Reassessing “Friends Of” fundraising structures: Emerging models for Australian supporters of international causes.

Around the world, international giving is being reshaped by new policies, growing regulatory complexity, and an expanding ecosystem of intermediaries and platforms that make cross-border philanthropy safer and more transparent. Australia is now part of this global shift, with emerging infrastructure that enables donors to support overseas charities without the administrative burden once associated with establishing DGR1-eligible “Friends of” entities.

Global research has highlighted not only the growing demand for international giving but also the ongoing challenges that international donors face. The 2025 Global Philanthropy Environment Index (GPEI) measures various aspects of the philanthropic environment: from tax incentives for giving, to legal frameworks, and the ability to give across borders. Among the 95 economies analysed, cross-border giving scored lower than most other indicators, reflecting a tightening global environment, heightened scrutiny and diverse regulatory environments for international funding – even though philanthropic engagement on the whole is rising.

A changing global context for cross-border giving.

In such a clear time of need (including growing poverty, inequity, climate change and sweeping bilateral aid cuts), policymakers, philanthropic networks, and donors globally are reassessing how funds move across borders. A recent global discussion hosted by the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy highlighted the growing complexity of cross-border giving regulations and the need for professionalised intermediaries to help donors navigate compliance, risk, and government controls on international transfers.  

With the rise of Asian philanthropy, regional organisations such as the Temasak Trust Foundation Advisors in Singapore and Give2Asia Hong Kong Foundation in Hong Kong have been established to facilitate cross-border giving across Asia, offering donors a structured mechanism to channel funds despite policy barriers. Similarly, European and North American networks such as the King Baudouin Foundation and Myriad Canada are advancing new collaborative platforms that lower barriers for international philanthropy, enabling donors to engage globally with more confidence and less friction. 

Australia’s emerging global giving infrastructure.

Australia is similarly developing comparable mechanisms. Intermediaries such as Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS), Global Development Group (GDG) and Myriad Australia are offering compliant and efficient pathways that remove the need for bespoke “Friends of” structures.

‘Friends of’ organisations are DGR1‑eligible nonprofits established in a country different from the beneficiary, enabling them to raise funds and offer a compliant, tax‑deductible pathway for donations that cannot be made directly. In Australia, their numbers grew after the Hunger Project case clarified that Public Benevolent Institutions (PBI) DGR1 organisations could fundraise on behalf of overseas partners rather than deliver programs themselves.

Although these structures enable tax‑effective international giving and are an important part of ensuring the flow of Australian philanthropic capital to urgent overseas causes, they are typically run by volunteer boards who shoulder significant administrative, governance and taxation responsibilities, often alongside their paid roles. These volunteers frequently also act as fundraisers, building awareness and support for their overseas partner organisations. For instance, Project Futures was established to support AFESIP Cambodia, and OIC Australia was created to support the work of OIC Cambodia, similar to the way the Australian Friends of Asha supports Asha India.

Intermediaries provide an alternative solution by delivering services that reduce the administrative burden of operating a legal entity and by applying robust due diligence, governance, monitoring, safeguarding, and reporting processes aligned with international best practices and the ACNC External Conduct Standards. Their models reflect recommendations from AIDN (Australian International Development Network) and CAF (Charities Aid Foundation) and other global bodies that call for simplified regulatory pathways and strengthened infrastructure for donors. In turn, this can also lead to “better” forms of philanthropic giving from the perspective of the “doer”, including less red-tape and administrative burden for implementers on the ground.

Why infrastructure matters to international philanthropic giving.

Getting the right infrastructure in place will have a significant impact on the goal of doubling international philanthropic giving in Australia by 2030. These are some key considerations:

1. Lowering barriers for donors

Globally, donors are motivated to give internationally but are often deterred by trust and compliance challenges. In the U.S, only 8% of donors support international charities despite strong global issues. Similar trends are seen across Asia and Australia. Despite strong motivations to give globally, international philanthropy represents only about 10 cents of every dollar donated by Australians. As noted by JBWere’s John McLeod, since the Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits Commission (ACNC) began collecting donation data in 2014, overall giving to international causes has continued to decline.

2. Rising expectations for governance and transparency

With global crises shaping donor behaviour, the GPEI has also noted rising expectations for accountability, governance and transparency within our sector and for philanthropists giving internationally. Intermediaries provide donors with reliable, transparent systems.

3. Reducing administrative duplication and greater efficiency

Internationally, the trend is toward shared philanthropic infrastructure rather than many small, duplicative entities. Australia mirrors this shift through models like Myriad Australia’s Friends Fund network and the Global Development Group Approved Projects list.

4. Enabling Diaspora giving

Diaspora communities globally are increasingly recognised as major drivers of international generosity. The CAF World Giving Report highlights cross-border giving as a defining feature of diaspora philanthropy. An inherently multicultural society, Australia is now better positioned to unlock this potential through emerging philanthropic intermediaries. 

The outlook for Australia.

Countries such as Singapore and regions such as the EU are strengthening philanthropy infrastructure, leading to increased charitable activity and more harmonised cross-border frameworks. Australia’s streamlining of international giving reflects the same global recognition of philanthropy as essential infrastructure.

By lowering barriers and increasing confidence for donors and overseas organisations, Australia is building an environment where not only more international giving is possible, but better international giving can flourish.

Anita Toy is the founding Executive Director of Myriad Australia, a registered DRG1 organisation dedicated to enabling thoughtful and effective cross-border giving. Recognised as a national leader in international philanthropy, she brings extensive expertise spanning both Australian and global giving. After more than a decade in the corporate sector, she transitioned to the not‑for‑profit field, carrying forward her strategic acumen and strength in relationship-building to advance global philanthropy.

Myriad Australia is developing Australia’s national infrastructure for global giving, offering donors a streamlined and efficient platform to support nonprofit initiatives anywhere in the world.

As a founding member of the Myriad Alliance, Myriad Australia is part of a global network of aligned partners committed to making cross-border giving simple, safe, and effective. Each partner champions philanthropy within its own region, enabling donors worldwide to give with confidence and impact. The Alliance currently includes nine members: Myriad Australia; Myriad Canada; Myriad Europe; Myriad USA; The Gift Trust (New Zealand); Give2Asia Foundation Ltd (Hong Kong SAR); Prism The Gift Fund (United Kingdom); Temasek Trust Foundation Advisors (TTFA, Singapore); and Give2Asia (serving as a global gateway for philanthropy in and out of China).

Feature image: Children standing next to a manual water pump in India. Ritesh Arya on Pexels.