACC Docket, November 2017.

 

Lakshmi Sarma Ramani is a Member of Outside GC’s Washington D.C.-based team. With close to 20 years of legal experience, Laksmi is an expert in all aspects of the laws and operations of tax-exempt organizations. Lakshmi’s LinkedIn profile is available at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lakshmi-sarma-ramani, and she can be reached at [email protected]

 

 

This publication should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances not an offer to represent you. It is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult your attorney concerning any particular situation and any specific legal questions you may have. Pursuant to applicable rules of professional conduct, portions of this publication may constitute Attorney Advertising.

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