More people, more power – how partnerships can multiply the impact of your international giving

David Stead, Executive Director of Philanthropy and Development, Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)

What makes the perfect partnership? And what role does this play in helping achieve greater social impact with your charitable giving overseas?
Philanthropists living in the UK with cultural roots around the world are increasingly looking to explore the effect of these questions. This audience is often highly engaged with a deep-rooted sense of empathy towards the challenges facing people in need in the countries where their parents or grandparents grew up. Here at CAF, we have seen a rise in international giving. Last year, CAF Private Clients – many of whom are members of ‘diaspora’ communities in the UK – donated £156 million worldwide to good causes in 2015, an increase of 33%.

"I was delighted to have the opportunity to explore this further at a recent breakfast event that CAF hosted in partnership with Spear’s Magazine, where we brought together a panel of experts in international giving to discuss how partnering with the right people or organisations can maximise the impact of philanthropy overseas."

Professor Peter Virdee of The Virdee Foundation talked about the importance of their work with charity partners in the field to help transform lives around the world. In order to improve the lives of vulnerable women and children in India – one of their chosen causes – The Virdee Foundation works with local charities and follows a diligent verification procedure before selecting new organisations to partner with.

Professor Virdee feels strongly that, before entering into a partnership with an NGO, it is imperative to know their aims and motivations inside out and discuss what would happen in the event that the partnership breaks down – just like what one might do in a marriage. By using this model to partner with local community organisations, The Virdee Foundation has supported hundreds of women and children in need across India in the most effective – and impactful – way.

We also heard from Paul Kidner, General Manager of The People’s Trust, an organisation which aims to tackle unemployment in Greece through entrepreneurship.

The People’s Trust works with a wide variety of partners from business coaching services and NGOs to banks and microfinance companies in order to offer young Greek entrepreneurs the opportunity, finance and resources required to thrive. This multi-faceted approach to partnering means that The People’s Trust is able to support aspiring entrepreneurs with start-up loans, grants, mentoring and coaching. In turn, these new businesses create employment for those in need and contribute to the recovery of the Greek economy. Paul describes this as a “multiplier effect” – when The People’s Trust supports one new business, it is also supporting the families of people employed there and this has a wider social impact on the Greek community and economy.

It was fascinating and inspiring to hear Professor Virdee and Paul’s first-hand account of their challenges, experiences and the difference they have made. It gave me a clear insight into the amazing things that are being achieved on a global scale and the role in which myself and my team here at CAF can play in being a perfect partner to support high-net-worth donors.
CAF operates in nine different countries across six countries, allowing us to harness local knowledge and expertise on the ground level so that we can support tax-effective giving on a global scale. Our donor-advised fund, the CAF Charitable Trust, is an ideal giving vehicle for those seeking to create change around the world and our team of experts will support you at every step. We carefully verify any charities operating overseas to ensure that we minimise risks and to ascertain that your donation is going to where its impact will be the greatest. We have access to the International Diaspora Engagement Alliance which uses an online tool to connect global givers all over the world to enable you to learn from others working in this area of philanthropy. CAF has access to ‘giving circles’ where donors with a shared cultural identity can join together to pool their funds and achieve a greater social impact. If you would like to know more about how we can support your international philanthropy to change lives.

Our donor-advised fund, the CAF Charitable Trust, is an ideal giving vehicle for those seeking to create change around the world and our team of experts will support you at every step. We carefully verify any charities operating overseas to ensure that we minimise risks and to ascertain that your donation is going to where its impact will be the greatest. We have access to the International Diaspora Engagement Alliance which uses an online tool to connect global givers all over the world to enable you to learn from others working in this area of philanthropy. CAF has access to ‘giving circles’ where donors with a shared cultural identity can join together to pool their funds and achieve a greater social impact.

We have access to the International Diaspora Engagement Alliance which uses an online tool to connect global givers all over the world to enable you to learn from others working in this area of philanthropy. CAF has access to ‘giving circles’ where donors with a shared cultural identity can join together to pool their funds and achieve a greater social impact.