When crises strike around the world, Americans are often ready to help. According to a new CAF America survey of more than 4,000 U.S. adults, 56% say they would consider donating to a charity responding to an international crisis. While this signals a strong willingness to give, many prefer to channel their donations through U.S.-based charities rather than directly supporting local organizations from the affected area.

The data reveals a significant gap: 51% of respondents are open to donating to a U.S. charity providing aid abroad, while only 36% would consider donating directly to a foreign charity. Moreover, 21% of U.S. adults say they would only consider donating to a U.S. charity in these situations. Despite caring deeply about global issues, many Americans hesitate to support foreign nonprofits — often due to concerns about trust, transparency, or tax deductibility.

When a crisis strikes, charities in the local area lead the way in supporting people impacted by disaster and are often the first to respond, providing urgent, on-the-ground support to those affected. In times of emergency, those same organizations will require rapid injections of funds in order to quickly and effectively scale their response. Unfortunately, even though these groups are best positioned to act quickly, their ability to attract direct support quickly from American donors is limited by regulatory hurdles and gaps in donor confidence. In fact, about four in ten potential donors (37%) say they would only consider donating to a U.S.-based charity during an international crisis, highlighting a significant challenge for foreign nonprofits.

While these donors care about global issues, many hesitate to give directly to international organizations — often due to concerns around financial transparency, tax implications, or fears of fraud, particularly when media coverage is limited. Without trusted, established pathways for giving, local organizations risk missing out on critical funding when it’s needed most.

Even among those open to supporting international charities, many ultimately choose not to give. This puts local organizations at a significant disadvantage when trying to raise funds directly from U.S. donors. To overcome this barrier, foreign charities should consider establishing partnerships with U.S.-based organizations, ideally before a crisis occurs, to streamline donation channels and build donor trust.

How CAF America Bridges the Giving Gap

In this landscape of cautious but willing American generosity, intermediaries like CAF America play a crucial role. By connecting U.S. donors with vetted foreign charities, CAF America ensures regulatory compliance, mitigates risk, and helps protect donor reputations when giving to charities based in crisis-affected regions. These safeguards increase confidence, making it easier for donors to support local response efforts through trusted U.S. channels.