International Gift Administration
International Gift Administration
In certain countries, we can receive and manage gifts from local donors. Our affiliation with Harvard University ensures we adhere to the University’s standards while offering international donors additional ways to support the University.
How We Support You
We can help you tap into additional funding sources, ensuring regulatory compliance, and using in‑country trusts or registrations to support your activities. This creates a streamlined, tax‑advantaged way for donors to give locally while providing programs with reliable funding sources and reduced currency risk.
How It Works
Accepting International Gifts
We've developed a process with the Office of Gift Administration (OGA) for our overseas entities to receive gifts, like the University’s process for receiving gifts domestically. In locations where we manage a trust or where our registration and tax status allow it, we can receive gifts from local donors to support in-country activities, and where possible, activities in the US.
In situations where all funds must remain in country, we can also provide employment services or office administration & operations services to support your activities.
What We'll Do for You
Strategy & Cooperation
Once you notify us of a possible gift, we’ll work closely with University stakeholders and your department and School/Unit to ensure that we develop the best possible strategy to benefit your School/Unit or project, while also complying with local regulations. If applicable, the local donor and our local Harvard Global entity sign a gift agreement. We’ll then receive the gift through our respective bank account to fund and support your planned activities.
Advantages
Program & Donor Benefits
Our service is a win-win for your program and for local donors. Our trusts, entities, and registration statuses abroad enable you to access more funding opportunities, and donors may benefit from local tax exemptions and deductions while giving back to their communities and to Harvard. Our affiliation with Harvard University ensures that the gifts we receive are held to the same standards as those received by the University.
As cash flow between countries is often restricted, and funding research activities abroad from the US can be complex, the ability to provide a local source of funding reduces the currency risk and conversion loss, especially for large programs.
Frequently Asked Questions for Gift Administration
We can provide this service in locations where we’ve registered a legal entity and received local approvals to receive gifts. Currently, we have entities and trusts in Hong Kong, India, South Africa, Tunisia, and the UK.
To receive a gift in India, South Africa, and Tunisia, the associated department or School/Unit typically has a program supported by our office administration & operations service in the selected country; this is not necessary in Hong Kong or the UK. Contact us for more information about the types of gifts we can receive in each location.
In some cases, notably India, the funds must stay in and be used in the location where they are received. In other cases, funds may be used in the US to support University research and academic activities. We'll advise on what is permissible for each gift according to the local laws, the gift’s terms, and our local registration and tax status.
In locations where the gift will be used to support activities related to an entity or research center that we manage on your behalf, the cost to receive and manage the gift is included in the service fee to run your program overseas. All costs, including our service fee, are outlined in detail in our service agreement with the affiliated School/Unit.
If donating via one of our trusts or charities, we do not charge a fee to the receiving School/Unit or to the donors; however, if the donor uses a third-party payment service, that service may charge a fee.
The department follows the standard tasks for domestic gifts, plus a few additional reviews. Just as with most domestic gifts, the School Fundraiser coordinates with the PI, donors, and applicable University stakeholders.
The following process applies to our fundraising trusts and charities (Friends of Harvard Hong Kong Trust, Friends of Harvard University UK Trust, Harvard Global Foundation). For other countries, contact us to determine additional requirements.
Initial responsibilities:
- School fundraisers, faculty, or staff identify and seek a prospective donor.
- Review the requirements of the relevant charity or trust. If you have questions about specific requirements, contact us.
- Notify OGA, your School, and the relevant trust or charity’s point of contact that a pledge is forthcoming.
- The School Development Office prepares a gift agreement between the donor and the School, if required. For more complex gifts, notify the relevant trust or charity’s point of contact early in the process.
- The School’s designated official approves the gift agreement in writing. We then provide the appropriate donation instructions.
Once the gift agreement, if required, is signed, OGA assigns a fund number and records the pledge in Advance.
Ongoing responsibilities:
- Direct and approve all use of the funds for your activities.
- Report back to your School, OGA, and the donor on the use of funds.
Contact us to review the overseas gift process in detail.
Each gift is unique. We’ll advise you on expected timelines at the outset and continue to update you throughout the process. It’s important to plan early. Your timeline should factor in School and OGA approvals, and also be flexible enough to account for administrative delays, which are common when operating internationally.
The following criteria may influence your overall time frame:
- Location where your gift will be received and used, particularly its regulations and tax year
- Our legal presence or ability to accept gifts in the selected location
- The donor’s time frame or terms along with any due diligence by a donor of a Harvard entity
- Whether you have an existing service agreement and project with us or require a new project scope and service agreement
In locations where we’re registered or already can accept gifts, the process can take anywhere from one week up to four months. In other locations, it can take substantially longer, and we can review them on a case-by-case basis. See Where We Operate for a list of ongoing operations and contact us for more information.
A donor can make a pledge to the School in a gift agreement approved by OGA. The gift, however, is legally made to the local Harvard Global entity, not to Harvard University. Harvard Global may then review the gifts prior to granting them to Harvard University. Documents involved in the process adhere to the Harvard University gift policy, local regulations, and any additional School-specific protocols and policies.
Resources for Gift Administration
Where We Can Provide Gift Administration
Contact Us
Let's discuss your international gift opportunities. Even if we’re not the right solution, we can suggest alternative options.